Morgan Richards

What is your hometown?
I’m from Hermitage, Pa., which is a small city about an hour north of Pittsburgh.

In your opinion, what are the 3 best things about UNC Charlotte?
- The location of the campus, in comparison to the city. The campus is a perfect distance from Uptown Charlotte and the only thing that will make it better is having the light-rail for students to take advantage of.

- The beautiful campus. The buildings, athletic facilities and landscapes are breathtaking.

- The variety of programs offered. UNC Charlotte has so many majors, minors and concentrations to meet almost everyone’s interests.

Where is your favorite place on campus?
The second floor of the Student Union. They have super comfy chairs that are perfect for studying and it overlooks the main floor, so you can people watch too.

What is your favorite food?
Ice cream. If ice cream were a hint of healthy, I would eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  

What is your favorite Charlotte restaurant?
Room 112 - it has an elegant atmosphere, great service and amazing sushi. 

Alumna
2016
Business Analytics
Marketing
Morgan Richards graduated in May 2016 with a major in marketing and a concentration in business analytics. She was a UNC Charlotte athlete on the cross country and track teams.
What was your area of study and why?

I majored in marketing with a concentration in business analytics. I have always been fascinated by the creative strategies taken by companies to brand, advertise and market their products and/or services. The analytics concentration will provide an edge for me when entering the marketing field so I can utilize the latest technology to better measure performance and offer added value to businesses.

What clubs and/or organizations were you involved in?

I was a member of the cross-country and track teams where I dedicated an average of 30 hours a week to practice, competing and traveling. The organizations I was involved with included: Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), American Marketing Association (AMA), Project Life Movement and Women’s Leadership Development Program.  I completed a valuable spring semester internship with Student Niner Media, and I interned with the MODE Branding and Interactive Agency in South End.

What was the best part of your academic experience?

Being involved with the Women’s Leadership and Development Program at UNC Charlotte. The program is in their second year and I was very grateful to have the opportunity to be part of this program. Successful and inspiring women leaders from different fields came in each week to give us career and life advice that will assist us in our future endeavors.  

How would you describe the Belk College of Business to someone who is thinking about applying?

The Belk College of Business is an amazing program. The courses that all business students are required to take allow you to become generalized in all aspects of the business world while earning your specialized degree. The education you receive is top tier and allows you to graduate ready to enter the professional world.

You have received a scholarship - how has that support helped you?

The athletic scholarship I received has helped me tremendously. It has taken a lot of the stress away. Not worrying about finances has allowed me to focus more of my energy on my education and athletics.

Morgan Richards runningCan you tell us about your experience with the Robert A. Niblock Student Center for Professional Development?

The Student Center for Professional Development has helped me on a number of occasions. I was able to job shadow someone at a company I am very interested in, I talked to advisors who have helped me narrow down my career path direction, and I received great advice for interviewing.

What were some of your accomplishments as a student athlete – on and off the field?

I was proud of maintaining a high GPA throughout each semester, while still staying involved in committees on campus and continuing to contribute and improve athletically.  

How did you manage your time as a student athlete? 

My time as a student athlete was been nothing close to easy. I have a strong type-A personality so I always have to be doing something productive. As a student and an athlete, I didn't have much downtime, because I was practicing and competing basically all year long. Making sure to plan ahead and stay on top of my workload was crucial in order to avoid falling behind and creating unnecessary stress.

What are your future plans?

My plans after graduation are to gain more experience working with a branding/advertising agency in either Charlotte or Pittsburgh. After a couple years of working, I would like to go back to school to earn an MBA degree to help further my career and potential.

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