Combining Graduate Study While Working Here at Centenary

Imagine parlaying your work-study job as an undergrad into a full-time position while pursuing your master’s degree all at the same time. That’s exactly the plan for Lena Lutcza, Centenary University Class of 2025. A former Admissions Ambassador, Lutzca graduated in the spring with a degree in finance. She is continuing her studies at Centenary to obtain her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in finance, while also working full-time on campus. Lutcza previously worked as an Admissions Ambassador and is currently working as a Freshman Admissions Counselor. 

What made you choose Centenary?

When I was looking at schools, I knew I wanted a smaller-sized school with a great business program! After touring Centenary and speaking with faculty, other staff, and coaches, I knew it was the place where I wanted to be. 

I learned about the Enactus team at Centenary during my college search and what they do are all the things I am passionate about and the experiences I wanted. I was lucky enough to be a part of this amazing team all four years at Centenary. It gave me experience in my field of study I would not have been able to get anywhere else. 

I also felt such a strong sense of community and support from the first time I stepped on campus, which to this day I can say is true. Being a Centenary student, I felt my opportunities were endless and always supported thanks to the great mentors I had made. 

Now that I am working on the admissions and enrollment side of the University, I strive to express to all students and families the amazing opportunities and support our Centenary community has for its students!

What made you decide to major in finance?

I have always really enjoyed business and math! Throughout high school, math was one of my stronger subjects, and I had great teachers who really helped me understand it. I also took some accounting and business classes in high school, which made me love the idea of entrepreneurship and possibly having my own business one day. After doing some research, I decided I wanted to major in finance, as it would give me a well-rounded foundation of business principles with a specialization that could give me many options in my career. 

Why did you decide to further your education to obtain your MBA in finance? 

I have always wanted to continue on to a higher degree. I love learning and wanted to further challenge myself! After completing my bachelors, I knew staying in the finance field was something I wanted to do. I wanted to further advance my finance knowledge to give me more experience that could lead to higher career opportunities. 

Can you describe the finance major and what one can do with it? 

I had a professor who once said, “accounting is the present and finance is the future.” In a business sense, finance is all predicting, planning, budgeting, etc. People can do various types of jobs with a background in finance; working as a financial planner, working in corporate finance, nonprofits, and schools too! 

What are the strengths of the CU finance program? 

The finance program here at Centenary is great! The professors are very knowledgeable, as they all have had very well-rounded careers throughout different companies. A strength the program has is how most of the work students do is realistic and hands-on, such as tracking the stock market of various companies and reporting on it; this definitely helps to understand the more real-world aspects versus just learning from the text book. 

In one of my senior year courses, we chose real stocks that we would track and buy, sell, or hold them, which is a great way to understand and learn market trends. Each week we would report what was going on with the company specifically, the industry, and the world, as these factors impact business and are important to understand. 

What were some of your favorite courses as an undergrad? 

Financial Management, Financial Research and Analysis, and Enactus were my favorite Centenary courses. Each class was very hands on with learning. Rather than always sitting in a lecture, we were looking at the financial standpoints of different companies, studying current events and the stock market, and running our own business as well. 

What would you like to do as a career in finance? 

I would love to be a CFO of a nonprofit someday. I have experience working for a drug prevention nonprofit, which I do have a personal connection to. Working here showed me I can take what I learned in school, but also contribute to a cause I am passionate about. 

My overall career goal is to love what I do, and I have been lucky enough to have great experiences so far that have shown me there is work you can love and be passionate about while combining it with the skills learned in school. 

What sparked your interest in working for nonprofit organizations?

I just love having a greater cause for the work that I’m doing. It may not be direct. However, the work I am doing is supporting a cause I believe in. Working for a nonprofit, especially a cause that I had a personal connection to, really made me so much more passionate about the work I was doing. 

These are similar reasons why I really like admissions too! I love getting to share my personal experiences at Centenary with potential students and families. Seeing them get excited or seeing a hope for their academic future through any way I can help them is one of the reasons I love my current job.  

Did you join any clubs or sports teams as an undergrad? 

Yes, I was a part of Enactus for four years, a first year leader for three years, an admissions ambassador, on the softball team for two years, and cross country team for two years. 

Have you taken part in any internships through Centenary or any other business-related opportunities?  

Yes! I interned at Village Super Markets’ corporate office for two years in the accounting department and HR department. I was a finance intern at Prevention is Key, a nonprofit. I was a CFO Advisory Intern at Wiss, an accounting firm. I was also the project leader of our ChiForce Project for our Enactus team. 

Do you have any advice for students interested in majoring in finance? 

Try different internships! Don’t limit yourself to one area of finance or industry. When I was looking for internships, I tried to choose completely different industries and types of companies. 

I worked for a large supermarket corporate office, a nonprofit, and an accounting firm. Each of these experiences were extremely valuable in helping me decide what I truly liked and was passionate about very early on in my job search. 

What is it like working and studying full time at Centenary? 

I love working full time while continuing my studies at Centenary! It does require a great amount of time management, but this is one of my strengths. I always make sure my work obligations are complete during the work hours; then, when necessary, I block off times at night and weekend to get my studies in. 

It’s also a unique position. I just completed my bachelors, and now I’m studying for my master’s while recruiting new students as an admissions counselor. It gives me a great perspective to speak on various aspects of the university, really being able to market a well-rounded and personalized experience to them. 

What hours do you work?

I work full-time. Regular working hours are Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30, with occasional weekends when we have open houses or other admissions events as well. 

In the enrollment field, there is also something called “travel season” in the early fall months and spring months. This is when admissions counselors travel to various schools for college fairs and visits to recruit new students! Hours vary when we attend fairs, as they can be during the school day or at night. 

What is your specific title/job? 

I am a Freshman Admissions Counselor and Enrollment Management Specialist. While focusing on admissions, I am also the university's on-ground financial aid representative.  

How did you get this job? 

In my junior and senior year, I worked in the admissions office as an Admissions Ambassador. Towards the end of my senior year during my job search, the leadership team in admissions offered me this amazing opportunity to work full time while still continuing my graduate studies.

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of school? What do you do in your free time? 

Yes! I love to go to the gym, do yoga, and snowboard (when it’s cold). I also enjoy spending time with my friends and family whenever I can. 

What is something no one knows about you? 

I am very interested in true crime, and even considered studying criminal justice at one point! I am mostly interested in it now as a hobby, such as watching documentaries or listening to podcasts. 

If you could tell your freshman self one thing, what would it be? 

I would say to put myself out of my comfort zone more! Everyone at college is in the same boat: starting off new and trying to get the hang of things. The sooner you do what you are interested in without hesitation, the more you will gain and learn from these experiences. You never know where an opportunity can take you!