Bryant 360 - Mar 2012

Page 1

360 0 NEWS AND VIEWS

BRYANT

MARCH 2012

7

DAY WITH SWAY Entrepreneurship major attends White House event

FAMILIES

3

AFTER BRYANT Former campus leader thrives at PwC in D.C.

FOR STUDENTS AND

2

BEHIND THE BIO Professor knows satire

Job security – before winter break

W

hen seniors David Rogers and Brittany Palmer returned to campus in September, they immediately started their job searches. Before final exams, both had accepted offers with companies they are truly excited about. They are not alone – joining a cadre of Bryant students who secured jobs early in the fall semester.

Forty job interviews

Seniors David Rogers and Brittany Palmer have reason to smile after landing jobs in 2011.

On July 9, Rogers, a double major in actuarial mathematics and finance, will report to EMC Corporation headquarters in Hopkinton, MA. As an operations analyst for the global service team, he’ll begin a rotational program working with multiple departments to learn the business of helping companies accelerate

their journey to “cloud computing” and storing, managing, protecting, and analyzing information in a more agile, trusted, and cost-efficient way. He is thrilled at the prospect of joining such a highly regarded company. Rogers made sure he had choices, having secured more than 40 interviews in the fall semester. “I feel that having Bryant on my résumé and being able to discuss the experience I gained through the university is the reason I received so many interviews,” he says. When the Coventry, RI, student was first looking at colleges, he applied to five schools but only cared about being accepted to Bryant. “I felt it was the best continued on page 8

Shadow program sheds light on careers

T

he Alumni/Student Shadow Program, held during Bryant’s summer and winter breaks each year, is a short observational experience that enables students to visit with successful alumni in professional work environments and gain insider perspectives on career fields of interest. Participants learn a lot about the companies they choose, but they often come away from the experience with so much more.

Enterprise software and Nerf darts In January, Marketing major Jim Rubino ’14 and International Business major Kimberly Elloian ’15 shadowed Tim Bertrand ’00, vice president of worldwide field sales for Acquia in Burlington, MA. The company provides expertise and tools to support organizations that use Drupal – a free, open-source platform that has been utilized to build more than one million websites including dev.twitter.com and levistrauss.com, to name a few.

“I chose Acquia out of a long list of possibilities because the person I would shadow, Tim Bertrand, was a marketing major at Bryant just like me,” says Rubino, “and I wanted to see how marketing can be applied to the real world. It also gave me the opportunity to compare a startup company to a corporation.” “I was interested in Acquia because I could interact with a Bryant grad who had the title of vice president, a position in marketing, and a role in the company’s international sector,” adds Elloian. Rubino says he learned a lot about open-source software but also saw firsthand the importance of teamwork and work environment. “I realized that although the sales and marketing people may not know how to program and write code like the IT people do, the two departments work together seamlessly,” he says. “The environment in the office is light and laid back, with ping pong tables and Nerf

Acquia’s Vice President of Worldwide Field Sales Tim Bertrand ’00 shares his business knowledge with Kimberly Elloian ’15 and Jim Rubino ’14.

dart guns being shot around throughout the day. Everyone was friendly and interacted with each other.” Rubino learned about the shadow program after taking a Career Planning 101 class. “I signed up to help me decide my major, but I consequently discovered that it is an additional way to explore

different occupations and career paths. Even if the company you shadow isn’t in a field you think you would be interested in, the experience can still help you gain information on other aspects of what the real world offers.” continued on page 8

Apri

Admitted Student ouse Open Hl 14 RE T URN SE RVICE RE QUE ST E D

BRYANT UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF ADMISSION | 1150 Douglas Pike | Smithfield, R.I. 02917-1285

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Providence, RI Permit No. 111


For jobs or graduate school, Bryant seniors have options

BEHIND THE BIO | Faculty Profile

Amber Day, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, English and Cultural Studies

A

sk this award-winning professor about Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert, and she’ll have plenty to say. Her research explores how satire and political activists behaving as comedians have not only surged in popularity but also become intertwined with serious political dialogue, making Stewart one of the most trusted newscasters in the United States. Her recent book, Satire and Dissent: Interventions in Contemporary Political Debate, has received enthusiastic reviews and generated requests for commentary by such media outlets as The Huffington Post, the Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times, and Northeast Public Radio. For her significant contributions to the fields of media and performance studies through her work on political satire, she received Bryant’s 2011 Faculty Achievement Award for Research and Publication. Day joined Bryant in 2007. She holds a Ph.D. in Performance Studies from Northwestern University.

