Student Engagement Takes Center Stage in the College of Business
Members of the Women in Business Club e-board
The College of Business has had a long history of outstanding student engagement with active business related clubs and co-ed professional fraternities, but when the pandemic first happened, engagement went a bit awry. Events and activities that had been scheduled prior to March 2020 were transitioned to a virtual format or even cancelled. The time marked the beginning of the Zoom meeting and the way we would interact with each other for the next several semesters. Students who were freshman at the start of the pandemic are now seniors, with their college experience being shaped by the virtual structure more than any other. Nevertheless, since 2020, students, faculty and staff have adapted well, being able to offer excellent programming in both virtual and now back to in-person settings.
Fall 2022 has seen a resurgence in activity among College of Business students. The semester featured a bustling weekly event calendar with activities from 9 student organizations offering general body meetings, workshops, guest speakers, and more. Three business-related clubs were introduced this Fall: Beta Alpha Psi (petitioning chapter), the Real Estate Institute Club, and the Women in Business (WIB) club, the latter founded by senior Lily Schuhbeck.
Schuhbeck stated, "I co-founded Women In Business because after a whirlwind of a pandemic-influenced college experience, I was really lacking a community of like-minded young women with similar goals and aspirations. I noticed this was missing at Stony Brook and decided to take action alongside two of my closest friends and it was the best thing I ever did!"
WIB offers weekly general body meetings and seminars that include guest speakers from companies such as Northwestern Mutual, Sherwin Williams, and Norby to present on careers in finance, interview prep, and community & growth. WIB presentations have included topics on building your network, personal branding, equity in the workplace, personal finance, business fashion; and they even had a vision board workshop, and a LinkedIn professional headshot event.
Another new club this semester is the Real Estate Institute (REI) Club, working in tandem with the Real Estate Institute at Stony Brook University. The club is dedicated to connecting students and real estate industry professionals, as well as to provide opportunities for growth and knowledge in the many outlets that the real estate industry covers, such as internships, workshops, real estate license training, and one on one mentorship. The Real Estate Institute has been operating for over 40 years by facilitating the evolution of real estate on Long Island. Members of the Institute serve as respected spokespersons on contemporary issues and as a resource for professional career development. With the REI Club, current SBU now have the pathway and opportunity to learn, experience, and develop alongside the success that the institute has provided for the many years it has been around. The REI Club strives to serve as the bridge between the students and professionals. Events this Fall have included general meetings, speed mentoring, a building tour of Port Jefferson Crossing, a industry panel presentation, participation in the REI Fall Luncheon, and even a Monopoly night!
Beta Alpha Psi (petitioning chapter) is an honor organization for financial information students and professionals. There are over 300 chapters on college and university campuses with over 300,000 members initiated since Beta Alpha Psi's formation. All BAP chapters are AACSB and/or EQUIS accredited. They are not a fraternity or sorority but an honors organization. Since the beginning of the semester they have worked with our newly formed Accounting Advisory Board firms on weekly programming for students interested in careers in accounting. Students heard from firms on topics such as interview skills, negotiation, personal branding, and emotional intelligence. The group also hosted alumnus Boris Espinoza, Director, Citi Private Bank, for a Q&A session on his career since Stony Brook.
It’s never too late to get involved in business-related clubs and organizations and Stony Brook, and all students are welcome to attend meetings and events. Visit the club section of the CoB website for more information.
REI Club members at the Real Estate Institute Fall Luncheon
