While this past semester was not one NC State or the graduating students anticipated, the class of 2020 has persisted through this difficult time to finish their academic careers on a high note.
“The end of the semester is one of my favorite times of the year as we get to celebrate the successes of our graduating students,” said Frank Buckless, Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. Dean. Although this semester looks very different compared to previous years, I am still very excited about our graduates. These students are truly amazing in all that they have accomplished during their time at Poole. I know our students are well prepared to make their mark in their respective fields by using their analytical tools and the ‘think and do’ spirit. I look forward to seeing all of their future endeavors.”
The future is bright for the Poole College of Management class of 2020 and we look forward to seeing the exciting opportunities coming their way.
Graduating Student Spotlights
Heather Arflin and Hannah Crompton, undergraduate
Heather Arflin and Hannah Crompton met for the first time during Wolfpack Welcome Week at the Poole College of Management Transfer Student event and as two women in their 30s in a sea of young people, they gravitated toward one another. Read more
Megan Bohm, Global Luxury and Management Program
Megan Bohm grew up in NC State’s backyard and began developing a global mindset from a young age and studied abroad in Hong Kong and Paris during her undergraduate and graduate years. Read more
James Cerone, Jenkins MBA
As an already established financial analyst at a local accounting firm, James Cerone was concerned about balancing his daily work life and evening MBA classes without hindering his work performance. Read more
Mark Chun, Jenkins Master of Accounting
Mark Chun served as a full-time accountant for two years before deciding to return to NC State to progress his career to an eventual position with a Big Four accounting firm. Read more
Randawnique Coakley, Jenkins Master of Accounting
Randawnique Coakley is one of the only Jenkins Master of Accounting students this year to have passed all sections of her Certified Public Accounting (CPA) and Certified Managerial Accounting (CMA) exams before even beginning the program. Read more
Julia Donajkowski, Jenkins Master of Accounting
Julia Donajkowski’s academic is different than most in her program. She spent six years serving as a middle school math and science teacher before deciding to begin classes at NC State. Read more
James Godin, Jenkins MBA
With a grueling schedule as a vessel operations coordinator for Edison Chouest Offshore, James Godin traveled across the globe as he completed the online Jenkins MBA Program. Read more
Nikki Hensley, Jenkins MBA
Nikki Hensley brought her passion for sustainability and the environment to the Jenkins MBA Program and the Business Sustainability Collaborative to help businesses improve product offerings. Read more
Grace Isley, Global Luxury and Management Program
Grace Isley’s interest in fashion developed at a young age, and flourished in the GLAM Program and her work as a part of the management team at the Michael Kors location in Durham. Read more
Snigdha Kotta, Jenkins MBA
Growing up in Oman, Snigdha Kotta love to take things apart and put them back together to learn how things work. She received her bachelor’s degree in engineering from NC State as is now pursuing her MBA while working full-time at SAS. Read more
Rachel Lang, undergraduate
Born and raised Wolfpack fan Rachel Lang took on her accounting coursework, leadership positions and a MetLife internship to graduate a year early. Read more
Dana Lanner, Jenkins MBA
After 25 years as a project manager, Dana Lanner decided to pursue her MBA with a dream to become a leader of a company or a major product line. Read more
Lauren LeMay, Global Luxury and Management Program
A bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising and an internship with Chanel inspired Lauren LeMay to pursue a career in luxury fashion apparel. Read more
Nicole Teague, undergraduate
Throughout her time at NC State, Nicole Teague learned that pursuing her passions has connected her to like-minded people, clarified her career path and improved the quality of her work. Read more
Caroline Utt, Global Luxury and Management Program
Caroline Utt became interested in luxury brand management after studying abroad in Florence, Italy, for her bachelor’s degree from the Wilson College of Textiles. Read more
Yifan Xie, Ph.D. in Economics
Yifan Xie’s academic journey to Poole College was longer than most as he originally received his bachelor’s degree in economics in Beijing, China, before moving to the United States. Read more