T

oday’s college graduates will change careers three to five times in their lifetimes. Some career counselors estimate that figure could be much higher. So, how can you make the most of your college experience and impress recruiters and graduate school admission officers? Know what they are looking for.

What employers really want According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, as well as Bryant’s award-winning Amica Center for Career Education, employers and graduate school recruiters look for a strong GPA; internship and/or related work experience; specific skills, qualities, and attributes; and involvement on campus. Amica Center staff help students assess what they have to offer an employer and how to market themselves in the best possible way.

A resource for all students

We asked Professor Day to complete a number of sentences for Bryant 360. We’re pretty sure you won’t find any of this information in her “curriculum vitae.” When I was in high school, I wanted to be an actor and writer. In my spare time, I like to cook, travel, and go on bike adventures with my husband and baby son.

In addition to helping business students in all majors secure jobs in corporate America, the Amica Center provides many resources for those majoring in the liberal arts. Assistant Director Amy Weinstein says liberal arts students have the interpersonal, communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and analytical skills that hiring managers are looking for not only in corporate jobs but also in government and nonprofit organizations. Many liberal arts students are taking non-traditional paths after graduation – such as teaching fellowships, AmeriCorps, and the Peace Corps – and giving back to the community. “Liberal arts students are finding success in so many different arenas,” says Weinstein, who has more than 15 years of experience counseling students in an array of majors. She encourages students to pursue careers that they are truly

interested in rather than simply focusing on an industry they believe will have open positions. “The possibilities for liberal arts majors are endless,” she says.

Graduate school or law school Bryant students also develop the skills necessary to achieve success in competitive graduate programs across the country. According to Weinstein, partnerships between faculty and the Amica Center offer support and guidance to students interested in pursuing graduate school. Politics and Law major Julien Dumont ’12 (Saint Hubert, Quebec, Canada), has already received acceptances to four law schools. “Bryant has provided me with a rich diversity of experiences that will serve me well as I prepare to enter law school next fall,” he says. “I’ve developed close relationships with professors who have helped guide my academic and personal growth.” In the course of his studies, Dumont completed three internships within the legal system. “These real-life experiences have helped confirm my career choice and provided meaningful insight into the path I wish to follow.”

Advice from Bryant professionals How should soon-to-be graduates approach their first jobs? “You should not take the first position that comes along simply to say that you ‘have a job,’” advises Judith Clare, Amica Center director. “Look for a position in which you’ll gain valuable skills, and plan to stay at that job one to three years.” Kathy Clarkin, Amica Center manager of recruiting, advises students to be flexible, persistent, and open to exploring the many opportunities that are available to Bryant graduates. www.bryant.edu/amicacenter

The last CD I bought was the latest Arcade Fire LP. My husband is a big music geek, so if we are buying physical copies of albums, they are often on vinyl. My students would say that I’m energetic. If I wasn’t teaching, I would be one of the journalists on “This American Life,” or doing sketch comedy. I was attracted to Bryant because of the wonderful colleagues and campus community. I think our students are full of potential. www.bryant.edu/lcsprogram

[

ADVICE4U

Among those providing advice and encouragement to Bryant’s xTAX team were PwC Tax Partner and Bryant Trustee Robert Calabro ’88, and Courtney Bernard, on-campus mentor and a member of last year’s team that advanced to the finals. Pictured are (L-R) Calabro and Bernard with team members Victoria Frazier, Jeffrey Dorosh, Sagar Parmar, Anthony Mahn, and Randa Rugangazi, as well as Professor Michael Lynch.

