Jonea Weekley

In high school, Jonea Weekley completed the International Baccalaureate, a rigorous academic program that prepares students ages 16 to 19 for success in college and beyond, which helped her to realize the universal nature of business and how easily it could be applied to any subject matter.

A big reason why she chose Questrom was its ever-expanding network. “There are Questrom alumni working in pretty much every part of the business world and since I’m still figuring out what line of business I like best, it was important to me to have connections wherever I went,” Jonea says.

An additional bonus was the curriculum. She notes that the opportunity to have exposure to the various sides of business before having to choose her focus area was comforting. On her first day here, she says, she was amazed that she was already diving into business material, and has experienced that immersive feel in every class since.

Outside the classroom, Jonea serves as a resident assistant on her dorm’s “management floor,” which has given her the chance to help organize and attend Fireside Chats. These events happen multiple times throughout the academic year and invite Questrom professors into the dorm to chat over pizza with students. “It’s a great way for students to connect further with their professors in a fun, relaxed manner. Even the dean of Questrom has made time to join the conversation.”

Although she’s not sure where exactly she’ll land after graduation, Jonea knows that she wants to help people. One way she’s been able to combine her passion for helping others with her business skills was through interning with AIG as a property commercial underwriter.

“Individuals and companies alike reach out to insurance companies to put things back together again, and it takes lots of analysis and pre-planning for an insurance company to anticipate the needs of others,” she says. “My biggest hope is that my career will constantly be an application of the business analytics I’ve learned in Questrom to help those in need.”