\n
\u201cI never do the work for the recognition \u2014 I do it because every student is me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Arrington was a first-generation college student when he attended the University of Toledo. Since his parents hadn\u2019t been through the college process, he had to lean on people within his school to navigate the unknowns and succeed in college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s an experience he takes to work with him every day as director of admissions and enrollment for the Jenkins Master of Accounting (MAC) Program at Poole College of Management, helping the next generation of students not just in admissions, but in succeeding at Poole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That student-first approach was part of what led the Triangle Business Journal to recognize him this year as one of the region\u2019s most promising young business leaders under 40 \u2014 an honor that considers not just career achievement, but leadership and community impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor Arrington, the road to Poole wasn\u2019t a straight line from his own time as a student to leading an admissions office. His undergraduate degrees are in psychology and counseling, and he went on to earn a master\u2019s degree so that he could become a therapist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But there are common threads through his life experience and his education that tie in to what he does today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Growing up in a small town in Ohio, Arrington watched his dad work in a factory \u2014 a stable path, but not the one he wanted for himself. He quickly came to understand the importance of education.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n \n
\u201cEducation opened up my world and let me go anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEducation opened up my world and let me go anywhere,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following his master\u2019s degree, Arrington\u2019s early career spanned time working with children, running an after-school program and serving as a vice principal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arrington broke into admissions counseling 16 years ago, working at private schools and then moving to UNC-Chapel Hill before coming to NC State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n \n
<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n <\/aside>\n\n\n\n \n\n \n
\u201cI know my purpose regardless of my title.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n <\/aside>\n\n\n\n
Even though his graduate training was in therapy rather than higher education, Arrington says the transition made more sense than it might appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI had to realize I was still counseling people, still helping people,\u201d he says. \u201cI know my purpose regardless of my title.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n
\n \u201cMy job isn\u2019t just to get people in the door, but to focus on getting them through the program.\u201d<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/aside>\n\n\n\n Being the first in his family to attend college brought his parents a lot of pride, but it also meant he didn\u2019t have past family experience to draw on. Having been through those times of uncertainty means Arrington can put on that therapist hat to relate to the hopes \u2014 and fears \u2014 of the students he sees today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe admissions process can be the scariest part \u2014 there\u2019s a lot of self-doubt,\u201d he says. \u201cMy job isn\u2019t just to get people in the door, but to focus on getting them through the program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Arrington arrived at Poole, the Jenkins MAC Program was already successful, but Scott Showalter, new himself to the role as director of the MAC Program, wanted to take it further. One of Arrington\u2019s first major projects was helping launch the program\u2019s online option, something he had done previously at Chapel Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe program had just gotten approved, and Scott wanted me to build it,\u201d Arrington says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His goal was not just program success, but a sense of community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t want online students to feel disconnected,\u201d he says. \u201cWe wanted a flexible format, but one where students still felt like part of the on-campus community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n \n
\u201cWe wanted a flexible format, but one where students still felt like part of the on-campus community.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n <\/aside>\n\n\n\n
The first online cohort exceeded expectations, growing well beyond the 10 to 15 students the MAC team initially anticipated. But he says the team was intentional about keeping the experience personal as the program grew. They mailed welcome gifts and t-shirts to online students that on-campus students received in person, invited them to campus social events and built in the same kind of connection, regardless of the program\u2019s format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The program has also expanded the career tracks available to students, allowing them to pursue public accounting or business and industry paths, and has widened its reach far beyond traditional accounting majors. The approach has created a demand that\u2019s reflected in the applicant pool each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis past year, we had 52 different university undergraduate programs represented in our applications, and not all of them were accounting majors,\u201d Arrington says. \u201cOver the years we\u2019ve had everyone from a career-switching Broadway makeup artist to an animal science undergrad \u2014 we provide opportunities to people who may never have thought about accounting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Showalter says the program\u2019s expansion and success are a direct reflection of Arrington\u2019s contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n