]

“Leave your door open while you’re in your dorm, sit with random people in the dining hall, and go on errands with other students. These are great ways to meet new people during the first couple of weeks of the semester.” TIM FIGUEREDO ’12, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS WILBRAHAM, MA

2 / BRYANT 360

Team competes at xTax finals A team of Bryant students traveled to Washington, D.C., in January to compete in the national finals of xTAX, a taxation case competition sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP that is part of their xTREME Games. Five teams competed for the xTAX Hamilton Award, named after Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of the U.S. Treasury. Representing Bryant were Jeffrey Dorosh ’14 (Naugatuck, CT), Victoria Frazier ’14 (Holden, MA), Anthony Mahn ’13 (Salem, NH), Sagar Parmar ’14 (Cheshire, CT), and Randa Rugangazi ’13 (Kigali, Rwanda).

Although the Bryant team did not win, they exceeded their faculty advisor’s highest expectations. “The team’s debating skills and presentation were exceptional,” says Professor of Accounting Michael Lynch, J.D., C.P.A. “They are true champions, and Bryant should be very proud of their efforts.” A series of questions at the end of the competition required some tax sophistication and experience, and no one on the team had yet taken a tax course. “Watch out next year,” says Lynch, “once they all have my corporate tax course under their belt.”


AFTER BRYANT | Alumni Profile

Stepping outside her comfort zone

C

ristine Cox ’11 grew up in a predominantly AfricanAmerican community in Suitland, MD. She knew she wanted to study accounting and applied to Bryant without ever visiting because of the outstanding reputation of its accounting program. It was at an Admitted Student Open House, in torrential rain, that she fell in love with the campus and its people. She could picture herself at the university, she says, not just as a number but as someone who could make a difference as part of a greater community. She acclimated herself to campus life by getting involved and stepping outside of her comfort zone. “I challenged myself to meet new people who had different experiences and came from different backgrounds,” says Cox. “Doing so made me a better person, student, and leader, and helped me forge a bond with the university. “My on-campus experiences are the reason I am the woman I am today,” she says. “I was able to make a lasting impact on the community, and I learned so much about myself, how I interact with others, how I can inspire and motivate others, and how I can learn from others.” Cox cites the support and inspiration she received from the Office of Residence Life (where she worked for three years), the Intercultural Center, and the Center for Student Involvement. “These were my homes at Bryant,” she says. “I would not have been as successful as I was without the genuine love, encouragement, and

dents, where she got to know a PwC recruiter, Ann Ulett. Cox next served as a counselor for the PricewaterhouseCoopers Accounting Careers Leadership Institute, which is held each year at Bryant. She met Bryant alumni there and got to know them personally. It was their candid feedback, she says, that made her want to learn more about the opportunities at PwC. She secured an internship with the organization the summer after her sophomore year.

Career education for life

Cristine Cox ’11 is now at PwC in D.C.

feedback I received from the staff in those offices.”

A long-standing relationship with PwC Today, Cox is an associate in the Advisory (Consulting) Practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the Washington, D.C., Metro Market. Her group works with federal government agencies to manage business issues that are important to them. “Working in teams and groups is a big part of what I did at Bryant – and exactly what the workforce is like,” she says. Her association with PwC began in her freshman year at Bryant during 4MILE, an orientation program for international and multicultural stu-

Cox later completed an academic internship with the Center for Student Involvement on campus, for which she earned course credits. She prepared for entering the workforce by attending several presentations given by Bryant’s Amica Center for Career Education on topics such as résumés, cover letters, and interview skills. She also attended workshops geared toward seniors that she found extremely helpful. “Many of the things I learned I still apply to my everyday life,” she says.

The right fit In the spring of her senior year, Cox received several major awards on campus including the Intercultural Center’s Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award. At Commencement, she crossed the stage twice. First, she received The George M. Parks Award, presented to a graduating senior whose recognized leadership qualities have significantly enhanced the reputation of the university. Next, she collected her diploma for a Bachelor

of Science in Business Administration with a management concentration. Although she changed her mind about accounting, she never doubted that Bryant was the right fit. “I work in a firm where a large portion of the work we do is accounting related,” she says. “Having a strong business, accounting, and finance background allows me to really understand what is going on.”

