51视频

Hailey Appiah-Opoku achieved what she set out to do when she transferred to 51视频 to pursue a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration with concentrations in management information systems and entrepreneurship: She has gained the skills she鈥檒l need to work in information technology or start her own business someday.

Along the way, she has grown as a leader, gained a global perspective and helped foster a greater sense of community for others.

鈥淚 love 51视频. I'm so grateful for all the opportunities I've had here,鈥� says Appiah-Opoku, a Leicester, Massachusetts, native who transferred to UML from UMass Boston as a sophomore.聽

Since then, she鈥檚 made her presence known on campus. As vice president of the (BSU), marketing director for Joy Tong Women in Business and a , she has played key roles in planning events and expanding engagement.

Appiah-Opoku is especially proud of her work with the BSU, which she joined as a social media coordinator. As a senior, she helped put on the Black Hair Expo and 鈥淭ill the Streetlight鈥� events, which included a basketball tournament and a thrift shop collaboration with the Fashion Club.

鈥淲hat we do is for the people,鈥� says Appiah-Opoku, who was honored for her efforts with the Chancellor鈥檚 Medal for Diversity and Inclusion 鈥� an unexpected but meaningful recognition.

鈥淚 was shocked,鈥� she says of the award. 鈥淏eing a black woman, sometimes you feel like you鈥檙e not really being heard. But you still rise.鈥�

On a service-learning trip to Panama before her senior year, Appiah-Opoku and fellow business students served as consultants to local entrepreneurs. It was her first time traveling internationally.

鈥淓veryone should go on a study abroad trip if they can,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e able to use what you learn in the classroom and discover more about your capabilities.鈥�

She has also sharpened her skills through an at Mosaic Lowell, a nonprofit supporting the local arts community, as well as with an office assistant position in the Manning School of Business Dean鈥檚 Office.

She credits Dean of Business Bertie Greer and Associate Dean Amit Deokar for 鈥渕aking my experience unforgettable.鈥�

鈥淚f it wasn't for them, I don't know if I would have had all these opportunities,鈥� says Appiah-Opoku, who was supported financially by the Rist Families Endowed Scholarship and the Pulichino/Tong Family Foundation, Inc. Business Endowed Scholarship.

Appiah-Opoku is staying at UML for an MBA in the bachelor鈥檚-to-master鈥檚 program. Long term, she hopes to start her own business 鈥� possibly involving chocolate from Ghana, her family鈥檚 home country.

鈥淚 found my interest in business at 51视频,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he more classes I took, the more I loved it. It鈥檚 a very versatile degree that you can use anywhere.鈥