Academic Degrees
MBA, Entrepeneurship, Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, 2001
BA, Management Information Systems and Marketing, Marquette University, 1997
Biography
Joanna M. Bauza is an instructor for the Department of Management & Entrepreneurship at DePaul University. Bauza is well-versed in technology having been in the industry since graduating from Marquette. She has worked in technology startups, nonprofits and multi-billion dollar corporations throughout her career. In 2004, she created The Cervantes Group and is the president of the company to this day. The Cervantes Group is now a multi-million dollar company and one of the largest in Puerto Rico with offices in Boston, Chicago, Madrid and Queretaro, Mexico. The company has been recognized by INC Magazine as one of the fastest growing private companies in 2011 and was also a “Top Hispanic Companies on the INC 5000” in 2011.
Bauza has many ties to the Puerto Rican community in the IT banking and web development sectors. In 2007 and 2008, Bauza was recognized by the San Juan Star newspaper as part of the "Women in Leadership" and was featured in “Women Who Rule” in 2009 for her successes by the leading Caribbean publication, Caribbean Business. She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce of Illinois.
Bauza is from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico and was the No. 1 ranking PR women's Tennis player for more than five years, a three-time MVP of Marquette University's Women's tennis team and ranked 32nd in the U.S. She led the Marquette tennis women’s team to the first NCAA Tennis Championship her senior year. She is the former tennis champion for Puerto Rico in both singles and doubles and represented Puerto Rico in the first Federation Cup tennis team in the history of Puerto Rico in 1992. She was recognized as Athlete of the Year by the Olympic Committee in Puerto Rico in 1997.