“My on-campus experiences are the reason I am the woman I am today.” cristine cox ’11 suitland, MD When Cox reflects on what sets Bryant apart, she cites the many supportive, active, and involved faculty members. A liberal arts minor (required of every business student) has helped her to better communicate with and understand people, skills she uses every day. Most importantly, she says, it is the impact that Bryant students can have. “I have seen movements that started with one or two students and grew because of the strong sense of community on campus,” says Cox. “Students, faculty, staff, and even the administration will back a brilliant idea from a student. I can’t say that any other institution I know of has a similar environment.”

BRYANT BY THE NUMBERS | Amica Center for Career Education (2010 –11)

322

98%

students PARTICIPATED IN ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP PLACEMENTS

of 2011 graduates were employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation

720 ATTENDED THE CAREER FAIR

1,472 SCHEDULED COUNSELING APPOINTMENTS

4,958 RÉSUMÉS were SUBMITTED TO EMPLOYERS THROUGH BRYANT’S CORPORATE RECRUITING PROGRAm

BRYANT 360 / 3


Bryant’s First-Year Gateway Experience International, innovative, integrated and inspiring. At Bryant, we provide the educational experiences that prepare our students to become explorers who are at home in the world. Our innovative programs, both what we teach and how we teach it, help students challenge assumptions as they trade easy certainty for life-changing curiosity. And it all starts by changing the way they look at the world. From the very first semester, Bryant’s distinctive first-year gateway

experience features creative learning opportunities that explore global foundations for character and leadership, and for business and industry. Our students develop character and leadership skills, as well as a global perspective, whether they choose to pursue programs in our College of Arts and Sciences or College of Business. Throughout the foundation experience, students hone their communication skills with reflective writing assignments where Bryant faculty members are the guides for a

journey of discovery. Course work is complemented by special immersive programs that offer a look at the world from an outcomes-driven perspective, providing students with the realworld experience highly valued in the marketplace and by leading graduate schools. Our community of practice is empowering: 98 percent of Bryant students are employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of commencement. The median starting salary for the Class of 2011 was $50,000.

BRYANT UNIV


ERSITY admission.bryant.edu


ATHLETICS UPDATE

Student-athletes put academics first Just one year ago, Bryant’s studentathletes posted a jump in overall team GPA, advancing from 2.89 to 2.91 in both the fall and spring semesters. That record was shattered this past fall as the GPA continued its upward trend, posting an impressive 2.93 overall average for the semester. A record five student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 GPA during the semester. Of the more than 500 student-athletes participating in varsity sports, 38 percent made the Dean’s List for

the fall semester, while 51 percent achieved a 3.0 GPA or higher. As a Division I institution, the University’s varsity programs aim to be the best in their respective sports. Whether it is posting undefeated records at home, chasing after conference championships, or earning spots in the various NCAA championships, Bryant’s student-athletes have always maintained the competitive spirit and dedication necessary for success – both in and out of the classroom.

Women’s soccer earns national academic award

Katy Biagi ’15 (Natick, MA)

Fresh off its most competitive and successful season at the Division I ranks, the women’s soccer team received the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award for the 2010-11 season. The Bulldogs were notified of the achievement in December after posting a team grade point average of 3.15 under 12-year head coach Chris Flint. (All teams must post a team-wide grade point average of 3.0 or greater to receive the award.) Predicted to finish in seventh place in the Northeast Conference, the Bulldogs set a new single-season high in victories (8) and winning percentage (.500) since joining the Northeast Conference in 2008. Bryant will be eligible for postseason competition at the Division I level for the first time ever next season.

