Embracing Community: Meet This Year’s ROMBA Fellows

The ROMBA Fellowship is a partnership between Reaching Out MBA and business schools across the country. The goal of this project is to help the LGBTQIA2S+ business leaders of tomorrow reach their goals and succeed in business school. Since 2016, Michigan Ross has collaborated with ROMBA to select promising incoming MBA students from each new cohort of Full-Time MBA students to receive a scholarship and access to exclusive leadership programming, including a retreat to kick off the fellowship.

ROMBA fellows are a crucial piece of the larger Michigan Ross community and help advocate for the influence of the LGBTQIA2S+ community in business, a place where the community has been historically underrepresented.

Below, meet this year’s ROMBA fellows and learn what brought them to Michigan Ross, what they’re excited about, and how they hope to make a positive impact on the Ross community.

Miles Turner, MBA ’26

Miles is a passionate advocate for the LGBTQIA2S+ community, dedicating considerable time and effort to fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for all. Throughout his journey, he has been a vocal supporter and active participant in numerous initiatives aimed at promoting equal rights, diversity, and understanding both within and outside his professional circles. Miles is excited to be able to support current and prospective students within the Michigan Ross community.

Why were you interested in the ROMBA Fellowship?

I was interested in the ROMBA Fellowship because the mission of ROMBA really resonated with me when I was looking at applying to business schools. The organization has a commitment to elevating diverse voices, specifically voices within the LGBTQIAS2+ community. This fellowship allows me to take on the necessary work that needs to be completed and actually contribute to it in a measurable way. Advocacy and representation are extremely important values to me as well, and being able to advocate for incoming MBAs and be a representation of them in the program was extremely valuable to me. 

What aspect of being a ROMBA Fellow at Michigan Ross are you most excited about?

I'm excited to commit myself to contributing to current initiatives at Ross that benefit the LGBTQIA2S+ community, identifying where additional programming may be beneficial, and, through those ideas, impacting the pulse of the larger community. 

How did the ROMBA Fellowship and other ways to get involved at Ross, as well as the Ross community, impact your decision to pursue your MBA here?

The ROMBA Fellowship and the extensive opportunities for involvement at Michigan Ross were pivotal in my decision to pursue my MBA here. The ROMBA Fellowship offers invaluable financial support and connects me with a powerful network of LGBTQIA2S+ professionals, fostering both personal growth and career opportunities. What truly stood out about Michigan Ross is the collaborative and inclusive nature of the Ross community. The supportive culture ensures a nurturing learning environment, while the school's strong commitment to diversity enriches the overall MBA experience. Moreover, the active and engaged alum network promises lifelong connections and opportunities. All these factors combined made Ross the ideal choice for advancing my career and personal development.

Anything else you’d like to share with us about yourself, this opportunity, or anything else you can think of?

During my professional career before Ross, there were many times when I felt like I was the only one representing groups I've identified with. I am so excited to no longer be the only one and also to work actively to help expand representation so no one else has to feel like that again.

Brian Vu, MBA ’26

Brian is excited to bring the wonderful feelings of community and chosen family he has experienced in the opera and performing arts LGBTQIA2S+ community to Michigan Ross. Brian has been an LGBTQIA2S+ advocate for many years within the arts, being an out musical ambassador with the Metropolitan Opera at the New York City Pride March and in his personal life. He is excited to bridge the world of the arts and business through queer visibility and community building within the Ross MBA student body.

Why were you interested in the ROMBA Fellowship?

Queer visibility is something I am passionate about. There are so many friends among us who feel alone and lost. The visibility that the ROMBA Fellowship gives me is something I hold dear as an LGBTQIA2S+ ambassador within the Ross community. It allows me to be a person who can support and give back to the community with queer visibility, now and in the future, as a business leader.

What aspect of being a ROMBA Fellow at Michigan Ross are you most excited about?

I'm so excited to meet my fellow LGBTQIA2S+ classmates and hear their and our allies' stories! Everyone has a unique life journey, and I'm so excited to learn about what makes each Ross community member special.

How did the ROMBA Fellowship and other ways to get involved at Ross, as well as the Ross community, impact your decision to pursue your MBA here?

I wanted to choose an MBA program that has a connection to ROMBA because it is important, as an institution, to show commitment to inclusion and support of the LGBTQIA2S+ student body. Ross has a vibrant queer student community in addition to the ROMBA partnership, so the choice to come here was easy.

Anything else you’d like to share with us about yourself, this opportunity, or anything else you can think of?

I'm so grateful for this opportunity to be one of this year's ROMBA Fellows, and I'm excited to bring that special queer chosen family magic I have in my life with the Ross and greater University of Michigan community these next two years.

Lucas Cao, MBA ’26

Lucas was born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and moved to Canada to pursue an undergraduate degree. After graduation, he stayed and worked for five years with Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil in supply and trading. The cold Canadian weather eventually got to him, however, so he decided to move south to Ann Arbor for warmer pastures and new opportunities.

Why were you interested in the ROMBA Fellowship?

As an openly gay man who worked in the conservative oil and gas industry, I was fortunate to receive a lot of support from mentors and coworkers. Their support empowered me to build an authentic image of who I am in the workplace. I applied for the ROMBA fellowship to give back by serving as an ambassador to the LGBTQIA2S+ community, as well as providing mentorship and support for those earlier in their journey to build an authentic self.

What aspect of being a ROMBA Fellow at Michigan Ross are you most excited about?

Getting to meet everyone! I'm a month into the program and feel like I've barely scratched the surface of what the Ross community offers. And, of course, I'm super excited to head to the ROMBA conference in Los Angeles to network with LGBTQIA2S+ MBA students from other schools.

How did the ROMBA Fellowship and other ways to get involved at Ross, as well as the Ross community, impact your decision to pursue your MBA here?

The fellowship selection process wasn't too clear before I was admitted, so it didn't factor into my decision. I chose Ross because I love how down-to-earth and collaborative the community is here.

Anything else you’d like to share with us about yourself, this opportunity, or anything else you can think of?

In my free time, I love adventure travel. Some of my favorite experiences were hiking the Laguna de Los Tres trail in Patagonia, scuba diving and canyoneering in Cebu, biking on Hell's Gate safari in Kenya, and road-tripping across Oman.