At the heart of Jerri Snyder’s Appalachian experience is her willingness to embrace change and take the leap into the unknown.

“You have to try out new things early on so you can find the things that are important to you,” the 2014 graduate said. For Snyder, those things narrowed themselves down to an interest in business, specifically of an international nature. Now, she works for Wells Fargo as an audit associate.

Going from a place of absolute perplexity to one of the most prestigious banks in the world is a big leap, but one Snyder was able to make with confidence and support from faculty.

“They’re just incredible,” Snyder said of her professors within the business school. “They care so deeply about their students.”

Snyder had a lot of people take her under their wing. In particular, the BB&T Student Leadership Center got to know Snyder on a personal level, securing her an internship with Hershey. Later on, they would contact her directly with an amazing internship opportunity with Wells Fargo.

The internship would eventually lead to a job with the bank, where she works closely within the Wholesale International Group.  Utilizing her international business major, Snyder finds herself well outfitted for her job, which involves occasionally doing on-site audit reviews. This job takes her and those on her team to various countries, including Canada, Hong Kong, London, and other locations.  

It certainly doesn’t hurt that Snyder had already spent some time overseas by the time she graduated, having studied abroad in Seville, Spain and going on a trip to Costa Rica.

“There’s more than one way to do something,” she says. “Different cultures do things differently.” Because working with different cultures is part of her job, an understanding of this is vital. Adaptation to different cultures does not come easy, but when an international focus is paired with an adventurous streak like Snyder’s, it certainly comes easier.