(L-R) Melissa Corraro ’15, Brittany Stahura ’12, Meredith Soper ’13, Kaitlyn Hinck ’12, Courtney Schissler ’14, Stephanie Cardamone ’14, Naana Ankoma-Mensa ’14, Katlin Whittington ’13, and Leigha Tacey ’15 at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank

Women’s basketball volunteers at food bank In the middle of its most successful Division I season to date, the women’s basketball team made time to reach out and aid the community, volunteering at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank in Providence. Their community service represents one of many combined efforts displayed by various Bryant athletic programs throughout the year, embodying the department’s

philosophy of commitment and dedication toward community outreach. The women’s basketball team wrapped up the 2011-12 season on February 27 with a 65-53 win over Northeast Conference rival Wagner College and finished the year with a 14-15 overall record, including seven victories in league play. www.bryantbulldogs.com

BRYANT HAS HISTORY

Bryant was founded in 1863 in Providence. Civil War veterans were among its first students.

Earl Tupper, founder of Tupperware, donated the land on which the campus sits today. Civil rights leader Rosa Parks received an honorary degree from Bryant in 1995.

6 / BRYANT 360


A day at the White House

H

arris Roberts ’14 was driving home to Farmington, ME, for Thanksgiving break when he received an e-mail from Trustee Professor of Management Michael Roberto, who also serves as advisor to the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) at Bryant – of which Roberts is an executive board member. The message was brief and to the point: Any e-board members who wanted to attend an entrepreneurship event at the White House the following Monday should e-mail their information and Social Security numbers to the White House immediately. (The short notice was due to security reasons – the White House does not release event information too far in advance.)

“I’ve learned that a Bryant education is beyond just reading a textbook.” harris roberts ’14 farmington, me Five days later, Roberts was on a plane to D.C. to attend a Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) mentorship event, part of National Entrepreneurship Month, which brought together 30 of the world’s top, young entrepreneurs and 100 college students from

across the country. (YEC is an inviteonly group.) “It seemed surreal as I stood at the gate of the White house in my suit, watching Secret Service check my ID and issue me a badge,” says the Entrepreneurship major who hails from a town of 7,500 people.

Standing out in the crowd At the conference, which was moderated by Sway from MTV News, Roberts asked YEC panel members to each name the most influential book that they had read. He told the panel he would video their responses – instead of writing everything down – and post their answers on Twitter @HarrisRoberts. The group had just discussed the importance of social media and the value of content that had substance, and Roberts had proven their point. Because of this, YEC members all knew his name at the networking event he later attended. “I made tons of great contacts,” he says. “Bobak Emamian who does mobile app development for his company Prolific Interactive. Ismail Colak and Jean Freuler from Funding Gates who graduated from Yale and MIT. Craig Fuller, who talked to me about the importance of distribution and selling what you can do for people – and not your product. I met Doreen Bloch who is writing a book about the coolest startups in America. Donna Fenn, the editor of INC Magazine (she follows me on Twitter now!).

Harris Roberts’14 tweeted from a conference at the White House.

“The list goes on because all the YEC members I met gave me their personal information and urged me to contact them if I ever needed funding, advice, or an internship.” These contacts are like gold for Roberts, who hopes to create a startup that will innovate and change the world around him.

Creativity is crucial Roberts has always been entrepreneurial – and creative. At age 7, he started his first business selling handmade crafts from a “store” in his home, donating the profits to Operation Santa Claus, a program in Western Maine that provides gifts and clothing to children and the elderly. He has never stopped building small businesses, so when he was looking at colleges, he found Bryant’s unique curriculum offered the opportunity to excel not only

in business but also in the liberal arts. “Bryant provides a different type of education with so many opportunities to engage and learn outside of the classroom,” he says. “One month I was in Texas with the College Entrepreneurs’ Association, where we won best chapter in the nation. The next month I was at the White House meeting venture capitalists and networking with successful startups. The month after that, I was in Hong Kong through the Sophomore International Experience program, gaining a new global perspective on business. “I’ve learned that a Bryant education is beyond just reading a textbook,” he says. “I am developing into a wellrounded scholar and learning real-world application of skills. I believe these skills will give me a clear advantage as I strive to become a global citizen.”

