Academics

Smeal summer student marshal credits mentorship program with building confidence

Jahanavi Gupta, Smeal's summer 2018 student marshal, plans to put her finance degree to use at home in New Delhi, India. Credit: Photo by Andy Elder / Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Of all the myriad services and opportunities the Penn State Smeal College of Business provides its undergraduate population, Jahanavi Gupta pointed to the Smeal Mentoring Program as the most impactful on her impressive academic career.

Gupta, who graduated recently with a 3.95 GPA in finance, was selected as Smeal’s summer 2018 student marshal.

Gupta was paired with Glenn Miller, the chief financial officer of Cumberland Truck Equipment Company, during her freshman year. She said that over the next three years, Miller was a valuable asset to her.

“He went above and beyond what his role demanded. He organized numerous meetings with his colleagues, who are successful professionals in different business fields (finance, accounting, technology, NGOs),” she said.

“Before I was connected with Mr. Miller, I was a newcomer to business who didn’t have any idea about different fields. With his constant guidance, support, and networking opportunities, I am now a confident senior graduating with a strong understanding of the business world. He is truly the best mentor I could have asked for. I am very fortunate to have been his mentee.”

In addition to the time she spent with her mentor, Gupta kept herself busy with a variety of pursuits. She participated in a host of research projects, undertook several internships, served as associate director of marketing and logistics for the Princeton Quant Trading Conference, and volunteered her time with the Project Cahir Corps: Penn State Students United Against Poverty.

During her time at Smeal, Gupta was awarded the Penn State Harrisburg Global Ambassador Programs Outstanding Leader Award, the President Sparks Award and the President’s Freshman Award. She also was a Global Lion Ambassador, vice president of the Penn State Astronomy Club, and a New Student Orientation Leader, and won a scholarship to a youth camp in Hamburg, Germany, so she could strengthen her German-speaking skills.

She said she plans to return to her hometown of New Delhi, India, to work for a trading company and to study for CFA (chartered financial analyst) exams.

Gupta admitted to “jumping for joy” when she learned she had been selected as student marshal. That and a recent article about Penn State ranking No. 2 for producing CEOs affirmed her decision to travel so far to pursue her degree.

“In pursuit of a great education, I came to America to study at Smeal because of its well-established and internationally renowned business programs,” she said. “When I recently read a CNBC article citing Penn State’s No. 2 ranking for producing CEOs, that just confirmed my decision. To be the student marshal for the business school of such a university is just surreal and a great honor.”

Last Updated August 23, 2018

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