As a member of the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics’ Class of 2020, Allison Worms from Westfield, New Jersey has not had the typical final semester or commencement at UD due to the coronavirus outbreak. She, and her entire class, have shown incredible resilience, maturity and spirit while adjusting to the many unexpected changes that they have encountered.
Worms was nominated for this series by UD Professor of operations management and Director of the Institute for Financial Services Analytics Bintong Chen, who said, “She overcame the difficulties in taking classes online and spent extra time meeting me over Zoom to work diligently on the challenging homework and practice problems. She is always energetic and optimistic and has successfully handled all challenges in my class.“
In this profile, Worms, an operations management and marketing double major with a minor in Spanish, shared her favorite UD memories, how she has changed during her time at UD and her plans following graduation.
Q: How do you think you have changed from your first semester at UD to now?
Worms: I think from first semester to now I have gained a new understanding of what I want my future career to be. I have grown in each class I have taken and learned how I want to use my skills in my life to make the world a better place!
Q: What is your favorite place at UD?
Worms: My favorite place at UD is the UDance office in the basement of Perkins. This office is full of my favorite people who are always there to support me. I would go there to do homework, catch up with friends or just for a break in between classes.
Q: What is the most memorable course that you took at Lerner?
Worms: BUAD 306—Service and Operations Management with Susan Murphy. This introduction to operations management was the “light bulb” moment I was looking for. I ended up changing my major from management to operations management because I realized that operations was what I loved!
Q: What was your favorite signature UD experience?
Worms: One of the most unique experiences I had at UD was my winter study abroad trip to Panama to complete my Spanish minor. Being fully immersed into a Spanish culture and living with a Spanish family gave me the most amazing perspective into the Panamanian culture. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone by traveling to a new country with 30 strangers, living with a host family and speaking a foreign language for 30 days straight.
Q: What does being a “Lifelong Lerner” mean to you?
Worms: Lifelong Lerner means that I will be treasuring the memories and knowledge that Lerner has brought me for the rest of my life. I have met mentors that I will always look to for guidance. I have met peers that will challenge me to be the best version of myself. And, I have learned skills that I will carry with me throughout my entire career.
Q: What are your plans following graduation?
Worms: Become a program manager at The Andrew McDonough Be Positive Foundation.