HTTp://BLOgS.BRYANT.EDU/NEWSROOM/?p =971

Faces in the Bryant crowd

Samir Kothari ’12 Major: International Business, Finance Minor: International Affairs Mumbai, India

Tony Houston, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Modern Languages Coordinator, Romance Languages

Emmanuelle Calvet ’12 Major: Global Studies Minor: Chinese South Grafton, MA

Stephanie Reilly Head Coach Cross Country/Track and Field

Kothari was part of Bryant’s Dragon Dance Team that placed third in the world competition in Shanghai last semester. He is a member of the International Student Organization and served on the Special Events Committee for United Nations Day. He is also a Bryant Student Ambassador for the Admission Office, leading tours for prospective students and their families. Kothari studied for a semester at Pompei Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain. “It was an exhilarating experience, and I would go back in a heartbeat,” he says. “It challenged me to be flexible, learn a language, and immerse myself in a culture I had no knowledge of. I would definitely recommend study abroad to everyone.”

Professor Houston, a recognized expert in second language acquisition and teaching, was integral in the formation of the Department of Modern Languages, and the establishment of majors in Mandarin Chinese and Spanish (also offered as minors in addition to French and Italian). He not only teaches students, he also teaches faculty – conducting language teaching workshops that demonstrate the connection between principles and practice. For his tireless efforts sharing his expertise with fellow professors, he was honored with the Faculty Development Mentor of the Year Award in 2011. “It’s the most meaningful honor I could imagine,” he says.

Global Studies major Emmanuelle Calvet ’12 will intern this summer with the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, moving her closer to her goal of becoming a Foreign Service Officer. As an intern, Calvet’s duties will be similar to that of an entry-level officer. The South Grafton, MA, student, who is fluent in French, applied for the internship in November 2011 through the State Department’s website. She received her assignment location on January 8, and her security clearance to work in an embassy is under way. “I am so happy that I got this internship,” she says.

Coach Reilly, who grew up in County Wicklow, Ireland, is in her fourth season at Bryant. In addition to guiding the university’s student-athletes, she is an accomplished athlete in her own right, having competed all her life. She began racing in the steeplechase three years ago, and is now headed to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where she will represent her country. She qualified after running an Olympic standard time in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the New York Adidas Diamond League Grand Prix last June in a personal best of 9:42:91. “I look forward to representing my country and Bryant University at the 2012 Olympic Games.”

modlangs.bryant.edu

www.bryant.edu/calvet

www.bryantbulldogs.com

www.bryant.edu/STUDYABROAD

BRYANT 360 / 7


IMPORTANT ADMISSION DATES Bryant 101 Information Session Saturday, April 21

Just 4 Juniors Monday, April 16

Admitted Student Days Monday through Thursday April 2–5 Monday through Friday April 9–13

Junior Welcome Days Tuesday through Friday April 17–20

Bryant 360 Friday, April 6

Congratulatory Dinner for Transfer Students Friday, June 1 ADMISSION.BRYANT.EDU

Admitted Student Open House Saturday, April 14

Job security continued from page 1

choice for my career path,” he says, “but I also knew that the school’s career education center had an amazing reputation for providing students with the resources to successfully get internships and jobs.” Rogers interned at Hasbro, Inc. and at Hermes Equity Ownership Service (HEOS) in London, England, where he gained a global perspective and learned the difference between finance and insurance industries in the United Kingdom and the United States. Whether it was applying for internships or a full-time job, Rogers was ready. He cites case studies, team projects, and industry research that is incorporated into academic lessons of both his business and liberal arts programs; approachable, experienced, and intelligent faculty; and the services and staff of Bryant’s Amica Center for Career Education.

“If you are looking for a university to call home, build relationships, create stories, and prepare you for life after college, there really is no other choice but Bryant,” says Rogers. “I’ve heard it said that, ‘At Bryant, you will never have to open your own door, because there will always be someone there holding it open.’ For me that holds true.”

An unforgettable experience Palmer, a marketing major with minors in communication and psychology, secured a position as a marketing coordinator at the headquarters of Foster Corporation, a leading supplier of biomedical polymer solutions for devices, implants, and drug delivery based in Putnam, CT. She was interviewing with two other companies at the time she received the offer from Foster, a company she could see herself working at. The December grad, who began working in early January, was confident going into the interview process. “I was

prepared to answer tons of tricky questions, but I was asked about myself as a person, my study abroad experience, and what I was looking for in a job.”

