In Spring 2005, two graduating seniors of the College of Business, Jessica Boda and Mercedes Canham, decided to initiate a student organization on campus to encompass the Latino business students. Their goal was to form an association that provided support for its members, preparation for the business world, and networking opportunities to help ensure a career upon graduation .
Boda and Canham were introduced to the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA), an organization of Latino professionals, and were inspired to form a university chapter at San Jose State University. With the help and guidance of ALPFA, they were able to establish ALPFA at San Jose State University with Dr. Howard Turetsky as the advisor.
One semester later, the ALPFA at SJSU Board decided that the club name was misleading and only attracted accounting and finance students, when in reality, the goal was to have an association of all business students, regardless of major within the business department. So the name was changed to the Latino Business Student Association (LBSA). Under its new name and new leadership, the LBSA also became affiliated with the Latino Business Professionals of the Silicon Valley (LBP), another professional organization, in order to expand its network and opportunities.
Starting out with less than five members only four semesters ago, the LBSA now has over 30 members. The National Society of Hispanics with MBA's (NSHMBA) has jumped on board with the LBSA as well and has a a growing relationship. Spring 2007 also marks the LBSA's fourth semester as an official chapter of the National Hispanic Business Association (NHBA).
The LBSA is well on its way to becoming a highly stable and respectable organization on the SJSU campus.