Michael Cozad, Junior

Hometown:

Major:

Clubs/organizations:

President, Dean’s Student Advisory Board (Raj Soin College of Business); Chief Strategist, Finance Club; Marketing Department Student Advisory Board (Raj Soin College of Business); Wright-Patt Credit Union Young Member Advisory Panel; Alpha Lambda Delta, Student Honors Association

The Choice:

I’ll be extremely honest—Wright State was almost dead last on my list. My parents encouraged me to give it one shot—just one chance—to see what I thought of it. I knew I was going into business, so I visited WSU on one of their “Wright from the Start” days and talked to faculty from the College of Business. What I saw was different—completely different than both high school and my PSEO at Edison. I saw a group of faculty that cared—and was there to help me succeed every step of the way. Never before have I seen that. Add that on top of several generous scholarships, and you couldn’t pay me to go elsewhere for my undergraduate degree.

Making a Difference:

Exclusion is not a word here at WSU. President Hopkins believes we can achieve greatness not by excluding, but by including those around us. WSU thoroughly follows through on this commitment.

Academic Experience:

Preparing For the Future:

My career goal is to be a Certified Financial Planner™. Wright State University’s Raj Soin College of Business, first and foremost, is AACSB accredited, which means they are part of the best business schools in the world. No joke. This place is a diamond in the rough—and once people are here, they know they hit the jackpot. Professors will take all the time in the world to help you succeed and achieve your goals. If you ask, they will help. Second, the College of Business has a program specifically designed to allow me to sit for the CFP® exam after graduation. The pass rates within the College of Business for these certifications are well above the national average. Third, the College of Business is allowing me to enhance my leadership ability, as I am the President of the Dean’s Student Advisory Board for the College of Business. The Advisory Board serves as a link between the students, the administration, and the community. We want to get the word out that we are an exceptional place to learn.

Building the Resume:

I obtained an internship in my major my freshman year of college at Smith, Griesmeyer, and Moses LLC, a retirement planning and investment firm. I continued with this internship for two quarters, and upon completion, the firm offered me a part-time position. Any internship one obtains as an undergraduate student obviously is an effective resume builder—but showing time, effort, and dedication to the internships proves the resume.

The Faculty:

My favorite professors...I actually have two. Dr. Rosemary Ramsey is an exceptional professor. A professor of Marketing, Dr. Ramsey is one that cares for each and every one of her students. She is extremely involved in the College of Business, and is in her office much, much more than required. From looking at resumes to talking about careers, to any kind of advice, Dr. R. is a heck of a professor that genuinely cares. She has tons of real-world experience, and brings this along with a lot of enthusiasm to the classroom.
Bill Wood is an instructor in the department of Finance and Financial Services in the College of Business. Bill, just like Dr. Ramsey, has a lot of real-world experience, and brings this to the classroom daily. You can count of him being an instructor, as well as a mentor, in your college career and beyond.

A Little Advice:

To tell you the truth, I was more anxious than anything about starting college. I think I was more scared of not having enough food than anything. It’s easy to overcome a fear like this—go home occasionally and visit mom and dad. Everyone wins—I got plenty of food, and mom and dad got to see me.

Getting Involved:

Boogie on the Bricks is amazing. There is tons of food, lots of dancing, a good DJ, and it’s for all on-campus residents. It’s a great place to reconnect with friends you haven’t seen all summer, and also to meet new people.

Project Linus is a great on-campus community service project for one to become involved. It’s a non-profit organization dedicated to bettering the lives of the underprivileged children. PL makes blankets for these children, and lets them know that there is someone in the world that cares for them.