Accounting Accessibility Is Her Passion
Samantha Marte, ’24, envisions a career as an accountant. But in addition to her career plan, she has a passion: to make accounting accessible for minority students who seek a career in business.
A Hispanic first-generation college student, Samantha understands the challenges faced by other college students from similar backgrounds. The award-winning graduate, who discovered her own aptitude for accounting and finance, wants to help others who struggle with those subjects.
Samantha came to PCCC through the NJ Stars program, which offers a tuition-free community college education to qualifying high school students who graduate in the top 15 per cent of their class.
Samantha received the Robert A. Shea Memorial Graduate Achievement Award at PCCC’s 2024 Graduate Awards Ceremony.
This past spring, Samantha graduated from PCCC with honors, receiving her Associate in Science (AS) degree in Business Administration/Accounting. She is one of only two PCCC students selected for the 2024 NJ All-State Academic Team, and she is also a recipient of the prestigious Professor Robert A. Shea Memorial Graduate Achievement Award, a PCCC scholarship presented each year to only three students in the graduating class.
Additionally, Samantha received the KPMG Talent 2 Scholarship, given by one of the world’s Big Four accounting firms to community college students who are interested in an accounting career. From over 250 applicants, Samantha was one of only 10 to receive the coveted scholarship. “That really made me feel that all the hard work was worth it.”
Participating in the EOF (Educational Opportunity Fund) program and the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society offered Samantha valuable personal and professional experiences. “I gained a new perspective and learned a lot about myself, especially through PTK, which transformed me into the student I am now.”
In one particularly impactful experience, Samantha was selected to speak alongside the CEO and President of PTK, Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, at the “President’s Luncheon and Recognition Panel” held in April 2023 at Catalyst, PTK’s annual conference. The topic was “CCsmart” a PTK initiative that advocates the value of starting one’s higher education journey at community college.
“I didn’t think I could do it,” said Samatha, “but my PTK advisors motivated me, telling me over and over that I could.” As chairperson of that year’s PTK College Project, which focused on CCsmart, Samantha described how Alpha Eta Chi (the PCCC chapter of PTK) implemented CCsmart into the College Project by creating short videos informing students of resources available to them, such as EOF, Enrollment Services, and others. The speech was a success. “I am so grateful to Professor (Jennifer) Gasparino and Andy (Perales), my PTK advisors. They believed in me and their support gave me the confidence to face this challenge.”
Samantha and fellow student Bilal Gebril were the two PCCC students named to the 2024 NJ All-State Academic Team
While pursuing her studies, Samantha also worked part-time at the College as a supplemental instructor (SI) for a course in Financial Accounting. The goal of supplemental instruction is to reinforce the course material covered in class. “As an SI, I hosted weekly group study sessions and assisted students one-on-one,” she explained.
Working as an SI inspired Samantha’s passion to make accounting accessible to minority students. “Accounting can be challenging, but also rewarding, even if you do not plan to be an accountant. Accounting provides a foundation, and I want students who need extra support to stay encouraged and get that foundation.”
After several months on the job, Samantha was promoted to the position of Supplemental Instruction Student Leader. “I oversee the completion of the SI’s weekly materials, collaborate with faculty on campus to assign SI’s to courses, conduct SI training, and gather and organize data to determine the effectiveness of the SI program.”
As a result of her SI experience, Samantha was again invited to be a speaker, this time with Professor Kelly Bender, a PCCC English instructor, at the National Organization for Student Success (NOSS) 48th Annual Conference, held last February in Las Vegas Nevada. Their presentation, “Leveraging Supplemental Instruction (SI) to Foster Academic Success,” defined SI, described how PCCC instructors implemented SI in high-risk courses, and explained its benefits to students’ academic success.
“The audience was attentive and engaged,” said Samantha. “It was a very satisfying experience, and I loved speaking with college representatives from around the nation who are as passionate about supplemental instruction as I am.”
In her work as a student and an SI, Samantha takes her inspiration from Professor Khloud Kourani, an instructor in the Business Administration Department. “Professor Kourani is my favorite professor. She really cares about her students and goes out of her way to be available to them.” said Samantha. “I never would have felt confident enough to pursue a career in accounting without the support I received from Professor Kourani.”
Transferring next Fall into a bachelor’s degree program in accounting, Samantha is considering a career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and maybe even one day, as a professor herself.
“I am forever grateful for starting my college education at PCCC,” said Samantha. “The support from PCCC and my PTK family provided me with the foundation I needed to thrive.”
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