As an undergraduate, Queen held two campus jobs, including working as a student assistant for Rider’s Budget Director. As a graduate student, she worked as a graduate assistant for Rider’s Computer Information Systems and Supply Chain Management department.
Why Queen chose Rider
Queen applied to Rider because of its reputation as a quality university. Its location close to home also appealed to her — but it was Rider’s generous financial aid offer that sealed the deal for her. “That support made my goal of attending Rider possible,” says Queen.
I realized Rider was a place where I could make something of myself. All I had to do was apply myself."
Staff Auditor, EY
Rider's impact on Queen career
Although she initially planned to pursue sociology, Queen explored her options for a major. She took Introduction to Accounting with Dr. Nandini Chandar to see if she’d like it. “I did very well and decided to stay with it,” she says. “I also developed a good relationship with my professors.” One of her professors was Dr. Evelyn McDowell, who’d started the Rider University Aspiring Accounting Professional Program (RUAAPP) aimed at helping minority accounting students succeed both in the classroom and in their careers through tutoring and practical experience.
With Dr. McDowell’s encouragement, Queen got involved with RUAAPP and benefitted from tutoring, required study time at the library, meetings with business professionals and recruiters, visits to companies and notices about internships and job opportunities. She also took advantage of Rider Career Services events and workshops, including mock interviews and on-campus interviews with top accounting firms. “Rider did a great job of preparing me. The questions I was asked during my mock interview were identical to those asked during my actual interview,” says Queen. “That experience gave me confidence. And, after my first interview, I had even more confidence.”
Continued success
Through the RUAAPP, Queen learned about Discover EY, a three-day convention for invited college students, which often leads to internships with the Big 4 accounting firm (formerly known as Ernst & Young). She applied and was invited to attend the event in Boston. While there, she was assigned a mentor, who continued to talk to her by phone about the company, internships and expectations.
Following her sophomore year, Queen was accepted into the EY Launch Program and spent the summer as a full-time paid intern working on human resource, audit and tax projects in the firm’s Iselin, NJ, office. She returned to EY the following two summers, working 40 hours a week as a paid risk management intern — a position that continued part time during the school year — and an assurance intern. After completing her Master of Accountancy at Rider, she started a full-time audit position with EY.