It’s no surprise that Rachel Rabenold, BBA ’23, chose Human Resource Management as one of her two majors at Temple University’s Fox School of Business.
Her engaging personality comes through the moment you meet the young woman who grew up in Kutztown, Pa., about 90 minutes outside of Philadelphia.
“I love where I’m from and I really appreciate how I grew up, but I really wanted that opportunity to get into the city and get all of the opportunities that a city can provide for you,” says Rabenold, who will also receive a degree in Supply Chain Management when she graduates next week. “I just felt like Temple really fit everything I was looking for, all the networking opportunities, that kind of thing.”
She shares that her plans took some time to fully come together after she arrived on campus in the fall of 2019.
“I don't think I got as involved as I wanted to in the first two years of school,” she says. “COVID happened in the spring of my freshman year, so it was kind of difficult.”
Rabenold jokingly says she changed majors “about 18 times” during her first two years at Temple, adding that what really helped her in the process was the opportunity to take several introductory courses in different business disciplines.
“I took my intro to HR class, and I just really felt a draw to the leadership and organizational management opportunities that we talked about in that class,” she says, sharing that she continued to consider other majors. “Then I thought back to that intro HR class and I was like, ‘Wait, that sounds exactly like what I would like to do.’”
Adding supply chain management to her degree came a little later in the process.
“Knowing all of the information I do about HR, supply chain and the business world has really set me up for even more in my future,” she says.
In addition to her classes, she’s been involved with a range of organizations and activities including the Temple chapter of Society of HR Management (SHRM), the Delta Zeta sorority, intramural soccer and the Center for Student Professional Development (CSPD).
“When I think about what I've enjoyed most, it is just everything I've been able to do,” she says. “From being a part of my sorority that gave me not only leadership, but so many girls I can lean on and have support from, to my experience in Temple SHRM, where they post job opportunities to help everyone get internships.
“The support from everyone has just been so rewarding.”
She has also enjoyed her position as a student worker at CSPD, where she gained even more experience.
“What was really helpful for me going through my own job search was to have the center as a support system,” she says. “And then also to be there as a support to students who came into the office because I was going through the same thing as them.”
Her career is on its way. Rabenold has accepted a position as an onboarding specialist with Jefferson Health and begins full-time work later this month. But for now, she’s getting ready for graduation and enjoying her accomplishments. “I’m really excited,” she says. “I can’t believe it’s finally happening.”
Advice to the Fox School’s incoming Class of 2027:
Learn as much as you can about the business industry. Get involved in student professional organizations (SPOs), especially the one that is in your major. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, because you never know who your peers or your professors could connect you with.