ALISSA JORDAN
entrepreneurship minor '24 (outstanding grad)

WHY WEBER STATE?   

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I had kind of accepted Weber State as a given - I didn't even apply anywhere else. I came with the assumption that I could transfer at any point. But once I got here, I felt like this is where I belonged, and I stayed. I have been attending Weber for a good chunk of time - off and on since 2013 - but I have absolutely loved it and could not have asked for a better undergraduate experience. Now that the time has finally come, I am sad to be leaving.

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WHY ENTREPRENEURSHIP?   

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After a short break from schooling, I returned to Weber in 2018. Although not related to my already declared major (Psychology) and minor (Criminal Justice), I had a strong interest in learning more about Entrepreneurship and declared it as my second minor. At that time, I was the owner of a small business and was also just getting started in real estate investments, with plans to expand. Even though I was already pursuing a degree in Psychology, I knew that if I ultimately chose a different career path after graduating, that it would be in business and I would want to pursue an MBA. I felt that the knowledge I would gain in the program would be useful to me for my current and future entrepreneurial endeavors, as well as provide me with the basic knowledge that I would need when and if I pursued an MBA.

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PROGRESSIVE AND INNOVATIVE   

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This may be a biased opinion, but I believe that Weber State is probably the most progressive and innovative university in Utah. There are two things that I have been extremely impressed with at Weber: 1) Their efforts to promote and implement inclusivity by educating students about the importance of embracing diversity, and 2) Their groundbreaking initiative toward sustainability. Those two things are probably what have drawn me to Weber and have positively impacted me the most.

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FACULTY IMPACT   

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I have had many great professors during my time at Weber. However, one of the biggest influences and supporters of me and my endeavors has been Brandon Stoddard. He taught one of the first classes that I took in the Entrepreneurship program and provided me with a lot of guidance and direction. It was in his class that I developed a business idea that I wanted to pursue. He provided constant reassurance that I was onto something good and should go after it. Brandon encouraged me to present my idea at a Wildcat MicroFund event, and from this, I was selected to be the recipient of a grant, which would help me bring my idea to fruition. Throughout the entire process, he has been present by providing continuous support, encouragement, and advice.

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ADVICE   

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Be involved. It’s good to have the community as you're going through school. The professors are a great resource for you to rely on and work with – do not be hesitant to seek help and/or advice from them. Weber has so much to offer for its students, and since you are paying for it, you may as well take advantage of those benefits and opportunities.

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WHAT'S NEXT   

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While I may be graduating now, I am not done yet. I plan to attend graduate school for Forensic Psychology, and I will also be applying to the FBI as an agent. I am trying to figure out the timeline for those goals and the order in which I do them. Additionally, I am in the final stages of creating the website for my business, which I intend to launch shortly, so stay tuned. #acupof

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