Truist Student Leadership Center 2024
Leveraging experience with resilience and determination for Walker College of Business students at Appalachian State University
Truist Student Leadership Center
MISSION
The Truist Student Leadership Center exists to prepare future leaders through transformational career education and professional development.
VISION
We aspire to guide students to have access to and leverage the tools and resources they need and are equipped and empowered to independently seek future opportunities and work that is fulfilling.
Message from the Executive Director
Greetings partners and valued supporters,
As 2024 comes to a close, we take time to reflect on another year that has presented a host of challenges and many accomplishments that deserve recognition Resilience, determination and grit are all qualities that we often hear employers and recruiters share as they describe App State students These are qualities that the team members of the Truist Student Leadership Center live each day as they serve the over 4,500 business students in the Walker College of Business Hurricane Helene, in all of its’ challenges, provided an opportunity for our team to embrace a growth mindset yet again. Thankfully on the heels of a global pandemic, the Truist Student Leadership team acted nimbly to continue to serve; not shying away from the challenge but leveraging what we learned before.
This agility allowed us to cancel the fall career fair for the safety of all, reschedule it for another date, and provide a meaningful space for employers and students to connect Over 550 students attended the event playfully coined, “Back to Business”. None of this would be possible without each and every team member. Often we focus only on the outcomes of each academic year. This report I would like to shine a spotlight on the people who make it all possible. I hope you enjoy learning about each staff member in the Truist Student Leadership Center. You will learn who they are, where they come from and what they are most proud of this year. Their stories will help inform you of why we do what we do and the hands that build it with care.
Best wishes,
Amy H Odom Executive Director Business Career Services
“Manyhandsmakelightwork”isacommonphraseusedtoinspirecommunitiestochipintowardsthegreatergood Inthecase oftheTruistLeadershipCenter,afewsetsofhandssupportsalargevillageofnearly4,500students Althoughtheteamfaced manychallengesinthefallof2024,wefoundopportunitiestosupportourstudentsandcolleagueswhilemaintainingclose relationshipswithouremployerpartners
The Year in Review: Team Impact
Introducing Our Team
Amy Odom
Abby Brannen
Amanda Merritt
Annie Johnson
Michelle Brown
Jackie Garner
Veronica L. Toub
Francisca Campos
Walker Fellows
Reporting to the Truist Leadership Center, the Walker Fellows serve as positive representatives of the Walker College of Business, Appalachian State University, and their program of study. They are often “the face” of the Walker College of Business at WCOB Events, including all preadmissions events
Undergraduate Career Coaching
ABBY
BRANNEN ‘23 ‘24
Assistant Director, Undergraduate Career Coaching
I provide one-on-one career coaching, skill development, and support to undergraduate business students. This includes guiding students in writing ATS-compliant resumes and cover letters, optimizing their LinkedIn and Handshake profiles, searching for internship and job opportunities, preparing for career fairs and interviews, and leveraging skill assessments such as MBTI to align their personalities and strengths with their career trajectories.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
One of my greatest accomplishments this year has been creating targeted weekly email newsletters for each academic department in the Walker College of Business. Previously, a single bi-weekly email with generic content was sent to all majors. By tailoring newsletters for all 10 majors, I honed my marketing skills and delivered majorspecific job postings, event details, and career tips. Before launching, Michelle Brown and I met with department chairs to discuss how I could align the newsletter content with their needs. This initiative strengthened relationships with faculty and resulted in positive feedback from both faculty and students.
What professional growth have you experienced this year?
I’ve experienced significant professional growth by graduating from the MBA program. My time in the program has been nothing short of amazing and I am very proud to have earned this achievement. I had the opportunity to take highly valuable marketing electives, and I plan to use my enhanced knowledge to elevate my impact as a career coach.
Graduate Career Coaching
BROWN ‘98 ‘00 MICHELLE
Associate Director, Graduate Career Coaching
In my current role, I support Walker College of Business graduate students and alumni in their career and professional development through individual career coaching, workshops, classroom instruction, and employer connections. Graduate students often represent a variety of life experiences and a wealth of knowledge that makes career coaching a rewarding experience that brings much joy to my work
Whatprogramareyoumostexcitedaboutthisyear?
