Introducing the Poole Student Advisory Board
By Jess Clarke
Who can provide some of the best input about strategic decisions that guide the Poole College of Management’s future?
Poole’s key stakeholders — the students.
That’s why Dean Frank Buckless and Associate Dean for Academic Programs Vikas Anand formed the new Poole College Student Advisory Board this semester. The board’s 15 undergraduates will give feedback on how Poole moves forward with initiatives to remain vibrant and competitive in the changing higher education landscape.
We felt it was important to also work with our alumni of the future, students who are here now who can become in some ways part of the thinking about what we should do for the future of Poole College.
Poole administrators already meet regularly with advisory boards of alumni and others who are business leaders. “We felt it was important to also work with our alumni of the future, students who are here now who can become in some ways part of the thinking about what we should do for the future of Poole College,” Anand says.
He and Buckless met with a small group of undergraduates last fall to discuss possible additional opportunities for first-year students and new programming ideas. “They gave us such good ideas, we realized we need to have students involved on an ongoing basis,” Anand says. “The students were amazing. We were so impressed.”
That meeting led to the permanent student advisory board.
Administrators will ask students for input on pressing challenges to ensure Poole continues to deliver a first-rate business education that meets students’ and employers’ needs. “We want to make students part of the solution for many of the future strategic challenges,” Anand says.
We want to make students part of the solution for many of the future strategic challenges.
The board’s recent first meeting centered on two issues: increasing student engagement in and out of the classroom and strengthening the administration’s communication with students.
“Communication needs to be more direct. We have a lot of different newsletters and things on the website. Information needs to be consolidated and streamlined, so all students see it…and to make sure everyone is interested in and excited about what is going on in the college,” says advisory board co-president Brooke Kappeler ’23, who is studying business administration.
The board’s main mission is to help administrators enhance the student experience through immersive real-world opportunities such as more practicums and internships, regular mentoring and other career-preparation initiatives. Those measures will help students succeed — at Poole and in their careers.
“The overall goal of the board is to support…an innovative curriculum and strategies that create impact for undergraduate students,” says board co-president Brandon Morton ’23, who is studying accounting. “It’s not like a student complaint session. The deans are thinking of ways to evolve the school…and how to improve and update things where they see fit.”
Ongoing student feedback is essential because of generational differences in perspectives. “We want to have a better sense of how they look at the world,” Anand says.
The board’s diversity will generate a range of opinions for administrators to consider.
“Things can be approached very differently among a group of students,” says Kappeler, from Columbus, Ohio. “With every student having their own experiences within the college, there could be some very creative ideas and suggestions brought to the meetings, so I think it could be really cool.”
With every student having their own experiences within the college, there could be some very creative ideas and suggestions brought to the meetings, so I think it could be really cool.
Membership on the advisory board will provide students leadership opportunities that could help them as they start their careers.
“They are giving a lot of their time to us,” Anand says. “We want to make sure students get something from us in return,” such as mentoring and networking opportunities.
Administrators plan to form a similar advisory board for Poole graduate students soon.
On the undergraduate level, the board could have a significant influence on the experiences of current and future Poole students.
“The most successful board would be one that represents the entirety of the Poole College of Management…so every student has a say in what the college will be doing at a higher level,” says Morton, of Cary, North Carolina. “I hope it will have an impact before I graduate and also years down the road.”
Meet the Students
Co-Presidents
Brooke Kappeler, junior, business administration
From Columbus, Ohio, Brooke Kappeler is a junior studying business administration with a concentration in finance and minors in French, Spanish and international studies. Kappeler is currently a year-round global accounting and expense intern at SAS and this summer she will be a financial analytics intern with Cisco. Within Poole, Kappeler is a member of Global Corps and the director of finance for Poole Council. On campus, she is the president of her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma.
Brandon Morton, junior, accounting
Brandon Morton is a junior majoring in accounting with a concentration in financial analysis. Morton is also part of the Business Analytics Honors Program and plans to pursue his Masters of Accounting degree at NC State upon graduation in May 2023 and ultimately receive his CPA license. Outside of the classroom, Morton is involved with the Poole Student Ambassadors, a group that serves as a resource to both prospective high school students and transfer students.
Board Members
Zach Abramczyk, junior, business administration
Zach Abramczyk is a Poole junior from Apex, North Carolina, majoring in business administration with a concentration in finance. Along with being a dedicated student, Abramczyk is the managing director of Bell Tower Capital Management, NC State’s student managed investment fund. Abramczyk is a former Finance Club vice president and currently a Poole Ambassador. For the past year, Abramczyk has worked as an investment intern with NC State’s Office of Investments and will join Regions Bank as an investment banking summer analyst during the summer of 2022.
Caleb Bowens, junior, business administration
Charlotte-native Caleb Bowens is a current junior who came to NC State from Gaston Christian School in Gastonia, North Carolina. Now, Bowens business administration major with a concentration in information technology (IT). Outside of the classroom, Bowens’ hobbies include listening to music and watching any type of sport. Bowens is currently working towards getting an internship this summer working for an IT corporation to gain experience that will hopefully secure a job upon graduation.
Zachary S. Criddle, sophomore, business administration
Zachary Criddle is a sophomore studying at finance Poole College. Criddle was born and raised in Raleigh but his family is from New York. Criddle has played lacrosse and football his whole life and has numerous hobbies and interests including hunting, golfing, guitar, piano, cars, music and watches. On campus, Criddle is a leader in the Finance Club, co-founder of the Investment Banking Club and a member of the Investors Association, Italian Club, and NC State Lacrosse Club.
Tara Dorsett, junior, business administration
Tara Dorsett is a junior majoring in business administration with a concentration in marketing. The Raleigh-native is the vice president of marketing for the Zeta Beta chapter of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. Dorsett is an intern for the Poole College admissions team and is excited to be a part of the Poole College Student Advisory Board.
Davis Hamilton, junior, business administration
As a junior studying business administration with a concentration in IT, Davis Hamilton is involved in the Data Analytics Honors Program and works in the NC State Office of Information Technology as a project management intern. On campus, Hamilton is a Poole Ambassador and the scholarship chair of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He is excited to work closely with the Dean’s Office and looking forward to getting to know Dean Buckless better.
Julia Hensley, junior, business administration
Julia Hensley is a junior majoring in business administration with a concentration in IT. Hensley enjoys playing tennis and soccer in her free time as well as playing the guitar and piano. Hensley is interning at Bandwidth this summer and is hoping to pursue a career in project management. She is excited to be a member of the Poole College Student Advisory Board and is looking forward to the rest of this semester.
Introducing the Poole Student Advisory Board