Student Organization Spotlight: National Association of Black Accountants

Take a moment to get to know Basil Brown, a senior accounting major and president of the National Association of Black Accountants. The NABA is focused on developing, encouraging and serving as a resource for greater participation by African-Americans and other minorities in the accounting, finance and business professions.  They assist minority students in entering the accounting and finance profession by developing professional skills of its members and provide opportunities for members to network and fulfill their civic responsibility.  In addition, they participate in chapter, regional, and national programs.

Q: What does NABA have planned so far for the spring semester?

We have a goal to be very active this semester. We meet every other Thursday in McCoy 127 at 6:30 after Accounting Club. At those meetings, we have professional speakers that give information on how to bridge the gap between being a full time student to having a full time career. We will also participate in Bobcat Build this semester. On February 20^th we will help Accounting Club and Beta Alpha Psi at an event welcoming Wayne Berson and many other BDO professionals. NABA also takes pride in having a presence in the Volunteer Income Tax Program (VITA). VITA is a free service that prepares simple tax returns for the community. We also have Study Nights with NABA where we tutor students in accounting classes. Those study nights are scheduled for February 27^th and April 10^th.

Q: How will your major and NABA help you reach your goals?

The National Association of Black Accountants helps its members reach its goals by using the motto to help students and professionals succeed in corporate America. The motto is “lifting as we climb.” NABA is a national association that gives it members a way to network at various events throughout the year, help each other with business ideas, and give opportunity to the underrepresented minority in the business world. After our meetings every other Thursday, it makes me want to go pick up a book and study. The connections made with NABA reach across the country. That fact helps student and professional members reach their career goals.

Q: What resource on campus do you recommend for students to utilize?

The resources that I deem most useful at Texas State are Jobs for Cats and Ross Wood. Texas State University brings employers and recruiters to us instead of us having to go to them. Ross Wood gives us his tips on what to say and how to act during the various job fairs and interview opportunities. Career Services helps bobcats with attaining interviews and job placement after we graduate.  These are two resources that I believe every bobcat should use.

Q: What is your favorite part about Texas State?

My favorite part about Texas State is how friendly the student body is here. When I walk around on campus, I get a feeling that I can meet a lifelong best friend every day. The students here are eager to include any and everybody that shares the same passions no matter what it is.  There is an organization or a club for just about anything you can think of.  Texas State creates the atmosphere that makes you want to get involved.

Q: What do you think is the ‘key to success’?

If there is a key I certainly do not have it yet. However, I like to live by the saying, “if you don’t pay the price, you pay the price.” It means if you do not do the things you need to do to achieve your goals now, then you are either going to have to do them with more effort later or just throw in the towel and fail. For example, if I put off studying for test 1, 2, and 3, then I will have a bad grade going into the final exam. If I still want to achieve my goal of getting a high grade, then I have to study those same pages in the book that I put off months ago or I will fail at reaching my goal. The basic meaning is to try to be proactive because either way it goes you are going to pay a price. The price is either time and effort or a failed/repeated attempt at a goal. So why not work hard at the beginning  and reap a benefit? I don’t have the key to success, but until I do I am going to use this quote as a motivator for me and my date with the CPA exam sometime in the imminent future.
 

bottom from the left to right: Alyssa Smith, Basil Brown II, Wanetia Adams

     top from the left to right: Louis Holley, Tonya Champagne, Christopher Villarreal

To find out more information and how to join, visit their website