This year, I had the opportunity to participate in Gallup Global Strengths Coaching Course, a 4 day immersive virtual certification program As a Global Strength Coach, I will utilize CliftonStrengths as part of the main campus and online Executive Skills class to lead students in completing the assessment and understanding how their unique strengths impact their current or next business role. Strengths based topics for Executive Skills include utilizing strengths in individual and team communication, interviewing, salary negotiation,andpromotionconversations.
What led you to career development?
My journey in career development began while completing a Graduate Assistantship in the Peer Career Center, an office that supported undecided students in their career exploration. This position provided the opportunity to interact with students at very pivotal times in their lives and develop essential counseling skills that I still use today. All of my positions in higher education have involved creating, managing, developing and sustaining relationships with students, co-workers, faculty and staff Being adaptable, positive, and viewing the big picture of holistic student success allows me to think creatively and critically about decisions, programming and goals.
Class Presentations & Career Assessments
Each semester, amongst their many other duties the coaching team visit multiple classes to promote the efforts of the Truist Leadership Center and share information about the resources and assessments available to students such as Truist Emerging Leaders Certification, MBTI and Clifton Strengths Assessment.
Coffee, Cookies, & Careers
An informal and fun way to promote the Back to Business Career Fair, Resume/LinkedIn Google submission, and Resume Drop for employers. The regular event held in the common area of the Walker College of Business contributed to increased engagement with the Center and a higher attendance at the Back to Business Career Fair.
Graduate Student Lunch & Learns
The Graduate Student Lunch and Learn provides an opportunity for business graduate students to engage with employers of various industries. During these Lunch and Learns, employers provide an overview of their company, hiring needs and best strategies for students pursuing these opportunities. These events are both educational and beneficial for the graduate students as they expand their networks and define their career pathways. This year, the NC Department of Revenue and Goodwill Companies visited and shared their expertise with over 50 students.
An invaluable resource! From resume and LinkedIn assistance to internship and job leads, the team provides outstanding support. It’s reassuring to know that this exceptional team is right here in Peacock Hall, ready to help students. - Grace Munsell, Finance & Banking Senior
Such a welcoming place. I got help with my resume that I used at the career fair. The staff is supportive and will provide you with resources to find jobs, internships, and more. I'm very grateful for their help and would recommend [their services] to my peers. - Donorris Abbew, Accounting Junior
Programs
Presidents’ Roundtable (Abby)
The Presidents’ Roundtable is a program designated for the Walker College of Business’ club leaders. To revamp the programming, I increased the number of interactions for the semester from 3 to 7 and incorporated employer and faculty engagement into the meetings, providing students with special networking and professional development opportunities
Furthermore, I developed a points system for the members to be able to redeem exclusive benefits that other students are unable to access There were a total of 25 students who engaged in the program throughout the semester. Based on survey results, the program revisions were well received by participants and will help shape future programming
If I had a magic wand and money wasn’t an issue, I would offer Presidents’ Roundtable members the opportunity to attend an annual leadership conference. Students would be selected based on the points system used to track involvement. Funding would cover all travel and conference costs for students attending.- Abby
Business Casual Fashion Show & Clothing Drive (Michelle)
The annual fashion show introduce students to business casual terminology and fashion standards in the workplace The event also provided students with the resources necessary to present themselves during the job search process, networking events, professional development activities and on internship sites A corresponding clothing drive also supports the free professional clothing closet available to students
One initiative that I would love to see come to fruition in the future would be to offer a permanent professional clothing closet in Peacock Hall Providing a friendly, consistent space that removes the stigma and students can make an appointment with a career development professional to receive free professional clothing Access would be provided coupled with guidance on where and when to wear different tiers of professional clothing - Michelle
Student Leadership
Walker Fellows
MERRITT ‘13 AMANDA
Assistant Director, Student Programs
My work is centered around the student facing aspects of the Center. I create the marketing for fairs and events ensuring students are made aware of the opportunities available, and I have the pleasure of managing our nine student employees, the Walker Fellows. Walker Fellows serve as ambassadors for the Walker College of Business and receive professional development focusing on leadership, networking, customer service, community outreach, and teambuilding.
