2019 Best & Brightest: Caroline Weeks, Seton Hall (Stillman)

Caroline Weeks

Seton Hall University, Stillman School of Business

I’m a crazy cat lady who loves calculus, coding, and compound interest.”

Fun fact about yourself: I love baking cookies.

Hometown: Tampa, Florida

High School: Joe E. Newsome High School

Major: Mathematical Finance and Information Technology Management

Minor: Supply Chain Management Certificate

Favorite Business Course: Social Entrepreneurship with Dr. Pamela Adams

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College: (Include school awards and honors)

Awards and Honors

  • First Fidelity Work Study Award
  • National Winner – CBX University Challenge Team

Clubs and Organizations

  • Student Alumni Association
  • Division of Volunteer Efforts (DOVE) Volunteer
  • Beta Gamma Sigma
  • National Society of Collegiate Scholars

Where have you interned during your college career?

  • Investment Analyst Intern – FCA Corp – Houston, TX – Summers 2017 & 2018, Winter 2017
  • Corporate and Foundation Relations Intern – Seton Hall University, University Advancement – South Orange, NJ – Spring 2019

Where will you be working after graduation? I will be working at Quest Diagnostics as a Financial Analyst in their Finance Leadership Development Program.

Who is your favorite professor? My favorite professor is Dr. Penina Orenstein. I have had Dr. Orenstein as a professor, and I have been her Research Assistant for over a year. She has continually encouraged me to push my boundaries academically and has opened many doors for me. I was able to attend a national conference and present research with her at this conference. I was one of the only undergraduate students attending the conference and it was an incredible learning opportunity. My college experience wouldn’t have been the same without her.

What did you enjoy most about your business school? I enjoyed Stillman’s focus on bringing concepts into practice and experience. During my time at Seton Hall, I have had countless opportunities to gain real-world experience. I have presented research at a national conference, I have participated in a national fixed-income challenge, and I have had the opportunity to become proficient on a Bloomberg terminal – just to name a few. I have had these opportunities because of Stillman and these experiences have prepared me immensely for my career.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? I learned to take advantage of every learning opportunity possible and to always have an open mind.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? I would encourage students to take advantage of every learning opportunity they possibly can. You never know where it may lead you!

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? Majoring in business has changed the way that I, as a consumer and customer, look at the businesses and services I utilize. I knew that I would be learning about how businesses function and run, but I didn’t realize how much of an impact it would have on me as a consumer, not just as a student.

“If I didn’t major in business, I would be majoring in or studying Mathematics because I love calculus and analytical problem-solving.”

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? During my senior year of high school, I took AP Calculus, which I absolutely loved. I had always enjoyed math, but taking this class made me realize that math, and calculus specifically, was something that I wanted to pursue in college. I wanted a major that would allow me to apply these math skills in a practical setting and the Stillman School of Business provided exactly that with their Mathematical Finance program.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of presenting research with Dr. Orenstein at the Decision Sciences Institute Conference. I was one of the only undergraduate students attending and presenting at the conference and it was an incredible learning experience. I was able to see our hard work come to fruition and experience sharing ideas with other academics. I also had the opportunity to attend numerous other presentations and develop a deeper understanding of Supply Chain concepts.

Which classmate do you most admire? I most admire Nasima Nagim. I have taken many classes with her and have worked with her on group projects. She always has a positive attitude and comes to class prepared and ready to learn. In addition, she started her own business while still in school and has been a great example of turning her business knowledge into practice.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would like to thank my dad the most. He has always encouraged and supported me in my studies and personal endeavors. From an early age, he instilled in me a mentality of striving to be the best that I can possibly be. He has provided me with endless advice and he’s always the first person I call when I need guidance!

What are the top two items on your bucket list? I would like to live abroad and learn a second language.

What are your hobbies? My hobbies include traveling, yoga, baking (especially cookies), making homemade beauty products, and reading.

What made Caroline such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2019?

“Caroline is the ideal student because, in addition to her excellence in the classroom, she is always willing to take advantage of the extracurricular opportunities available to her. She has been engaged in so many of our campus initiatives, ranging from Stillman’s Financial Women’s Association Mentoring Program to the University’s Division of Volunteer efforts. Caroline was a member of a team of students who took first place in the inaugural CBXmarket University Challenge on fixed income investing. She also collaborated on a research project with Dr. Penina Orenstein and presented the results of their research at the Decision Sciences Institute conference.  Through all of these activities and initiatives, she has been a terrific role model for our students and a wonderful ambassador of the Stillman School.”

Joyce Strawser
Dean, Stillman School of Business