a4yy��ҹ����

My Why: Jacqueline Herrera

Taking the fast track: How Jacqueline Herrera rewrote the rules of accountancy

While most college seniors spend the three months following graduation catching their breath or searching for entry-level roles, Jacqueline Herrera will spend them securing her second degree. In a whirlwind finish that has officially made University history, Herrera crossed the stage to accept her Bachelor of Science in Accountancy this spring, and just 90 days later, she will have earned her master’s in the same subject. As the first graduate to successfully navigate this accelerated path, she isn’t just leaving campus with a pair of diplomas—she’s leaving with a job offer, a Roth IRA and a passport stamped for summer adventure.

In Jessup’s Accountancy program, once an undergraduate successfully completes 90 units, the doors to master’s-level coursework swing wide open. Herrera accumulated 150 credits in record time. Not only is she on her way to earning two degrees, this accomplishment enables her to pursue her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license—a notoriously rigorous benchmark that typically requires an additional year of schooling. 

Yet, if you ask Herrera, the degrees are just the byproduct of her true Why Jessup? She views her biggest takeaway as the profound level of personal development she has experienced at Jessup. While academics gave her the tools, her professors gave her the confidence. Jessup’s accountancy program is taught by professors who are active veterans of the financial industry. For Herrera, these seasoned professionals went far beyond the syllabus, stepping up as invaluable mentors. By sharing real-world insights and opening their professional networks, they helped Herrera navigate the transition from student to professional, connecting her with the job offer she holds today.

Thanks to her hard-earned scholarships, Herrera graduated debt-free. Her financial savvy extends beyond her tuition too. As a member of Jessup’s investment club, she took the lessons of compounding interest and market analysis to heart, setting up her own Roth IRA long before she receives her first post-commencement paycheck. 

Despite her knack for numbers, the human element of her education resonated most deeply. In a field stereotyped by spreadsheets, Herrera found a passion for the ethical responsibilities of accountancy. Having previously served in the nonprofit arena, she views her role more as a mandate to act in the public’s best interest. Her coursework in accounting ethics analyzed real-world financial fraud cases and the critical importance of internal controls. “Understanding how fraud happens made me realize how vital it is to have strong, unshakable values of honesty and integrity in this field.”

Armed with technical expertise, a clear moral compass, and the confidence that comes from conquering a rigorous dual-degree program, Herrera is prepared to enter the workforce. But before she takes her seat at her new firm, she’s heading to China for an immersive cultural exchange program with some Jessup professors. There she will trade balance sheets for a broader worldview, exploring everything from the disciplined movements of traditional martial arts, to pottery, to the cutting-edge technology sector of China. It’s a fitting victory lap for a graduate who has already mastered the art of accelerating her future, all so she can be a difference maker sooner.

---