The Walker Fellows Organization & Responsibilities
As part of their role, the Walker Fellows design, source, and promote the sale of Walker Wear, the exclusive Walker College of Business merchandise The proceeds from Walker Wear are donated to fund scholarships for two College of Business students every year
$1,500 17 52
Toreinforcetheprofessionaldevelopmentofthestudents,WalkerFellows reorganizedtheirrolesandresponsibilitiesthisyearEachmembernowhas anindividualizedtitlegivingeachmemberownershipwithintheorganization andreflectinganofficestructuretomimictheirfutureworkplace.Theroles areasfollows:
WalkerFellowsDirector
EventManager
FinanceManager
OutreachandPublicityDeveloper
EmployerEngagement
WalkerWearCoordinator
CommunityServiceCoordinator
Designer
Tour&CollegeVisitCoordinator
If given a wand, I would build a development program for Walker Fellows, allowing students more opportunities for collaboration and experiential learning within the Walker College of Business.
Walker Fellows Testimonials
The most rewarding part of being a Walker Fellow, for me, is serving as the first representation of the College of Business. Whether it’s giving tours to prospective students and their families or assisting with events, I feel honored to be part of this team. Coming from a minority background, I don’t fit the typical image many people have of an Appalachian State student. Being a visible example of a non-traditional student at App State is deeply meaningful to me. It’s inspiring to see diversity grow across campus, and I hope to see this positive trend continue
- Adrian Everett, Finance & RMI-2024 WCOB Scholarship Reception Speaker
Being part of the Walker Fellows team has been a transformative experience, allowing me to grow both as a community member and professional Through this role, I've been able to build lasting relationships with the Walker College of Business team, my peers, and industry professionals, ultimately leading to me securing a Sales and Marketing internship with Team TTI. One of my proudest moments was working with the BCS team to rework the WCOB Career Fair after Hurricane Helene, and ensuring the event's success despite the challenges of the semester.
- Grace Lisi, Marketing
My favorite part about being a Walker Fellow for the College of Business is getting to share with others all of the amazing opportunities that our school has to offer! From engaging in meaningful conversations with current and prospective students to networking with professionals at career events, being a Walker Fellow has allowed me to develop strong connections with individuals who have made my college experience much more enjoyable As a Walker Fellow, I am proud that I get to be a representative of our school as it encourages me to always strive to succeed and I feel comfort in knowing that I am surrounded by people who are supporting me along the way.
- Kassandra Mendez-Salinas, Accounting
Becoming a Walker Fellow this semester has greatly improved my student experience by giving me a sense of purpose beyond attending classes and allowing me to build meaningful connections with both my peers and faculty, making my time as a student more enjoyable As a member of my team, I’m especially proud of representing the WCOB by assisting fellow students in the Business Career Services office and guiding tours to prospective students and employers This role has provided me the opportunity to develop leadership and collaborative teamwork skills, while deepening my understanding of the resources available at the WCOB.
- Anthony Lenardi, Finance & RMI
Employer Relations
JACKIE
GARNER ‘12 ‘18
Associate Director , Employer Relations
In my role I work to develop and maintain strong relationships with employer partners who are actively recruiting students for internships and full time positions. I oversee the planning and execution of all recruiting events for the college including our business specific career fairs. I also serve as an advisor to the Women of Walker program. Additionally, I am excited to begin a two year term on the Girls on the Run board this fall where I will serve on the marketing and event planning committee.
What led you to career development?
I fell into career development by accident.
After college, I didn’t have a clear career path in mind and was open to exploring different options. I spent six months abroad and then came back to work as a server. A friend who worked in the Career Development Center mentioned they were hiring an administrative assistant, so I applied and was excited to land the position in 2014. It didn’t take long for me to realize just how impactful career development services are for students. I coordinated and planned the career fair; my first experience with large-scale event planning, and I was instantly hooked. A few years later, Amy Odom reached out about an open position in Business Career Services. I always admired her work, so I eagerly applied and have been part of the Business Career Services team for the past six years. It’s been a rewarding journey, and I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to grow in this field!
