Artie Pearsall of Glen Cove, New York, knows a good idea when he sees it. And for Artie, a really good idea was becoming a course assistant in UM's signature First Step (MGT 100) class during his senior year. In addition to helping the instructor with the course logistics for the required freshman class, he mentored students through assignments and helped them with their individual projects.

"From conception, FIRST step struck me as a great idea and great way to get students working together in teams. There are several upper level courses where solid teamwork skills are essential. Plus it's a unique opportunity for them to get out in Miami and interact with local businesses and non-profits from a business perspective," he says. "Students get a real feel for the ethical side of business early on in their college career. I thought that was a great opportunity for them."
And obviously, for Artie as well. "It was great to be able to interact with each of the students and speak to the whole class about my UM experiences - the internships I've had, the courses I've taken and other experiences I've had here. It was really rewarding to pass down some of the knowledge I have," he says.

He'll put that knowledge to good use when he graduates with a double major in Finance and Marketing. Artie, who got bitten by the investment-banking bug after his summer internship at Goldman Sachs, plans a future career in that industry.