1. What was your major/minor and when did you graduate?
I was a business major with a marketing focus and a sports management minor. I graduated in the spring of 2018.
2. What is your current position (title, company, location)? Can you describe a typical day?
I work for Jacobs and I am currently the Program Coordinator on the DC3 CTA contract out of Hanover, Maryland. In a typical day, I wear many hats. My work ranges from managing contract deliverables, correspondence with our government customer, purchasing, instructor management, subcontractor liaison, staffing coordination, and more.
3. How did your major prepare you for your current job?
Studying business introduced me to a lot of concepts and tools that I now use on a regular basis. I will find myself saying things and not even realizing that I learned it in class and sound exactly like my professors. It absolutely taught me how to correspond with my coworkers and how to effectively problem solve. I can also say that the UMW COB definitely prepared me to find ways to make myself more valuable to my company by learning my skillset and marketing myself.
4. How did you become interested in your field?
Both of my parents have always worked in government contracting and being in the Baltimore area, there are so many opportunities here within the field. I like government contracting because it is so broad that there are always new opportunities to grow and learn.
5. What’s the best career advice you ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to, “Always work hard in whatever you do and make yourself valuable.” I live by this! I started out at Jacobs just scheduling meetings and ordering food. However, I was always volunteering to help with other tasks and creating work for myself to make myself valuable and from there I was able to quickly move into a new role. I will also add something that stuck with me from one of Professor Gower’s classes: “Your loosest ties, are your strongest connections.” This is so true in the workplace. You should try to build a connection with everyone you interact with because you never know who or where your next opportunity will come from.
6. Was there a professor, advisor, or fellow student who made an impression on you or helped you when you were at UMW?
Looking back, I’d have to say that Dean Lynne Richardson definitely made the greatest impression on me in my time at the UMW COB. She truly builds relationships with each and every one of the business students. I had the privilege of taking her 8am sales class my junior year, which I cannot say enough good things about. I also participated in her Women in Business Club where I learned even more about the workplace and how to be a confident and successful woman. She is an amazing role model and dean.
7. What’s your fondest memory of UMW?
My fondest memory of UMW would have to be my time with the Women’s Basketball Team. I met some of my absolute best friends through the program and was able to fulfill my dream of playing college basketball. Winning a Conference Championship and two NCAA Tournament appearances were pretty great too! I now coach high school basketball in my hometown and never stop telling my girls about my memories with the team.
8. Are there any special accomplishments you’ve achieved after college that you’d like to share?
My proudest accomplishment thus far would have to be purchasing my first home in Baltimore City back in August of 2018.
9. How would your family or friends describe you in seven words or less?
They would describe me as caring, hard working, independent, and creative.
10. In one sentence, what advice would you give current business students?
Use your strengths to make yourself more valuable and build connections with people everywhere you can.