BACKTOBUSINESS CAREERFAIR
One of the biggest challenges we faced this fall was having to cancel our annual career fair due to Hurricane Helene. While it was undoubtedly the right decision for everyone's safety, it was a significant blow, especially since Walker Business Connections is our largest recruiting event of the year. We knew this cancellation would directly affect our students’ career success. Our team quickly shifted focus to find a solution. In just three weeks, we managed to reschedule the career fair—an event that usually takes over six months of preparation. We kept it simple and took it back to basics, hosting it in our home building of Peacock Hall. The event ended up being a great success, with 38 companies and 548 students in attendance. Although it wasn’t the large-scale event we had initially planned, it provided valuable opportunities for students and was well-received by both students and employers.
Employer Relations
Workshops
Employer Visits
Interviews
Employer Summit
Career Treks Fairs
Career Treks
In September 2024, we successfully took a group of 20 App State students on a visit to Sunrise Technologies in Winston-Salem, NC The career trek not only supported Sunrise Technologies' recruitment efforts but also provided students with valuable insights into the technology industry and potential career paths.
Additionally, on October 26th our team had plans to take 30 female App State students to visit the Blue Cross Blue Shield headquarters in Durham, NC This all day career trek was going to consist of a tour of the facility, a networking lunch, a roundtable with BCBS HR team members, and finally a panel with high level female executives at the company Unfortunately this event was cancelled after Hurricane Helene We are optimistic about rescheduling this event for Spring 2025 If I had a magic wand, we would have an event space in our own building that was large enough for recruiting events,
and
- Jackie
Business Career Development (BUS 2001)
ANNIE
LOVE JOHNSON ‘16 ‘20
Associate Director of Curriculum, Data, and Technology
BUS2001 Career Curriculum
The majority of my work is centered around creating curriculum and equipping instructors to teach our Business Career Development class, BUS 2001. BUS 2001 is a required course for all undergraduate students seeking to major in the Walker College. This year, we had 7 people teach the class with some new adjunct faculty joining us. In addition to this, I work to streamline the collection and reporting of our career outcomes data for both undergraduate and graduate students.
SoACE
Southern Association of Colleges and Employers
Annie presented at the 2024 Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE) conference in Orlando, Florida. In her workshop presentation, “Unlocking the Magic of Life Experience: Using Survey Data from Nontraditional Students to Cater Career Curriculum,” Annie walked attendees through a simplified course design cycle and how to incorporate survey data into creating formative assessments within graded career courses
The Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE) is a 1,600+ member organization of human resources, college relations, and career services professionals representing employers and universities throughout the southeast. Truist Student Leadership Center has been an active member of SoACE since 2018.
If I had a magic wand, I would add an extra credit hour to our one credit hour BUS 2001 course. This would allow much more time for instructors to connect with students in this unique course! - Annie
Career Curriculum
Business Career Development (BUS 2001)
The University of North Carolina (UNC) System's Flight Path program is an initiative designed to expand access to higher education for adult learners across North Carolina through an online curriculum By bridging gaps in accessibility, Flight Path aims to meet workforce demands and foster economic growth statewide
Flight Path
Appalachian State and the Walker College signed a contract with the program in the spring of 2024 and began offering online classes during the Fall 2024 semester for students seeking a degree in Supply Chain Management. These new course offerings include BUS 2001. Over the summer of 2024, Annie worked with an instructional designer to alter and create new assignments for this new student population.
Lozano-Toub Veronica
HowdidyoubecomeaBUS2001instructor?
WhileattendingastaffretreatinAshevillewetalkedtoJoshSilveywhohad createdtheclass Weallrealizedhewasoverwhelmedbythevolumeof studentshewasteaching,becauseatthattimehewastheonlyBUS2000 instructor.Aftertheretreat,anothercoachandIbeganteachingtwo sectionseachinadditiontodoingourcoachingjobs Atthattime,the classeswereinpersonsectionsof50students
What makes BUS 2001 valuable?
