Preferred pronouns: He/Him
Major/Concentration: Business Administration, marketing concentration
Minor(s): Economics
Hometown: Holden, MA
What made you choose Salem State, and what is the one thing you think a prospective student should know about our campus community?
I chose Salem State University because it was affordable, known for being a tight-knit community, the rich history and beauty of vibrant Salem, and the AACSB accreditation only the top 5% of business schools qualify for. One thing a prospective student should know about our campus community is our engaging campus life with diverse opportunities for students to engage regardless of their interests.
How have you stayed engaged with the campus community as a commuter student?
I have lived on campus for two years and had an apartment off campus for two years. My favorite part about being on campus is the relationships I was able to build. I have met my best friends on campus, and they are relationships that will last a lifetime. Being that close to my friends and the rest of the community on campus gave me a new memory and laughs every day. I will forever appreciate the time I spent with them. As a commuter, it is easy to stay engaged with the campus community. The school puts on several events and athletics, has clubs to join, and plenty of other ways to stay involved. I play intramural sports, work as an advisor on campus, visit my friends in their dorms, attend events for the business school, am involved in student government, get food with friends in the dining halls, and make friends in my classes. There is always a way to stay involved!
What are you involved in on campus? (Student groups, clubs, organizations, jobs, internships, honors, or athletic affiliations)
I am a member of the Student Government Association, work as a Peer Mentor in the Bertolon School of Business, attend, volunteer, and work events for the business school, competed in the Annual Viking Business Pitch competition for two years, help promote this year’s Annual Viking Business Pitch Competition, attend North Shore Chamber of Commerce meetings and forums on behalf of the university, volunteered as a marketer for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem, completed two marketing internships, made Dean's list each semester, and play on multiple intramural sports teams.
Can you describe the educational value and affordability you’ve experienced at Salem State University? How has the university supported your academic journey regarding quality and accessibility?
Salem State University has an elite-level education for a fraction of the cost of many universities. I originally came to this school to save money on my education and soon found out that the price tag did not reflect the quality. My professors have gone out of their way to ensure I fully understand the material, found ways to engage myself and other students in class, and always offered help when I needed it. There are also many resources such as professor's office hours, peer tutors, and study groups. Through my education at this university, I feel confident in the knowledge and skills I have developed in the classroom.
Could you discuss the relationships you’ve developed with faculty members at Salem State and how these relationships have influenced your learning and personal growth?
Being able to know my professors on a personal level has been game-changing for me. My professors truly care about my and all other students' success both at the university and outside endeavors.
Professors at Salem State University can be a great resource for students, and we should take the time to get to know them. In my personal experience, my professors have made me feel comfortable in a foreign environment and made me feel at home. This allowed me to open my ears and begin to listen to the information being presented to me and put it to use. Not to mention the networking opportunities, personal and professional advice, career opportunities, and friendships formed along the way.
Salem State emphasizes hands-on learning experiences. Can you share any memorable experiences where you’ve applied classroom knowledge in real-world settings through projects?
A memorable experience where I applied classroom knowledge to a real-world setting was in a Guerrilla Marketing course I took. In the course, we were paired with a local company and worked alongside the company the entire semester to create a guerrilla marketing campaign for the company. I was paired with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem. We were able to apply previous knowledge from relevant courses to develop a plan that outlined strategies to boost awareness and revenue for the club and presented it to the board. We were able to help market the annual Wild Turkey Road Race. The outcome was spectacular, with the club raising over $50,000 and smiles on everyone's face on Thanksgiving morning.
What have you accomplished during your time at Salem that you are most proud of?
I am most proud of winning the 2023 Viking Business Pitch Competition at Salem State University with the idea of "PoliticalEd," a plain-language unbiased political media platform for education and reporting. The year prior, my teammate and I made it to the final round of the competition but did not place.
In 2023, we came up with a different business idea, workshopped it from start to finish, listened to and applied valuable feedback, and crafted our pitch as perfectly as we knew how. It was a phenomenal feeling to have come back after that first loss, knowing we had the potential to do better and win the grand prize of $3,000. The best part about winning the Pitch Competition was knowing successful entrepreneurs and folks in the business world saw our potential, believed our idea and team had what it took to be successful, and the confidence it built in all of us.
In what ways has Salem State demonstrated its commitment to your success, both academically and personally? Can you share any specific instances where the university has gone above and beyond to support you?
Salem State University has demonstrated its commitment to my success academically and personally on multiple occasions. For instance, wherever I may be struggling in a course, professors always make time for me to visit with them during their office hours. They are always willing to explain topics in more depth and encourage it. When I email a professor asking a question about a class or a specific assignment, their response is almost always prompt and helpful.
Professors want their students to succeed at Salem State University; you must reach out to get that help. Salem State has demonstrated its commitment to my personal success by providing me with multiple outlets to meet new people and engage in activities of all kinds. The school has enabled me to be involved in intramural sports, use the school gym every week, participate in student government, allowed me to work as an advisor, volunteer, and work in Bertolon for events, attend events on and off campus hosted by the university, and countless other opportunities. Each outlet the school provides has allowed me to meet new people, try new things, create memories, be involved, and be challenged. All these have allowed me to grow as a person and have greatly impacted my success thus far.
As you near graduation, how do you feel Salem State has prepared you for your future career? What resources or opportunities have been particularly valuable in this regard?
I was extremely fortunate to have completed two internships during my time here, and it has provided me with experience and skills I would not have learned within the classroom. Salem State encourages students to complete internships. The university has connections with companies regardless of what you may be studying at Salem State and will pair you with the best opportunity available so you can get hands-on experience and feel comfortable going into your first full-time job. I was able to complete marketing internships with Voices Against Injustice and Polar Beverages, where I truly got an understanding of what it was like to be in an office setting, how work was delegated, how to use different software, how the various roles in company work together, and countless other lessons.
My advisor and professors encouraged me to take an internship, and I am glad I took their advice. The faculty at Salem State University are great resources, and if you take the time to get to know them, they will open doors for you that you would not be able to yourself. Faculty has vouched for me for potential job positions, introduced me to bright and talented people, and most of all given me advice and tools to succeed in my future career.
What are your post-graduation plans, and how do you believe your time at Salem State has equipped you for success in pursuing them?
Currently, I am looking for a full-time position in sales. Specifically, I am looking to begin as a Sales Development Representative for a technology company. After that, I look to advance in the company, invest in properties, and begin a company of my own through hard work, dedication, and always striving to learn more. I have ambitious goals, and I know I will get there when the time is right.
I am currently interviewing with companies and hope to land the right job before I graduate this spring. I am confident in my skill set, knowledge, and potential to succeed. The connections I have made, the courses I have taken, the internships I have completed, the involvement I have had on campus, and the work I have put in at this university will allow me to be the best version of myself as I hit the ground running with my future endeavors.