\n \u201cHe always puts the interests of the students first \u2014 a key component of being part of the MAC Program family.\u201d<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/aside>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe is instrumental in attracting top talent to the MAC Program,\u201d Showalter says. \u201cHe helps students with their transition into the MAC Program and is always there to help them along the way with relevant advice and, sometimes, tough love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe always puts the interests of the students first \u2014 a key component of being part of the MAC Program family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arrington is quick to share credit with his colleagues. He describes the culture the team has built as more than a marketing slogan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen we say family, it\u2019s not a marketing phrase,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019ve been invited to weddings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under Arrington, the MAC Program has continued to grow, celebrating its largest cohorts to date, both on campus and online. The team has worked hard to demonstrate the relevance of accounting in today\u2019s world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs long as there\u2019s money, there are jobs for accountants,\u201d Arrington says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n \n
\u201cWe\u2019re making sure we\u2019re developing these students with both the soft skills and technical skills so they know how to navigate any room.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n <\/aside>\n\n\n\n
As Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure requirements have evolved, the MAC team has succeeded in demonstrating how the program develops each individual not just as a student, but also as a well-rounded professional ready for the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re making sure we\u2019re developing these students with both the soft skills and technical skills so they know how to navigate any room,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Poole\u2019s new 3+1 program is one answer: it lets students take graduate-level courses as undergraduates, earning a bachelor\u2019s degree in three years and a master\u2019s in a fourth, while still preparing for CPA licensure.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor Arrington, Showalter\u2019s leadership and the broader Poole culture have played a large role in his own success and satisfaction in the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cScott and I run the MAC Program together,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019re different people with different backgrounds, but he allows me to be exactly who I am because there\u2019s a thread that connects us \u2014 he and our entire team care about the students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Showalter, in turn, says Arrington embodies exactly what the 40 Under 40 recognition is meant to honor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen reflecting on the criteria for the 40 Under 40 award, Jay has definitively excelled in his performance wherever he has been,\u201d Showalter says. \u201cJay\u2019s talents have helped lead the Jenkins Master of Accounting Program to record heights when other programs have struggled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is clear the Jenkins MAC Program is where it is today due to Jay\u2019s contributions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 40 Under 40 process itself unfolded over several months, but two moments stood out to Arrington. In June, ahead of the awards ceremony, honorees took part in a Habitat for Humanity build, where Arrington \u2014 self-described \u201cbaseboard captain\u201d \u2014 helped construct the organization\u2019s 1,000th and 1,001st houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo have that type of impact and help people was a great joy,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the ceremony itself, honorees were asked to bring a prop that represented something meaningful to them, then take the stage for photos and a short speech. Arrington chose three stuffed animals, representing his three children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n \n
\u201cIt\u2019s my job to help them be successful regardless of what they bring to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n <\/aside>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy speech was about how different my three kids are, and that\u2019s what makes them amazing,\u201d he says. \u201cWhat we do at State is work with young people, and each is unique in their own way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s my job to help them be successful regardless of what they bring to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n \n
\u201cWho you are will truly shine through, and you\u2019ll be successful if you bring your true self to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was so impactful to be in that room, to see the other people in my peer group who are making an impact,\u201d he says. \u201cIt made me feel very excited about the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n \n
\u201cYou\u2019re not your job or your title \u2014 you\u2019re your impact. We can make an impact regardless of our title.”<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n <\/aside>\n\n\n\n
Outside of Poole, Arrington stays busy with community service, volunteering with a number of organizations. He previously served on the board of the Youth Ambassadors of Service. He also works as a professional life coach and author through his own side venture. But most of his time outside the office, he says, belongs to his three children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked what advice he\u2019d give to someone who hopes to follow a similar path, Arrington thinks about the transitions he made throughout his career and how those led him to today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not your job or your title \u2014 you\u2019re your impact,\u201d he says. \u201cWe can make an impact regardless of our title.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho you are will truly shine through, and you\u2019ll be successful if you bring your true self to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n
