Cameron Shearer says he is grateful toward the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, acknowledging the relationships and key opportunities it provided that paved his path to success.
Shearer received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and marketing from UAPB’s School of Business and Management, and has accepted a position with Morgan Stanley, a multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in New York City.
“I think UAPB did a great job with me when it comes to having these experiences, letting you get these experiences … being in close contact with the professors and building relationships that way, even building relationships with other students,” the Marietta, Ga., native said.
“I’ve been told that many people don’t take advantage of treating your classmates as your peers in your career to build a career network. They just treat it as making friends at school. That has been important. There’s a huge sense of community here,” he said.
Possessing a grade point average of 3.85, Shearer revealed that he has the distinction of being the “first and only” grandchild of Carolyn F. Blakely, UAPB chancellor emeritus, to attend UAPB.
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He participated in the Honors Program, named after Blakely, who made history in 1991 as the first woman to head UAPB as its interim chancellor.
Shearer, who has two brothers, will be the third sibling to graduate from college. His older brother, Kai, received his undergraduate degree from Tennessee State University and a master’s degree from George State University. Shearer’s fraternal twin brother, Carson, recently graduated from Alabama State University.
During spring break, he was offered the position of financial services representative in Alpharetta. In this role at Morgan Stanley, Shearer’s duties will involve providing excellent customer service by identifying customer needs and determining the best solution for them. He believes that his education and experiences at UAPB have prepared him well for this position.
While at UAPB, Shearer was involved in extracurricular activities that played a crucial role in his educational journey and prepared him for his professional career. These activities, such as the School of Business and Management student clubs, provided him with valuable skills, knowledge, exposure and networking opportunities.
“I think it’s cool that the school has all of these clubs that the students can participate in – the Entrepreneurship Club, the Investment Club (and as a student) I have worked for the School of Business & Management,” he said.
Shearer added that these clubs have allowed him to attend information sessions with people who work for the U.S. government and individuals who are knowledgeable about the market, stocks and bonds.
“People who can share that information with us at an impressionable age, where we’re just starting out our lives and learning new things, I think that’s important. And also giving us the opportunity to volunteer and serve our community, I think that’s been cool,” Shearer said.
Being involved in the Honors Program gave Shearer a “safe space” to study, become connected, and make new friends.
Shearer praised the Office of Career Services, saying that they helped him “big time” by assisting him in applying for internships, learning about various careers and sending him to conferences and numerous seminars. He credited them with helping him secure a media marketing internship with Auto Zone Corporate in Memphis, Tenn., last summer.
Shearer listed the internship on his resume, which he said opened the door for the job at Morgan Stanley.
“There are many opportunities you’re missing out on if you don’t go to the Office of Career Services,” he said.
Shearer commended several members of the UAPB faculty and staff whom he viewed as mentors from the very beginning of his matriculation, including Tanesha Ford, Jules King, and Cynthia Sims in the School of Business and Management, and Oscar Fuller, Institutional Advancement, University Relations & Development.
“There’s been a whole bunch of people who have just had my back and looked out for me,” Shearer said.