Business Administration Major Spotlight with Alyssa Johnson ’17
It can be hard picking a major, so to give some insight on what it is like to major in Business Administration, we asked Alyssa Johnson ’17 (Midlothian, IL) some questions about her experience with the major.
Why did you pick this major?
I chose Business Administration because I’ve always had an interest in the business world. I like analyzing problems and finding practical, effective solutions. I knew Westminster’s Business Administration major would help challenge those natural abilities and help develop other critical skills that will someday allow me to succeed in the business world.
What do you plan to do after graduating?
I plan to move back home and will hopefully work full-time for Advanced Technology Services (ATS), the company I have been privileged to have an internship with. I also want to continue my education and receive my MBA.
How has Westminster’s professors and courses prepared you to succeed in this career?
They definitely helped develop my critical thinking skills and time management. I’m now able to analyze difficult problems or situations quickly and respond to them with an effective solution.
Who are your favorite professors and why?
Elise Bartley and Mary Majerus are my favorite professors. Professor Majerus was my freshman seminar professor, and she taught me a lot about critical thinking. She was also my advisor freshman year and helped me pick my major. Professor Bartley is my current advisor and former Financial Accounting professor, and although she really wanted me to go into accounting, she has been a tremendous mentor to me both inside and outside the classroom. Professor Bartley was also the person who recommended me to the ATS recruiters, so without her this life changing experience would not have been possible.
How have your internships helped you?
Aside from gaining corporate world experience, I also gained very valuable networking skills. I was lucky enough to work with very friendly, encouraging colleagues who wanted to see me succeed. At ATS, I was never really treated like an intern; I always felt like a part of the marketing team and it was awesome to see that the work I was doing was actually valuable. Through my internship at ATS I gained a lot of confidence in my marketing and networking abilities. I am excited to see how they can even further improve my skills when I return to work for them this summer.
