Hailey Borys, a marketing major who has also completed a certificate in business analytics at Isenberg, came to Isenberg from Shrewsbury, Mass. Borys was recently honored as one of the recipients of the Gerald F. Scanlon Student Employee of the Year Award, which honors students who have demonstrated exceptional performance by contributing their time and skills to help the university achieve its goals and objectives. Borys, an employee of the UMass Amherst Office of Emergency Management, received this recognition for her work on the environmental health and safety website.
How did you choose Isenberg and UMass Amherst?
I chose UMass Amherst because I was accepted into Isenberg and wanted to attend a strong in-state program. My uncle and cousin both went to UMass and had such positive experiences, which made me confident it would be a great fit for me as well.
How did you choose your major?
I was drawn to marketing because of its creative aspects, but I also wanted to build a strong analytical foundation. Combining marketing with business analytics allows me to explore data-driven marketing and better understand consumer behavior.
What have been your favorite classes and experiences at Isenberg so far?
I’ve really enjoyed all of my classes at Isenberg, especially my marketing courses. Two of my favorites have been Nonprofit Marketing and Sport Marketing, as both offered hands-on experiences and showed me how marketing strategies can be applied across different industries. One of my most meaningful experiences at Isenberg has been serving as a TA, where I’ve had the opportunity to mentor and guide first-year students.
What clubs and extracurriculars do you participate in?
I serve as a Lead TA for the Isenberg First-Year Transitions Seminar, where I support and mentor new students as they adjust to college. I am also a member of the Isenberg Women in Business club.
If you could go back and give your first-year self some advice, what would you tell them?
Advice I would give to my first-year self would be to put myself out there more and take full advantage of all the resources Isenberg has to offer.
Have you had any jobs or internships during college?
For the past two and a half years, I have worked as a marketing assistant for UMass Amherst’s Emergency Management department, including during summer and winter breaks.
Do you have a mentor who has helped shape your experience? I’ve been fortunate to have many mentors at Isenberg, but my biggest influence has been my supervisor, Kate Dorrity, director of emergency management. She recognized my potential early on and continuously challenged me to grow. Her support and guidance have played a major role in shaping my confidence and professional development.
What does receiving the Gerald F. Scanlon Student Employee of the Year Award mean to you? It means so much to me. Being nominated helped me reflect on how much I’ve grown during my time at UMass. I’m incredibly grateful to my nominators for their support and encouragement and they’ve pushed me to always do my best. It’s truly meaningful to know that my work has made a positive impact on the UMass community.