Kieran Scofidio

An International Business Association president who doesn’t like to travel is like a swim team captain who doesn’t like getting wet.

Fortunately for business major Kieran Scofidio, he overcame his aversion to flying by taking trips to Panama and Florida with fellow Manning School of Business students. He now leads the school’s international business student organization — and can see himself living and working abroad someday.

“Travel was always very intimidating to me, but it’s a magical feeling when you land and realize you're in a whole different place,” the Groton, Massachusetts, native says. “Having these opportunities to travel has made me realize that it’s accessible. If I wanted to work internationally, or even just live somewhere and work remotely for a period of time, it really is feasible.”

Unsure of what he wanted to do after high school, Scofidio earned an associate degree from Middlesex Community College and then made “an extremely smooth transition” to UML through the MassTransfer program. He chose to major in business, with concentrations in marketing and management, because it gave him a broad range of career options.

During his junior year, Scofidio attended the annual Society for Advancement of Management conference with 11 other Manning students in Orlando, Florida. The following summer, he joined nine students on a service-learning trip to Panama, where they provided consulting services to several small businesses.

“The culture shock was mind-boggling at first, but by the time we made our final presentations, we realized that we actually made a tangible difference in how these businesses could operate,” he says. “I was able to grow and learn by taking my business skills and applying them abroad.”

A commuter student, Scofidio got involved on campus by becoming the International Business Association’s marketing officer. He took over as president his senior year. One of his favorite activities with the organization was serving food to people in need at the Dwelling House of Hope in Lowell.

Scofidio is interested in working in the financial services or hospitality industries. First, though, he plans to get an MBA through the Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Program.

 “The opportunities that this public university has offered me are immense,” he says. “I can’t say enough good things about the dean’s office and the Manning School for giving students these opportunities.”