The twins Michael and Steven Carroll both graduated from Ramapo College in 2008 with Business Administration degrees and accepted positions at New York Life Insurance Company. Michael works as an associate programmer in Manhattan developing new software applications, while Steven works in investment management in Parsippany presenting information to executives. Both credit their experiences at Ramapo College, such as classes, team projects, and presentation skills, with providing them a solid foundation for their careers. They recommend to current students to never give up, have confidence, and always be one step ahead.

1. Michael '08 (left) and
Steven Carroll '08
'"J'wins Michael and Steven Carroll have always enjoyed a relationship building, which he attributes to small class size.
1healthy competition. The 2008 graduates shadowed each Team building and group skills top the list of what Steven gained
other as roommates at Ramapo College, majored in Business as an undergrad.
Administration with a management concentratioruand accepted Now the brothers work for New York Life Insurance Company,
positions at New York Life. Michael in Manhattan as an associate programmer and Steven in
Choosing Ramapo College was easy. It offered Michael a balance Parsippany in investment management.
between class work and a social life, while maintaining a diverse They agree that their experiences at Ramapo College have helped
atmosphere. Steven was sold on the business program and, as a them in their careers. Michael is developing a new software
transfer student, was relieved that his credits would be accepted. application for financial data processing. He says, "This has
Their introduction to business was Management Theory and tested my knowledge of computers, time management,
----B:actice,-t<mg:ht~Rikki..Alnug,_Ph.D. Steven remembecs.the.; __ organization and leadership, which were first developed at
professor as intelligent and knowledgeable. Michael says,"If Ramapo."
every class was designed to develop optimism, ambition and Much of what Steven does involves the stock market. "A lot of
intuition, it would be based on this course." what I learned at Ramapo gave me a solid base of knowledge
The brothers both chose Business Administration as their major. about the market," he says. The presentation skills he learned at
Michael wanted to work with people, help others and obtain a the College have helped him as well. He was asked to be part of
leadership role. "A career in business will help me accomplish a development team that requires him to present information to
these goals," he says. key executives at New York Life.
Even in high school, Steven realized no matter what he pursued, The brothers offer several suggestions to the Class of 2009.
business would be involved. He says, "I realized that choosing a Michael says, "Don't give up, confidence is key and always be one
business major would generate many opportunities for me." step ahead." Adds Steven, "Never be afraid to ask questions.
The most important thing Michael learned was th,evalue of Sometimes asking questions is the best way to learn."
Alumni Profiles: Double the Effort, Double the Results
Wednesday Seminars
Monthly Wednesday Brown Bag Research Seminars ("Wednesday Seminars") offer friendly and constructive
criticism for faculty research projects and serve as dry-runs for subsequent conference presentation. The
2008-2009 Wednesday Seminar Series kicked offwith a summer research round robin update, and picked up speed
with a presentation by George Tabback, associate vice president Academic Affairs / CIO, who fielded faculty queries
on research capacity at the College. Highlights of faculty research presentations included Rita Shea-VanFossen on
"Job, Career and Calling: A Qualitative Study of Work Orientation," in the fall, Marketing's William Feuss on
"Customer Value and Competitive Position" and Management's. James Woodley on "How Tight an Embrace?
Choosing the Optimal Degree of Partner Interaction in Alliances Based on Risk, Technology Characteristics, and
Agreement Provisions," in the spring. The duo of economists Alexandre Olbrecht and Teresa Hutchins also
presented their findings on the relationship between AACSB accreditation and graduate school, and new' faculty
member Xiaoyu Wu closed out the very successful academic year.
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