The Ardent Accountant
Double major Aissatou Gningue ’22 was already preparing to commit to another college when she happened to schedule a tour at Pace. The experience left such an impression, it caused her to seriously reconsider her plans. “The way I was welcomed by the students I spoke to, the possibilities presented on campus, and the fact that I would stay in New York was a game changer for me,” she told us. She also ended up choosing ̾Ƶfor the opportunities the University provided, something Gningue didn’t waste any time taking advantage of.
Currently, she’s pursuing a dual major in both public accounting and political science, and even added a pre-law minor to her busy schedule. “I ultimately want to go to law school to study international law,” she explained, her sights set on eventually working in foreign policy at the United Nations (UN). Gningue dreams big! For now, though, she has a solid plan in place on her way to the UN, which involves focusing her talents on learning more about the auditing process. “I spoke to accounting professionals while [I was] figuring out my major, and I found out that accounting is something I would like to pursue while on my journey [toward] something I am also passionate about.”
As practical as Gningue clearly is, she’s also passionate about a lot—and that includes her many, many extracurricular activities. She not only participates in intramural volleyball games, she’s also an active member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, Phi Mu Psi Delta Chapter, and Beta Alpha Psi. These things, she says, were motivated largely by her parents. “I always strived to do well in school because starting at a young age, they gave me the extra push to be the best at whatever I want to do,” Gningue told us. “They set the bar really high and continue to encourage me to go above and beyond.”
In her time at Pace, Gningue has worked in numerous industries from tutoring to sales to counseling all the way to an internship at the New York City Law Department. “My perspective on law completely shifted,” she explained, having worked with law practitioners, former lawyers, judges, and even Mayor Bill de Blasio’s legal team there. It gave her a real sense of the world she would be entering into after graduation. “I learned how policies and the legal system as a whole impacts society and can be used to mitigate issues around the world, including my country, Senegal.”
Like every good legal professional, Gningue is always working to bring people together and foster a greater sense of camaraderie. That’s why she’s working on launching a brand new student organization on the NYC Campus called The Nomads. “The club strives to build a community within ̾Ƶto help students meet new people, collect and commemorate memories, and make the most of their college experience,” she told us. “I sincerely hope it will [bring] the ̾ƵCommunity together and celebrate diversity and inclusion.” We’re excited to see this project flourish!
Did you know her mother is also attending ̾Ƶright now, though? It’s true! She already has an MBA in Finance, “but after coming on [a] tour at Pace, she decided to get her master’s in accounting and is on [the] CPA track,” Gningue said. Talk about a ̾Ƶlegacy story!
We look forward to hearing more about the next big project Gningue decides to take on and pioneer, as well as all the numerous work opportunities we’re sure she’ll be landing on her path to the United Nations. Ambition like that never sleeps, and Gningue is as passionate as they come.
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Rachel Vetterman ’22 transferred to ̾Ƶto pursue a combined degree: a BA in Childhood Education and an MSEd in Special Education. She’s passionate about supporting all the students she’s worked with, but it was one moment on the job that really changed her perspective.
Pforzheimer Honors College student Debra Perlman ’21 has been extremely busy in her time here at Pace. She’s been part of the first-year and second-year honor societies, Alpha Lambda Delta and Lambda Sigma, a member of the ̾ƵWomen in Tech organization, a participant in Pace’s NYC Design Factory, and even a 2019 Forbes Under 30 Summit scholar—not to mention her internships with major companies.