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When Nyhsere Woodson ’21 attended an information session with , he envisioned himself working for the company. After he graduates this spring, he will begin doing just that.

As he learned more about the company and its culture, Woodson thought it would be a great fit. Soon after interviewing last semester, he was offered and accepted a position as a client solutions associate. In June, he will officially join the company, a leading provider of open and configurable data and technology for the global financial and investment community, in its Manhattan office.

“I am looking forward to being a part of the collaborative culture and the dynamic atmosphere,” said Woodson, a finance major. “My interviewer mentioned that I was one of the most polished and prepared candidates that he has in the seen in the past several months. I attribute that to the knowledge I have gained at the University and to my professors’ commitment to student excellence.”

‘This is a great opportunity’

Last semester, the University announced a partnership with FactSet that was created through the leadership of Brian Kench, Ph.D., dean of the University’s Pompea College of Business; Ron Harichandran, Ph.D., dean of the Tagliatela College of Engineering; and Oni Chukwu ’94 MBA, ’15 Hon, a visionary technology entrepreneur with decades of experience in the software sector and a member of the University’s Board of Governors.

This collaboration, which endeavors to increase diversity in the finance industry, includes mentorship programs, access to proprietary FactSet software, and internship and career opportunities such as Woodson’s. He was part of a group of talented and high-achieving seniors who were invited to take part in a special recruiting event with FactSet staff members to learn about potential post-graduation opportunities.

“This is a great opportunity because I will be able to have input on important projects early in my career,” he said. “This collaboration is important because it provides students with an opportunity to connect with industry leaders. The collaboration was also an opportunity for me to be mentored by leaders within the company, and their guidance aided me in my interview process.”

‘Will superbly position our Black underrepresented students for greater heights’

The University will be actively involved in FactSet’s Black Resource Group, one of the Norwalk-headquartered company’s Business Resources Groups that were created to champion the full participation and inclusion of all FactSet employees. Chukwu, who previously served as chief executive officer and is now executive chairman at Aventri, a leader in enterprise software-as-a-service event management software for global businesses, says he is looking forward to the opportunities this partnership will offer to students.

“As a Black man and an African immigrant who bootstrapped myself through graduate school, I very much understand and appreciate the value and the crucial difference a helping hand to that first quality job can make to young lives,” he said. “When I first met CEO Phil Snow and his FactSet team to discuss this collaboration with UNH, they immediately got it and saw it as the perfect complement to their ongoing internal Black BRG company-wide initiative to attract, mentor, and retain Black employees.

“This is a match made at the intersection of optimal need and perfect opportunity, and will superbly position our Black underrepresented students for greater heights early in their professional careers when that intervention really counts,” continued Chukwu.

‘Inspiring to see people of color in management and leadership roles’

Geiana Taylor ’21 MBA is also looking forward serving as a client solutions associate, a full-time position that is part of a development program and becomes a consulting position after about seven to nine months. Like Woodson, she will begin her new role in June after she graduates.

“This is a good opportunity because it allows students like me to get real-world corporate experience that is so hard to get today,” said Taylor, who will be based at the company’s Boston location. “The University's collaboration with FactSet is important because it allows minorities and marginalized groups to have meaningful opportunities and a chance at something great.

“Even from a networking standpoint, this opportunity enabled me to meet so many people throughout the company from all different locations,” she continued. “It was very inspiring to see people of color in management and leadership roles within the company. This collaboration is great for current students as well as prospective students who are curious about what the University is doing to help marginalized groups find job opportunities after college.”

‘An opportunity to connect with an industry leader’

Both the Pompea College of Business and the Tagliatela College of Engineering include an emphasis across their programs on analytics, understanding big data, innovation, and entrepreneurship, skills that Dean Kench and Dean Harichandran say will help students succeed at innovative companies such as FactSet.

Taylor is most looking forward to networking and gaining meaningful experience in her new position. She also wants to inspire others, just as, she says, her future colleagues at FactSet have already done for her.

“I am excited for what’s to come in the near future,” she said. “FactSet has a demonstrated great corporate culture, and they value everyone within the company. So many people from the company have already reached out to me about the position, which makes me feel confident that I made the right decision.”

Woodson, the undergraduate finance major, is also excited to begin his position, and he looks forward to combining his passions for finance and technology. He is grateful for the many opportunities he has had at the University, including his participation in the Pompea Business Plan EXPO, to gain experience and develop his skills.

“The University has prepared me for success by offering coursework that is transferrable to the real world,” he said. “My professors exposed us to industry practices that will be useful in our careers. The University’s collaboration with FactSet provides students with an invaluable opportunity to connect with an industry leader in an emerging industry.”