As a member of the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics’ class of 2025, Kaitlyn McNaney, finance and business analytics double major with a minor in Spanish from Quakertown, Pa. has thoroughly demonstrated her excellence and dedication during her time at UD.
McNaney was nominated for this series by Assistant Professor of MIS, Advisor – MIS Undergrad Edward Hartono who described Kaitlyn as an “outstanding student” and Assistant Professor of Finance Howland Redding.
Redding said, “Kaitlyn earns top scores on all exams, assignments and semester grades. She has perfect attendance and contributes in class discussions. Kaitlyn is a pleasure to teach and have in class.”
In this profile, McNaney shares her favorite UD memories, how she has changed during her time at UD and her plans following graduation.
Lerner: How do you think you have changed from your first semester at UD to now?
McNaney: During my first semester at UD, I was mainly focused on doing well in my classes and making sure that my major was right for me. Since then, I have grown significantly by taking on more challenging courses, becoming more proactive, and discovering an interest in finance by adding a double major.
Lerner: What have been some of the challenges you have faced during your college experience and how did you overcome them?
McNaney: One of the challenges that I faced during my college experience was having so much independence and time on my hands when I first started my freshman year. Getting into a routine and becoming self-disciplined truly allowed me to succeed in being efficient in my coursework. This has ultimately led me to build up my study skills and habits in a way that I can easily balance challenging upper-level courses with other activities as well as being a TA!
Lerner: What was your favorite signature UD experience and why?
McNaney: My favorite signature UD experience was joining Women in Finance at the beginning of my junior year. At the time, I was still trying to figure out what career path I wanted. Women in Finance allowed me to build peer and mentor relationships with other members with similar interests and career aspirations.
Lerner: Did you have a Lerner professor or staff member that had a big impact on your UD experience?
McNaney: A Lerner professor that had a big impact on my UD experience was Professor (Fei) Xie. I took his intermediate financial management course spring semester of my junior year, and the class really solidified my interest in finance. I also had the opportunity to TA for his intermediate financial management course spring semester of my senior year. I am grateful for all of the opportunities, career advice, and support he has provided me with!
Lerner: What does being a “Lifelong Lerner” mean to you?
McNaney: To me, being a “Lifelong Lerner” means not only continuing to learn and gain more knowledge, but it also means being adaptable and curious after graduation. Lerner has taught me so many technical skills that are necessary to succeed, but it has also taught me how to think critically and learn from mistakes and failures. Being a “Lifelong Lerner” means to grow both personally and professionally throughout life, and I’m grateful for all of the peers, professors, and mentors that Lerner has connected me with!
Lerner: What advice would you give to incoming freshmen to make the most out of their college experience?
McNaney: My biggest piece of advice to incoming freshmen would be to have an open mind and to be proactive. UD has so many opportunities, and it is so important to seek them out. Go to the involvement fair, go to the career fairs, and talk to people in your classes. Also, don’t feel like you need to have everything figured out right away. I came to UD as a business analytics major, and I am now graduating from UD as a finance & business analytics double major with a Spanish minor. You might find that you take a class or join a club that interests you more than you think it would!
Lerner: What are your plans following graduation?
McNaney: Following graduation, I will be joining M&T Bank full-time as a 2025 management development program associate with the affluent customer growth team in Wilmington, Del. I am so excited for this opportunity to grow and further develop my skills and knowledge!