“My dream job is to own a business that helps educate minority communities about financial literacy & higher education. I hope to use my accounting, finance, and business skills from my degree in order to bring about positive change in communities across the state of Michigan.”
Spencer has spent his time at WMU pursuing opportunities that will help him succeed in the business world after graduation. With the help of scholarships, he’s been able to gain experiences in and out of the classroom that gives him the power to hit his goals.
In addition to completing a two-week virtual internship with a large accounting firm in Detroit this past summer, Spencer is proud of his accomplishments as President of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Chapter at WMU, a chapter which he had a hand in getting on campus. He says both experiences allowed him to sharpen his leadership and communication skills.
“With the help of two other students and our academic advisor, Dr. Ola Smith, we were able to bring NABA back to WMU,” Spencer explained. “We wanted to bring opportunities-- internships, full-time jobs, scholarships, networking, etc.-- back to our minority students. I am most proud of this because we were able to help students secure wonderful opportunities. Our organization’s motto is “Lifting as we climb” and I feel we have really exhibited that this past academic year.”
Spencer pinpoints the experiences as helping him prepare for his career, including the ability to participate in a NABA student conference where he was able to network with companies as well as students from across the country.
“This particular experience helped me secure a scholarship to help pay for my education,” Spencer said. “Additionally, it helped me secure my internship. Being able to participate in the conference wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the Accountancy Department and the Haworth College of Business.”
Spencer plans to graduate in Spring of 2021, and he already has a job lined up as a tax associate that will be responsible for helping Fortune 500 companies with their tax strategies. IN his spare time, the Grand Rapids-native enjoys playing basketball, reading, and listening to music.
You can help give students like Spencer the Power of Opportunity by making a gift to the Fund for Western. The fund helps to provide financial support for students from all across campus to gain the experiences they need in and out of the classroom that will set them up for future success in their careers. Make a gift today.