On Saturday, May 9, the Poole College of Management will celebrate the accomplishments of students graduating from its Jenkins Graduate Programs. This spring’s graduates represent a diverse group of professionals who have balanced demanding coursework with full-time careers, adapted to evolving industries, and brought meaningful real-world experience into the classroom.

This semester’s graduating class includes 126 Master of Accounting (MAC) students, 108 MBA students, 11 Master of Management, Marketing Analytics (MMA) students, 11 Master of Management, Risk and Analytics (MRA) students, 6 economics master’s students and 2 economics Ph.D. students.

Explore the stories of several graduates as they share their journeys, achievements and the next steps in their professional paths.

Wade Ferrell, Master of Accounting (MAC)

Wade Ferrell, a Master of Accounting (MAC) student, joined Poole College in August 2025 after completing his undergraduate studies at UNC Chapel Hill. A Raleigh native, Wade was drawn to NC State’s MAC program after hearing strong recommendations from friends and family and being impressed by its 100% job placement rate at graduation. During his time in the program, he found the most meaningful part of the experience to be the people, building connections with classmates and faculty and being part of a supportive learning environment.

During the one-year MAC program, Wade focused on developing a strong foundation in accounting while preparing for his transition into the profession. The structure of the program allowed him to stay focused on his coursework and next steps, positioning him well for his career. After graduation, he will begin working at Dean Dorton’s Raleigh office, continuing his path in accounting.

Leslie Ellison, Master of Accounting (MAC)

Leslie Ellison, a Jenkins Online Master of Accounting student, joined the program with a background in hospitality and tourism management and a desire to transition into accounting. Starting with the ASAP courses in the summer, she quickly built a foundation that allowed her to fully engage in the program by the start of the fall semester. Throughout her time at NC State, Leslie found value in the program’s real-world applications, gaining a new perspective on workplace processes she had encountered in previous roles — from understanding internal controls to recognizing the purpose behind structured systems she once questioned.

While in the program, Leslie made a significant career shift from working as a data analyst in a marketing department to securing an audit and tax internship at Sharpe Patel. Being able to apply classroom concepts directly to her work strengthened her understanding and allowed her to contribute more meaningfully, especially in areas like data analytics and AI. After graduation, she plans to pursue her CPA and continue full-time with Sharpe Patel.

Richard Dong, Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Richard Dong, a Master of Business Administration student with a concentration in finance, joined Poole College in Fall 2024 after earning his undergraduate degree in animal science from NC State. Originally from Yanceyville, North Carolina, Richard found his experience shaped by the strong sense of community within the program, particularly through the support of his MBA cohort, career coaches and staff. Their encouragement pushed him to step outside his comfort zone, ultimately helping him support the launch of a new campus initiative and pursue opportunities that expanded both his confidence and professional network.

During his time in the program, Richard served as a graduate assistant at the Pride Center and later as a financial coach with NC State Financial Wellness, where he led workshops, provided one-on-one coaching and helped build the program from the ground up. He also completed a summer internship in risk management at Ford Motor Company, where he applied analytical frameworks from his finance coursework and strategic thinking from his classes to real-world challenges. 

After graduation, Richard will relocate to Michigan to join Ford full-time, while also looking forward to traveling and exploring new opportunities beyond work.

Val Evans, Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Val Evans, a Professional MBA student, joined Poole College in 2021 after earning her undergraduate degree in international business from the University of Cincinnati. Originally from Montreal, Canada, she found her experience shaped by the program’s diverse curriculum and the many opportunities to stay engaged, even in an online format. Through her involvement in the McLauchlan Leadership Experience, Val developed leadership skills and built meaningful relationships that contributed to both her personal and professional growth. She also took part in a Poole College advertising campaign, gaining the unique experience of appearing in a television commercial.

Throughout her time in the program, Val pursued roles that supported her transition into corporate strategy and analytics, as well as the sustainability and environmental space. She tailored her coursework to align with these goals, building the skills and perspective needed to navigate new challenges with confidence. 

One of her most impactful experiences was studying abroad in Switzerland, where she explored global trends in organizational resiliency while connecting with classmates and industry leaders. After graduation, Val plans to continue growing in her strategy & enterprise analytics role at BenchmarkGensuite while staying actively involved in the NC State community.

Marina Essa, Master of Management, Marketing Analytics (MMA)

Marina Essa, a Master of Management, Marketing Analytics (MMA) student with a Business Analytics Certificate, joined Poole College after earning her undergraduate degree in marketing strategy from UNC Wilmington. Throughout the program, she valued its highly applied approach, where she was consistently challenged to move beyond theory and use data to inform real business decisions. By engaging in hands-on projects and professional development opportunities, as well as attending networking events and speaker sessions focused on analytics and emerging technology, Marina strengthened both her technical and strategic skill set.

During her time in the program, Marina worked as a digital marketing strategist, focusing on segmentation, campaign performance and reporting automation across thousands of B2B accounts. The MMA program directly enhanced her ability to structure data, build scalable reporting systems, and translate insights into actionable marketing strategies, improving both her efficiency and decision-making. After graduation, she plans to continue growing in data-driven marketing, with a focus on CRM, lifecycle marketing and marketing analytics roles to drive stronger customer engagement and long-term retention.

Stephanie Jackson, Master of Management, Risk Analytics (MRA)

Stephanie Jackson began her journey at Poole College in August 2022, pursuing a Master of Management, Risk and Analytics (MRA) degree along with a Business Analytics Certificate. With roots in Maryland and Florida but decades spent in North Carolina, she found the most meaningful part of her experience to be the people she met along the way. Building relationships with faculty and classmates has had a lasting impact on her journey, shaping both her academic and personal growth throughout the program.

During her time at NC State, Stephanie successfully pivoted into a business systems analyst role within NC State University’s Office of Information Technology (OIT), a transition driven by the combination of her prior institutional experience and the technical skills she developed through the program. She plans to continue growing in this role after graduation, applying what she has learned to contribute more deeply to her team.

This milestone is especially meaningful as Stephanie celebrates alongside her daughter, Kirsten Jackson, who is also graduating from Poole this spring.

Sarah Bainn, Economics PhD

Sarah Bainn, an Economics graduate student with concentrations in health economics and applied microeconomics, joined Poole College in August 2021 after earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Ghana. Originally from Accra, Ghana, she found her experience at NC State was shaped by the supportive environment created by faculty and staff, who were consistently welcoming and invested in helping students achieve their goals. Through her involvement as treasurer of the Economics Graduate Students Association and as a member of the Black Graduate Student Association, Sarah also helped foster a strong sense of community among her peers.

During her time in the program, Sarah worked part-time as a consultant for the World Bank, where she gained valuable insight into how economics informs policy and how researchers design experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of those policies. After graduation, she will continue her academic journey, having accepted a faculty position in the economics department at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Learn more about Jenkins Graduate Programs at Poole College of Management.