When Jay Arrington found out he\u2019d been named to the Triangle Business Journal\u2019s 40 Under 40 list, he didn\u2019t think about his own success. He thought about the students he supports every day through Poole College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI never do the work for the recognition \u2014 I do it because every student is me,\u201d Arrington says. \u201cSo to be recognized for the impact I\u2019m making here means everything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Arrington was a first-generation college student when he attended the University of Toledo. Since his parents hadn\u2019t been through the college process, he had to lean on people within his school to navigate the unknowns and succeed in college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s an experience he takes to work with him every day as director of admissions and enrollment for the Jenkins Master of Accounting (MAC) Program at Poole College of Management, helping the next generation of students not just in admissions, but in succeeding at Poole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That student-first approach was part of what led the Triangle Business Journal to recognize him this year as one of the region\u2019s most promising young business leaders under 40 \u2014 an honor that considers not just career achievement, but leadership and community impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor Arrington, the road to Poole wasn\u2019t a straight line from his own time as a student to leading an admissions office. His undergraduate degrees are in psychology and counseling, and he went on to earn a master\u2019s degree so that he could become a therapist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But there are common threads through his life experience and his education that tie in to what he does today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Growing up in a small town in Ohio, Arrington watched his dad work in a factory \u2014 a stable path, but not the one he wanted for himself. He quickly came to understand the importance of education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u201cEducation opened up my world and let me go anywhere,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following his master\u2019s degree, Arrington\u2019s early career spanned time working with children, running an after-school program and serving as a vice principal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arrington broke into admissions counseling 16 years ago, working at private schools and then moving to UNC-Chapel Hill before coming to NC State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Even though his graduate training was in therapy rather than higher education, Arrington says the transition made more sense than it might appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI had to realize I was still counseling people, still helping people,\u201d he says. \u201cI know my purpose regardless of my title.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Being the first in his family to attend college brought his parents a lot of pride, but it also meant he didn\u2019t have past family experience to draw on. Having been through those times of uncertainty means Arrington can put on that therapist hat to relate to the hopes \u2014 and fears \u2014 of the students he sees today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe admissions process can be the scariest part \u2014 there\u2019s a lot of self-doubt,\u201d he says. \u201cMy job isn\u2019t just to get people in the door, but to focus on getting them through the program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Arrington arrived at Poole, the Jenkins MAC Program was already successful, but Scott Showalter, new himself to the role as director of the MAC Program, wanted to take it further. One of Arrington\u2019s first major projects was helping launch the program\u2019s online option, something he had done previously at Chapel Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe program had just gotten approved, and Scott wanted me to build it,\u201d Arrington says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His goal was not just program success, but a sense of community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t want online students to feel disconnected,\u201d he says. \u201cWe wanted a flexible format, but one where students still felt like part of the on-campus community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
The first online cohort exceeded expectations, growing well beyond the 10 to 15 students the MAC team initially anticipated. But he says the team was intentional about keeping the experience personal as the program grew. They mailed welcome gifts and t-shirts to online students that on-campus students received in person, invited them to campus social events and built in the same kind of connection, regardless of the program\u2019s format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The program has also expanded the career tracks available to students, allowing them to pursue public accounting or business and industry paths, and has widened its reach far beyond traditional accounting majors. The approach has created a demand that\u2019s reflected in the applicant pool each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis past year, we had 52 different university undergraduate programs represented in our applications, and not all of them were accounting majors,\u201d Arrington says. \u201cOver the years we\u2019ve had everyone from a career-switching Broadway makeup artist to an animal science undergrad \u2014 we provide opportunities to people who may never have thought about accounting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Showalter says the program\u2019s expansion and success are a direct reflection of Arrington\u2019s contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe is instrumental in attracting top talent to the MAC Program,\u201d Showalter says. \u201cHe helps students with their transition into the MAC Program and is always there to help them along the way with relevant advice and, sometimes, tough love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe always puts the interests of the students first \u2014 a key component of being part of the MAC Program family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arrington is quick to share credit with his colleagues. He describes the culture the team has built as more than a marketing slogan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen we say family, it\u2019s not a marketing phrase,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019ve been invited to weddings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under Arrington, the MAC Program has continued to grow, celebrating its largest cohorts to date, both on campus and online. The team has worked hard to demonstrate the relevance of accounting in today\u2019s world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs long as there\u2019s money, there are jobs for accountants,\u201d Arrington says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
As Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure requirements have evolved, the MAC team has succeeded in demonstrating how the program develops each individual not just as a student, but also as a well-rounded professional ready for the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re making sure we\u2019re developing these students with both the soft skills and technical skills so they know how to navigate any room,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Poole\u2019s new 3+1 program is one answer: it lets students take graduate-level courses as undergraduates, earning a bachelor\u2019s degree in three years and a master\u2019s in a fourth, while still preparing for CPA licensure.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor Arrington, Showalter\u2019s leadership and the broader Poole culture have played a large role in his own success and satisfaction in the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cScott and I run the MAC Program together,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019re different people with different backgrounds, but he allows me to be exactly who I am because there\u2019s a thread that connects us \u2014 he and our entire team care about the students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Showalter, in turn, says Arrington embodies exactly what the 40 Under 40 recognition is meant to honor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen reflecting on the criteria for the 40 Under 40 award, Jay has definitively excelled in his performance wherever he has been,\u201d Showalter says. \u201cJay\u2019s talents have helped lead the Jenkins Master of Accounting Program to record heights when other programs have struggled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is clear the Jenkins MAC Program is where it is today due to Jay\u2019s contributions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 40 Under 40 process itself unfolded over several months, but two moments stood out to Arrington. In June, ahead of the awards ceremony, honorees took part in a Habitat for Humanity build, where Arrington \u2014 self-described \u201cbaseboard captain\u201d \u2014 helped construct the organization\u2019s 1,000th and 1,001st houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo have that type of impact and help people was a great joy,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the ceremony itself, honorees were asked to bring a prop that represented something meaningful to them, then take the stage for photos and a short speech. Arrington chose three stuffed animals, representing his three children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy speech was about how different my three kids are, and that\u2019s what makes them amazing,\u201d he says. \u201cWhat we do at State is work with young people, and each is unique in their own way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s my job to help them be successful regardless of what they bring to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was so impactful to be in that room, to see the other people in my peer group who are making an impact,\u201d he says. \u201cIt made me feel very excited about the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Outside of Poole, Arrington stays busy with community service, volunteering with a number of organizations. He previously served on the board of the Youth Ambassadors of Service. He also works as a professional life coach and author through his own side venture. But most of his time outside the office, he says, belongs to his three children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked what advice he\u2019d give to someone who hopes to follow a similar path, Arrington thinks about the transitions he made throughout his career and how those led him to today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not your job or your title \u2014 you\u2019re your impact,\u201d he says. \u201cWe can make an impact regardless of our title.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho you are will truly shine through, and you\u2019ll be successful if you bring your true self to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Once a first-generation college student navigating the unknown, Jay Arrington now helps others find their way \u2014 work that has earned him recognition among the Triangle\u2019s 40 Under 40.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52483,"featured_media":516083,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"views\/single-immersive.blade.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"Lea Hart","ncst_show_custom_author":true,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/side-by-side-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"backgroundColor\":\"custombg_six\",\"caption\":\"\",\"focalPoint\":{\"x\":0.66,\"y\":0.28},\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"subtitle\":\"Once a first-generation college student navigating the unknown, Jay Arrington now helps others find their way.\",\"displayCategoryID\":7,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"image\":\"{\\\"alt\\\":\\\"jay arrington on stage with award\\\",\\\"id\\\":516078,\\\"caption\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2026\/10\/jay-2-making-it-count-683x1024.jpg\\\"}\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[86,26],"tags":[],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[85],"class_list":["post-515987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faculty-and-staff","category-newswire"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":7,"name":"Organizational Excellence","slug":"organizational-excellence","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":7,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":45,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515987","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/52483"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=515987"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515987\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":516201,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515987\/revisions\/516201"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/516083"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=515987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=515987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=515987"},{"taxonomy":"_ncst_magazine_issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_ncst_magazine_issue?post=515987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"jay](\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2026\/10\/jay-3-making-it-count-683x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n