Emma Messenger has starred on the State University of New York at New Paltz women's tennis team since transferring over from SUNY Oneonta in 2018. The junior helped the Hawks to back-to-back conference championships, earning Second-Team All-SUNYAC in 2018. Along with being a part of the SUNY New Paltz tennis team, Messenger has been a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and is entrenched within the School of Business.
 
Participating in various community service efforts held by SAAC including the annual community leaf rake, Messenger also was involved in numerous volunteer efforts through the American Marketing Association where she was named Director of Fundraising and Finance last spring. She was a part of a group that helped rebuild Hasbrouck Park, as well as assisted at the New Paltz Challenge Run in the fall of 2019.
 
Also a part of the American Marketing Association e-board, Messenger volunteered as a marketing mentor for the Business Consultant Challenge — a semester-long competition between groups of SUNY New Paltz students, which was held during the fall 2019 semester. The Business Consultant Challenge was launched by the Dean's Student Advisory Board and allows students to learn and apply professional skills as they help local businesses solve a problem. Each group was given a local business to work alongside to solve business-specific problems and come up with solutions that will be utilized by that business in their daily operations. The winners received recognition and a monetary prize as well. 
 
"As marketing mentors we were able to give advice to the competitors during their weekly meetings about how they could use various marketing strategies and techniques to help the business they were working with," Messenger said. "At the end of the challenge, we were able to attend the Closing Ceremony and see all the work they had done throughout the semester, as they were judged by members of the Business Advisory Council."
 
This past semester Messenger decided to get more involved with the School of Business, taking on various roles. She applied to become the Business Ambassador and was awarded the position in the fall. Working within that role, Messenger coordinated and fostered greater involvement on various networking events held by the School of Business and assisted with other events including the Debate Tournament, Commencement Ceremonies and featured guest speakers.
 
"In addition to working various school run events, we also benefit from the professional network surrounding SUNY New Paltz," Messenger said. "This includes our ability to attend the annual Hall of Fame dinner along with events throughout the year that revolve around professional engagement and networking."
 
Messenger is also a member of the Dean's Student Advisory Board (DSAB), which fosters communication among the School of Business between students, faculty, the Dean and the Business Advisory Council. As a member of DSAB, Messenger met with the Dean of the School of Business Kristin Backhaus, along with the rest of the board monthly. She also had the opportunity to attend meetings with the Business Advisory Council, which is made up of professionals in the surrounding community, Dean Backhaus and faculty within the School of Business to give input regarding different types of events and classes that would be beneficial to students when they graduate and enter the workforce.
 
"These meetings allow students to network with the local business professionals to obtain insight on how to better their clubs, the various programs in the School of Business and increase the number of the networking events and opportunities that the school offers to its students," Messenger explained.
 
Messenger also started working as a student assistant for the Professor Christina Bark in the School of Business. Through Bark, Messenger had the opportunity to participate in the debate tournament held every semester where she began having more of a role.
 
"I have been a participant in the debates, a judge for the tournament and now this year, the tabulation coordinator for the debate as her student assistant," Messenger said. "I also complete various tasks throughout the week and continue to work part-time throughout the remainder of the semester as her assistant."
 
Messenger has also been working as a research assistant for one of her previous professors the past year, aiding in research focused around industrial and organizational psychology and effects of intrinsic motivation.
 
Last spring, Messenger was named the Director of Fundraising and Finance for the American Marketing Association and continues to hold her position on the e-board with the club. Messenger helps lead the group in holding events that relate to career advancement and networking tips, which include the Career Fair where they help make business cards and a workshop on how to improve Linkedin profiles. Along with the events they hold, Messenger has aided the group with a marketing project regarding a new pool for the Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
Over the summer, Messenger was awarded two internship positions as a congressional intern with Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, as well as a wealth management intern with Morgan Stanley. Messenger impressed during her time at Morgan Stanley, and was asked to continue her internship for the next 10 months — the maximum amount of time the corporation allows interns to stay. She worked at Morgan Stanley through the fall and spring semester, balancing her internship with tennis, along with being a full-time student and her other extracurricular activities.
 
She was also inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma, an internationally accredited business program that admits select members within the top five percent of AACSB. The SUNY New Paltz chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma just recently opened the Career Closet, a project the organization has worked on for the past year, which provides professional attire for free to students to borrow and wear to interviews and professional events.
 
