When senior Jasmine Love walks across the stage next month to receive her diploma, her dream career will be just around the corner. After an internship in international accounting with Crowe LLP in Atlanta, she will return to Haslam to complete the Master of Accountancy program.

Love says she found encouragement in Haslam each step along the way to achieving her goals. This support began with Haslam scholarships that allowed her to attend the University of Tennessee.

“It was important to be able to pursue a degree from a respected institution and graduate without a heavy financial burden,” Love says. “Haslam offered both.”

Scholarships also meant Love could devote fewer hours to her parttime jobs and spend more time involved in Haslam programs and activities.

“As a new student, I didn’t think of myself as a professional, so I had a lot of developing to do,” she says. “Putting myself out there was my number one goal my first year.”

Love joined the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) upon entering Haslam. She quickly became involved in the group, serving as vice president her sophomore year and president her junior year.

“NABA was really my first step into getting involved and acquainted with everything Haslam had to offer,” Love says.

Through NABA, she met Amelia Hart, lecturer in the Department of Accounting and Information Management and advisor for NABA, whom she credits with inspiring her as a woman of color in accounting. “She made me want to continue to achieve my goals for my career,” Love says.

In the classroom, Love found challenging courses in accounting and information management, which kept her interest while her professors provided the support she needed.

“My professors have been very encouraging and kept me going as I pursued my career goals,” she says.

After completing her master’s degree, she hopes to work full-time for Crowe LLP.

“I was fortunate to connect with a Crowe recruiter at a Haslam career fair,” Love says. “Haslam offers so many opportunities for students. You look up and there is something new constantly to help students.”

Her long-term plans include opening her own tax office and investing an apartment complex to provide housing for a low-income families.

“I really want to be able to help others as I go forward in my career,” she says.

As she looks back on her undergraduate career, Love feels satisfied that she has achieved her goals so far.

“I’ve experienced a lot of growth and learning about myself,” Love says. “I wouldn’t change a thing about my time in Haslam.”