Hometown: Cedartown, Georgia
Who most influenced your decision to pursue your BSBA?
Honestly, myself. I have no immediate family that works in business, and I had no real exposure to business growing up. However, I always had a knack for selling, especially when it came to selling myself. I was strong-willed, dependable, bright, and determined to accomplish anything I set my mind to.
Those traits allowed me to sell myself as a student to a school like Georgia Tech. At Georgia Tech, it was confirmed in Michael Dutcher’s Career Development (MGT 3599) class that the number one tool to have in your back pocket is the ability to sell yourself. Dutcher said you need to be able to give employers, future bosses, or truly anyone else a reason to believe in you. I never even realized it was a strength of mine until I took that class, and it has given me the confidence to come as far as I have today.
What was your favorite business course and why?
My favorite business course was Advanced Managerial Accounting (MGT 4015) with Professor Justin Blann. To explain why, here is a direct quote from the ONLY Rate My Professor entry I have made over the past four years:
“Such a fun class and professor! Unique approach of teaching valuable acct content in an enjoyable and low-stress format. Assignments include many small group projects, a few pop quizzes, and the final was a slightly larger group project. One of my fav classes I have taken at Georgia Tech, so ABSOLUTELY take it if you need an extra MGT/accounting elective!
I already had fundamental managerial accounting knowledge from ACCT II, so this class allowed me to use that knowledge while working on realistic business cases, and it was a lot of fun! It is one of, if not the most, relevant classes to what I will be doing when I graduate.”
What advice would you give to an incoming Scheller student?
Even if you think you have everything figured out, you don’t! And that’s okay! Your four years of college are the most formative years of your life. You will change. It’s up to you to take advantage of those years and make your change for the better.
What activities were you involved with on or off campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?
I was vice president of membership development for the Scheller Business Ambassadors, which taught me how to lead and unite a community of brilliant, unique, business-focused individuals.
I was vice president of marketing and director of social events for my sorority. Those positions taught me how to budget effectively, how to plan and organize content and large events, how to take constructive criticism, and how to represent a large group of people through one lens or perspective.
What is something unexpected you learned about Scheller College during your time as a student?
I had no idea I would find a community as strong as the one I found at Scheller. I am from a very small town, so coming to a school like Georgia Tech in a city as big as Atlanta was extremely intimidating for me early on. The people at Scheller were (and still are) friendly, supportive, and look to help you out in any way they can.
What’s been your favorite memory so far at Scheller?
Towards the end of the Spring 2025 semester, Professor Justin Blann planned for a class day at Boho Taco related to our final project for his Advanced Managerial Accounting (MGT 4015) class, but he had not landed on a day until a week or two before. Conveniently, my 21st birthday landed on a Thursday, one of his class days, two weeks before the end of the semester. I asked if we could take our trip to Boho on my birthday, and he happily agreed. It was so much fun, and we all decided to make it a regular gig!
What is the biggest lesson you gained from your time at Scheller?
I learned not to take myself so seriously — not to call myself the personality hire. I have never felt more respected as an adult or a working individual than when I have let my guard down a bit and shown the colorful side of my personality. I like being a joy to work with, and it makes for a better working environment for everyone around me. I think everyone should try it out sometime.
Where will you be working after graduation?
I’ll be working on the corporate accounting team at Georgia-Pacific’s corporate office in Atlanta.
What will you be doing to celebrate your graduation?
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! AND I’M THRILLED ABOUT IT! In all seriousness, my family’s annual summer beach trip, a trip out to Chicago to visit a fellow Scheller alum, and a whole lot of sitting by the pool until I start work in August!
Who would you like to thank most for your success?
My parents are the only reason I have been lucky enough to receive any of the opportunities I have thus far, and I’m so grateful for their love and support. My high school teachers Jennifer Cupp and Jordan Hubbard taught me everything I know today about thinking outside the box, staying humble and remembering my roots, having empathy for those around me, and never being too afraid to make my voice heard. Finally, my wonderful community here at Scheller has been nothing short of a blessing and an inspiration to work hard and do my part to keep up the reputation we are so proud to represent.
What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
I started Georgia Tech as an Aerospace Engineering major! I have a passion to work alongside engineers and interdisciplinary teams, but I always wanted to land in a more business-focused career path after college. I thought I needed the background knowledge in engineering to make that plan successful. I learned shortly after beginning my time at Tech that the Denning Technology and Management Program could provide me with the background in engineering and network with interdisciplinary teams I would need to succeed. I spent the majority of my four years at Scheller diving into learning how a business operates.
Who is your favorite business professor?
Debby Turner has been my favorite business professor since I took her Accounting I class the spring of my freshman year. I had already decided before taking ACCT I that there was no possible way I could ever find interest in accounting, but then, I took her class. She was bright, bubbly, and entertaining every single time the class met. The way she presented the class material proved my initial assumptions about accounting to be 100% wrong. It was actually fun. I connected so well with her style of teaching that I committed to accounting as my concentration, and I went on to take two more classes with her. Now that I am about to graduate and officially begin my career in accounting, I will never forget the impact she had on my entire Georgia Tech experience.
Which classmate do you most admire?
Mallory Maples has been nothing short of a pleasure to get to know and become friends with over the past couple of years. She is brilliant, miles ahead of me in any and all things accounting-related, organized like nobody’s business, inspiringly confident, an absolute goofball, and overall, just a joy to be in the presence of. Mallory is the type of person who will cheer you on and encourage you to be the best version of yourself, and I truly believe my time at Scheller would not look the same without her.
What actor would you cast to play yourself in a movie about your life, and why?
If we were a bit closer in age, I would cast Emma Stone to play me in a movie about my life. She is known for being charismatic, passionate, and hilarious, and honestly, there is no one else like her in Hollywood. I think many would say we have a few of those things in common.
What's your favorite place you've traveled to, and why?
Florence, Italy was a dream! I could go on and on about how great the city is. The food was amazing, the people were kind, the art and infrastructure were divine, and I don’t believe I have ever seen a sight as beautiful as the sun setting over the city.
Favorite family tradition?
The annual beach trip I mentioned before! Life gets busier every single year, but I know one week each summer, I don’t have to worry about a single thing (besides maybe my sister stealing the outfit I want to wear each night). I’m very close with my family, but we are all extremely high maintenance, and they drive me absolutely insane a lot of the time, so that stress-free week together on the beach is more than appreciated — it’s required in order to function.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
I set a goal in the third grade to be valedictorian of my high school’s graduating class of 2022, and I was able to accomplish that goal.
What did you want to be when you were small?
A mermaid. When I found out mermaids weren’t real, a marine biologist because it was the closest I could get to being a mermaid. Also, I’m a big fan of sharks.
What is your latest book recommendation?
I’m more of a movie gal myself. “Sinners” and “The Drama” are two of the best films I have watched in the theater in a very long time.
Which Atlanta spot, activity, or hidden gem would you recommend to future students?
This is not AT ALL hidden, but as someone who had never been to a Trader Joe’s before coming to college, it truly changed my life. My top three products:
- Spanish rice packets you heat in the microwave
- Dark chocolate peanut butter cups
- Caesar salad dressing
