JoAnna Muenks Gleans Lots of Good Advice from Professors

At UMKC, the students are our story. Introducing a new digital storytelling project. Look, listen and learn about us through interviews, photographs and videos of our students. Read the other student stories and go to umkcgoingplaces.tumblr.com and follow.

JOANNA MUENKS

Accounting and Business administration majors | Henry W. Bloch School of Management | Trustees’ Scholar | 2017

What led you to UMKC?

I’m from Westphalia, Missouri, and I started as a premed student majoring in biology because I love health and fitness. But I’ve already changed majors. In biology, I missed the creativity of business and people. So now I am a dual major in business administration and accounting. I feel like I belong at the Bloch School.

How has college inspired you?

College has inspired me to pursue any and every interest I have. The more I experience, the more confident I become in my future goals and my ability to accomplish them.

Since entering college, what have you learned about yourself?

1)      I am capable of more than I think. 2) It is never bad to ask for help and advice.

What the best piece of advice you have ever received from a professor?

The best advice I have ever received from a professor is to continually go out and meet people. Tell everyone your goals and dreams, and you never know who could be willing to help you accomplish them.

What do you most admire at UMKC and why?

I find myself continually admiring my professors. UMKC being a mid-size university, I didn’t expect to build a close relationship with my professors and feel comfortable asking them for advice on a frequent basis.

What excites you?

People, brainstorming, ideas, connecting and networking.

What’s your greatest fear?

My greatest fear is not living up to my potential.

Where is UMKC taking you?

UMKC is providing the real business world experience and Kansas City connections that will take me where I want to go. I want to get a master’s degree in public relations, then work in creative marketing or have my own CPA firm. As an urban university, UMKC has a huge advantage.

What motto do you live by?

You have to at least try. If you don’t try, you’ll never know.