Andrea Osorio’s big idea is to eventually earn her Ph.D. in accounting, become a college professor, and make the same difference in the lives of her students as her business professors at URI made in hers.

With a full-time position at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) waiting for her when she graduates, she is well on her way. “That was probably one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt. Definitely the biggest sense of accomplishment I’ve ever had—to know that in a year I’d be starting my career with a firm I love and making all of my loved ones proud of me,” says Andrea, having interned for several summers at PwC, which is an active recruiter of URI student interns and graduates.

The Colombian-American whose parents moved to the U.S. before she was born, came to URI by way of our Talent Development Program, which offers academic support for disadvantaged students who might not otherwise be able to go to college. Business Professor Chet Hickox mentored Andrea after recognizing her as a student with great promise, and introduced her to the recruiting manager at PwC. Through URI, she studied in Spain, traveled to Belize as part of PwC’s corporate responsibility program teaching financial literacy to elementary and high school students, and mentored other business students. She values the relationships she’s built at URI. “So many professors have gone above and beyond to help me understand a difficult concept. Not to mention the countless conversations I’ve had with faculty about my career goals and aspirations.”

As she prepares to graduate, she says she’s a better version of herself, and will have achieved success when she’s helped a student like herself, just as her mentors at URI helped her. “My passion really lies in helping disadvantaged individuals understand that with hard work, success is at their fingertips.”