“For me, it was an unforgettable college experience.” Brittany palmer ’11 hopedale, ma As a student, she completed two internships – one in PR at Racepoint Group in Waltham, MA, the other in marketing at Abracadabra Fashion Ltd., a position she held while studying for a semester at the University of Auckland Business School in Auckland, New Zealand. “Though I enjoyed my classes and professors in New Zealand and the global perspective of business, the massive lectures (200+ students) did not

Visit Bryant and see for yourself!

Shadow program continued from page 1

A

Benefits of a startup Elloian had never considered working for a startup company, but the shadow program opened the door to this possibility. “Tim is so passionate about what he does,” she says. “I realized that working for an established corporation may limit selfgrowth, even though they have excellent training programs. If you work at a startup company, you miss out on formal training but gain from real job experiences.” Another Bryant graduate at Acquia, Kevin Libby ’02, provided additional insight into the company, as did Hailee Lange, who speaks fluent Spanish and oversees Latin American sales. “I thought it was incredible that Hailee is in charge of such a large area in part because she can speak another language. It made me think that my Chinese minor may give me similar opportunities,” she says. Bertrand’s days are hectic, but he takes part in the shadow program because it allows him to “share the wealth of his experience” and to get a glimpse of the talent coming up through Bryant. “Kimberly and Jim did their homework,” says Bertrand. “Many of my colleagues were impressed by the questions they asked and how well they fit into our culture.”

8 / BRYANT 360

allow for discussion and active participation,” says Palmer. “It made me appreciate the small class sizes at Bryant and the relationships that students build with professors. “My study abroad experience was filled with extraordinary adventures and memories,” she adds. “I am especially proud of how I stepped outside of my comfort zone. I came away with a sense of independence and freedom that has changed me forever.” When she was first looking at colleges, the Hopedale, MA, student knew immediately that Bryant was for her. “What sets Bryant apart is the close-knit community, active campus life, and small class sizes,” says Palmer. “From my experience, teachers are more than willing to go above and beyond to assist their students, and genuinely care about each and every one. “For me, it was an unforgettable college experience.”

t Bryant University, 12 miles from Providence, RI, seeing is believing, according to Barron’s “Best Buys in College Education.” A campus visit is the best way to make an informed decision about college. Prospective students who visit Bryant’s campus usually apply – evidence that our friendly atmosphere, beautiful campus, and high-quality academics are best experienced in person.

(L-R) Jameson Maloney ’13 talks with Lisa Dandeneau ’90, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Navigant Credit Union, and Ray Oleaga, Web specialist at Navigant Credit Union.

Banking on a career Accounting major Jameson Maloney ’13, who hopes to become a forensic accountant, spent the day at Navigant Credit Union’s Smithfield, RI, headquarters shadowing Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lisa Dandeneau ’90. Maloney met with Dandeneau and joined her in a meeting about a new system implementation. After lunch with the CEO and a tour of the facility, Maloney spent time with the organization’s controller and accounting manager. “The experience was amazing,” says Maloney. “I learned how a corporate

office functions. My day at Navigant opened up the idea of working for a financial institution – something I never considered before.” For Dandeneau, the shadow program keeps her connected with future leaders, as well as her alma mater. “By taking part in the shadow program, I have the opportunity to help a student learn. I am honored to be able to give back to Bryant and grateful for my education and the foundation it provided me for a successful and fulfilling career.” www.bryant.edu/CAREER

Student-guided Tour (Monday to Friday and most Saturdays). Information Session presented by a member of the admission staff (Monday to Friday and most Saturdays). Day With Class. interview with an admission counselor or a student fellow. Fly-in and you may qualify for a reimbursement. Can’t make it to campus? Take a Virtual Tour at admission.bryant.edu. CHECK OUT THE CALENDAR OF ADMISSION EVENTS AT ADMISSION.BRYANT.EDU, CALL US AT (800) 622-7001, OR E-MAIL ADMISSION@BRYANT.EDU FOR MORE INFORMATION.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.