I think the major exploration and company research assignments really help students start thinking about their professional future. These assignments provide students with a context for the resume and LinkedIn profile they create in the class, as students realize that they are essentially creating their own personal brand Anything they do for the class is ultimately going to help them get an internship or job, so it's very practical
What is your favorite part of BUS 2001?
“This class was so beneficial for my career path I really appreciate you always making assignments clear and giving us appropriate feedback. I am really glad that I took your class.“
Annie: What I love most about what I do is connecting with students in conversations about their work I try my best to guide them to think about work in terms of what problems they want to solve and what populations they want to serve Jobs come and go, but having an understanding of your answers to those questions will help you make grounded career decisions and communicate your values best!
Veronica: The best teaching moments for me have been one-on-one, when helping students, either in person or over Zoom, specifically with improving their resumes It's also great to get "thank you" emails from students who say how helpful the class has been.
Community Engagement
Amy
ODOM ‘03 ‘22
Executive Director, Truist Student Leadership Center
My hope is to provide resources to my team that facilitate their ability to achieve goals, overcome challenges, develop their skills, and perform their work effectively A 360 degree view of the higher education landscape helps me to anticipate what roadblocks may be on the horizon and how to navigate those for my team and our students After 11 years in the Truist Student Leadership Center, I have been fortunate to serve in almost every role that comprises the team Rotating through these roles has given me a holistic perspective that has prepared me to empathize with each component and anticipate the needs of the engine we call the Truist Student Leadership Center.
What surprised you the most in 2024?
I was honored to be selected to participate in the 2024 Bridges Academic Leadership Program. Bridges is a three month long leadership development program with 40 participants from both public and private universities from across North Carolina. This inclusive professional development program is dedicated to supporting individuals in higher education who seek to gain or strengthen their academic leadership capabilities. It is designed to help participants identify, understand, and build their leadership roles in the academy. What surprised me the most was driving through Hurricane Helene to get to Chapel Hill to attend the first weekend of the program!
Community Engagement
Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
The High Country is full of professional opportunities for students and employers, often missed or overlooked. With a healthy local chamber presence, it was a perfect match for Amy Odom to join the Board of Directors for the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. Board participation allows a front row seat to local economic indicators and opportunities to develop and enrich relationships with key stakeholders in Western NC
Although 70% of students stay in North Carolina post graduation, only 2% remain in Watauga County and surrounding areas. With ongoing workforce gaps and trailing internship placement rates, starting local seemed fitting with the Truist Student Leadership Center’s mission. The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce focuses on three main initiatives including workforce development, childcare and affordable housing.
3YearTerm
24Members
3MainGoals
Community Engagement
Watauga Women in Leadership (WWiL)
Business Career Services and the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce continue to collaborate on bridging campus and local communities. Now in its third year, the WWIL Mentor program launched in January 2025 with 30 business students and 30 mentors from the Boone area community totaling almost 200 individuals served since the inception of the program. To support experiential education in the Walker College of Business, a Job Shadow Day was added to the program this year. Students joined their mentors for the day for a full immersion of job shadowing across the High Country.
Students spent the day touring local companies, meeting with team members and experiencing a “day in the life” of their mentors within their workplace. At least two students have solidified summer internships based on relationships they formed in the program. App State alumna, Jaime Kravitz who is the CEO and owner of The Energy Producer served as keynote luncheon speaker to kick off the shadow day.
JOB SHADOW
DAY 2024
24 54 34%
Ethnic Diversity
Evergreen Voices: WWIL Gala
Watauga Women in Leadership hosted Evergreen Voices: WWIL Gala in November 2024 The event celebrated the strength and resilience of women in the High Country This year’s panel featured local women who have thrived in their careers and communities, sharing powerful stories of growth, perseverance, and leadership. Featured guests for the evening's discussion included Master General Store owners; Faye Cooper, Lisa Cooper, Addison Martin. Wine to Water’s Courtney Mattar, and FizzEd owner, Amy Forrester Amy Odom served as moderator for the panel leading the group in discussion covering challenges, triumphs and the future ahead in the High Country and beyond
Participants
Companies
If I had a magic wand, I would create a fellowship program in partnership with the Chamber that partnered with regional companies to create local internships for App State students coupled with professional development programming for students and their corporate partners.
