Ashley Nesmith '17

For Ashley Nesmith '17, success shouldn't just be measured in dollars and cents. "I love the idea of having a goal that focuses on helping others, rather than maybe just making a profit," she says.

At Bryant she found the perfect combination of studies to support that ambition, mixing a major in Management with a Sociology major that focused on Service Learning, which emphasizes community engagement and presents students with the opportunity to apply classroom theories to real-life problems.

Nesmith found inspiration and support from dedicated professors like Sandra Enos, Ph.D., and Judith McDonnell, Ph.D., who brought real-world issues and current events into their coursework and encouraged her to explore new ideas and develop a broader perspective.

She examined issues ranging from refugee resettlement to the plight of children with incarcerated parents to the issues faced by the nation’s education system, performing fieldwork as well as looking at case studies. For her senior capstone, she worked on developing innovative fundraising ideas for Ronald McDonald House, a charitable organization.

"I think that businesses and non-profits are moving toward a socially-conscious and maybe even socio-entrepreneurial way of thinking," says Nesmith. "My work with the Ronald McDonald House brought together both the business side of my studies with the sociology side. I know that is going to be really useful for me in the future."

Nesmith also knows that her Bryant education has prepared her to continue finding new ways to succeed. "My whole Bryant experience – my professors, my extracurricular activities, the incredible community – has made me more confident in my ability to go outside my comfort zone," she says, "both to pursue my own goals and to help other people."

Real World Experience