Academically, Messenger is one of the brightest in her class. She earned a spot on the Dean's List every semester since transferring to SUNY New Paltz in the fall of 2018 and also was on the SUNYAC Commissioner's List Honor Roll every year (both at SUNY Oneonta and SUNY New Paltz), was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society and earned the Elite 20 Award during the Hawks run through the SUNYAC Tournament.
 
Messenger took the time to answer some questions about being a student-athlete and every other aspect she is involved in. Read the full Q&A below:
 

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How much have you learned through your experiences in the School of Business as a Business Ambassador and being a member of DSAB?
 
Through my experiences as a Business Ambassador, a member of the DSAB and in the School of Business as a whole, I have learned an immense amount that relates to school, work, and my athletic endeavors. The ability to juggle various responsibilities has sharpened my time management skills and taught me the importance of setting goals. The lessons I have learned have transcended into my athletic career as I now carry a different outlook on my ability to represent SUNY New Paltz as more than just a student, but as a student-athlete. 
 
What was the most rewarding part about being a marketing mentor, having the opportunity to help your fellow students?
 
Although I am a finance major, it has been a great experience working on the executive board of the American Marketing Association. I am able to bridge my knowledge and interest in finance into my position as Director of Fundraising and Finance, while benefiting from the marketing information that the club promotes. The most rewarding part about being a Marketing Mentor for the Business Consultant Challenge was the ability to watch both groups present at the end of the semester. It was great to see how the groups were able to utilize the information provided by the marketing mentors. The hard work that both groups contributed to the challenge was exceptional and inspiring to see when they presented at the closing ceremony. 
  
What have you enjoyed most about being entrenched within the School of Business? What are some things you've learned along the way?
 
Being involved within the School of Business has been very beneficial towards my educational career in addition to my personal endeavors. I have enjoyed every organization I take part in and I am very appreciative of the School of Business for offering a vast amount of opportunities that assist in both career and personal development. The myriad of networking events followed by the preparation that the school provides has been paramount in allowing me to earn the internships and positions that I have retained throughout my time here. I am grateful for all of the experiences provided by the School of Business since I believe they will be advantageous to my career path and life in general going forward. 
 
What advice would you give a prospective student-athlete pursuing a degree in the Business program at SUNY New Paltz? Would you recommend them to get involved in all facets like you have?
 
I would recommend that a prospective student-athlete pursuing a degree in the Business program at SUNY New Paltz become as involved and immersed in all the opportunities that are offered. Involvement in extracurricular's is something I would recommend to any student, as it expands your network and diversifies your education as a whole. We only have four years of undergraduate studies, so why not make the most of it?
 
Do you think all of the roles you've had on campus through the School of Business helped prepare you for your internships this past summer?
 
I give a lot of credit to the School of Business and the Career Resource Center at SUNY New Paltz for helping me obtain two separate internships this past summer. The Internship and Career Practicum course taught by Christine Daly was so helpful in allowing me to expand on my networking skills in time for the Career Fair and interviewing season. Overall, the support that the faculty within the School of Business offered was very helpful in providing guidance for the goals I had set out to attain. 
 
Was it difficult juggling both positions at the District's Office and at Morgan Stanley? How much have both internships prepared you for your career after you graduate?
 
Working over the summer was very engaging and I enjoyed every facet of the hard working experience I was able to involve myself with. Working at both offices taught me something new on a daily basis. The real-world experience was invaluable as it provided support in so many areas of my life both within and outside of the workplace. I am very gracious for the opportunities I was able to take part in and look forward to those ahead. 
 
How do you manage your time with all of the different responsibilities you are involved in through the School of Business, your internship, academics and athletics this past year?
 
This year taught me how important time management was when trying to juggle various responsibilities that are all of equal importance. I had to learn to make some sacrifices in order to achieve the goals I set in place and hold true to my responsibilities. It has made me a stronger person and helped me develop skills that will be prominent within everything I do for the rest of my life. 
 
How has your experiences outside of tennis influenced you as a student-athlete?
 
Every single one of my experiences, whether academically or outside of school, has impacted my perspective as a student-athlete. I am so grateful and blessed to be able to play the sport I love, interact with an amazing team, and uphold all the standards of a student-athlete while still remaining involved with my academic and extracurricular activities. With many commitments in other areas of my life, I always look forward to playing tennis. It truly is a privilege any chance I get to step onto the court.
 

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