Writing
Even as I built my career in pictures and videos, I was always writing. Articles, blog posts, e-mails, social media captions... I even wrote an entire alumni magazine at my first higher ed job! There’s no better combination than beautiful visuals and well written stories.
When Khole Gwebu was young, the last thing in the world he thought he would be is a scholar. With two educators for parents, he understood the life of an academic and resolutely wanted to pursue a career outside academia.
Life, however, had different plans. These days, Gwebu admits with a laugh that his parents “may have been on to something.” As an exemplary researcher and beloved decision sciences faculty for both undergraduate and graduate courses at Paul College, Gwebu was recently awarded the 2021 University of New Hampshire’s Outstanding Associate Professor award.
The University of New Hampshire's Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics is officially the highest ranked public business school in New England.
Paul College ranked No. 60 in the nation with the release of Poets&Quants for Undergrads 2023 Best Undergraduate Business Schools, alongside No. 40 for academic experience and No. 48 in student career outcomes.
“Paul College is a powerful force: a strong and resilient community of problem-solvers and compassionate global citizens, who are committed to student success both inside and out of the classroom,” said Dean Lucy Gilson. “Our outstanding faculty, determined students, and dedicated program staff are the reason we rank among the 60 best business schools in the nation.”
During my time at the Bangor Daily News, every reporter was encouraged to pursue a passion project through their blog. I jumped into this task with zero hesitation: local craftspeople, artisans, and artists have always had a special place in my heart.
"Made in Maine” was one of the great joys of my time at the BDN. I explored the intersection of writing, photos, videos, and embedded GIFs in my blog posts. While a website update has left the archived version without most of its multimedia, the words (and stories) remain.
CAPTIONS
Who knew you could fit so much soul into 2,200 characters.
Your experience here is what you make of it. Durham is my home.
⭐️ Ripken Kimball '25
📚 Business Administration: Management + Entrepreneurship
🏠 Webster, NH
💙 President @UNHPikes
UNH is one of those schools that looks really big – intimidating, you know, 14,000 students – but I am constantly running into people I know. Especially in Paul, I've made so many great friends and connections.
It's a big campus, sure, but it's a small community.
Like most people, I came to college not entirely sure what I wanted. Initially UNH was more of a backup choice, but then I started to research Paul. It's funny how you can sometimes write off an amazing opportunity just because it's right in front of you.
The rest, as they say, is history.
I love management because it can lead down so many different avenues and it's great to help others be more successful.
While I never intended to join a fraternity (let alone be the president of one) joining has opened up amazing opportunities for me. I've gone to leadership summits in Memphis, Louisville, Philadelphia. I managed a $50,000 budget as a sophomore treasurer, and now oversee the full $250,000 budget as president!
And the connections I've made, both through networking and socially, have been unbeatable.
I also have to shout out UNH's proximity to so many things. I've been skiing since elementary school, so being able to head up to Canon, Gunstock, or Wildcat with the boys and just rip jumps, have a great time... it's super important to me.
A ton of my friends surf, too, with the ocean being right there. (I'm more of a beach guy.) And one hour-long train ride to Boston lands you at a Red Sox game.
I've loved all my professors so far. Shoutout: I just finished a Business in Practice course with Mike Robichaud called, "Ready to Lead." Definitely an amazing experience.
It gave me so many hands-on management examples, and we got to meet industry leaders from across the world.
I have so many great memories here (especially from McLaughlin Hall). My advice to any student: get involved. Put yourself out there. Being a freshman is uncomfortable, but if you put in the work UNH can be everything you want and more.
High school feels like a lifetime ago – I'm a completely different person.
⭐️ Sadie Dyer '26
📚 Hotel and Hospitality Management + Sustainability (Dual Major)
🏠 Gorham, Maine
💙 First-Year Peer Advisor, @unhsenate
I'll be upfront: I wasn't the best student in high school. I didn't realize how much school would impact my life. And COVID was a definite struggle, being such a people person. (That's why I chose to major in hospitality!)
Now that I'm here I strive to be the best I can be. Meeting people, getting out to campus events, studying hard. I don't want to graduate with any regrets.
I think my younger self would be really proud of the balance I've struck.
UNH wasn't initially on my radar, but my mom and sister convinced me to take a tour. The minute we parked I knew I'd found what I was looking for.
I just love the overall vibe of campus. The architecture, the trees, how everyone walks everywhere. The bells that ring every hour. One walk around UNH and I was totally sold.
And, of course, Paul College is aesthetically GORGEOUS.
Initially, I didn't get into Paul (not the best student, remember?) So I opted to enter @unhCOLA undeclared and try to get into Paul through the Paul Pathways program.
Essentially, Pathways has you take an extra math course and prove you can get through the first semester of Paul's required courses with a B- or better in each class. I still participated in Paul's First-Year experience (FIRE) with other Pathway students! (Shout out to both my amazing peer advisors and my current Pathway class.)
To me, hospitality means creating a welcoming experience for someone. Anticipating their needs and giving them all you have to offer.
The professors here definitely reflect that – from hospitality to economics, accounting, sustainability... they all want to see you succeed. (Krysta Marvel is probably the nicest, most patient and composed person I've ever met!)
At the end of the day, it's the people I surround myself with who will stick with me the most. I know my friends will be with me for life. And the connections I've already made here will definitely push my career forward.
Paul is a great community. I'm glad to be part of it.
My first class was actually in the room my parents met. Weird, right?
⭐️ Sam Croteau '25
📚 Analytical Economics + Business Administration: Student Designed (Organizational Behavior)
🏠 Bolton, MA
💙 @rinesfund, @unhecenter, @unhsenate, Paul Scholar
UNH runs in the family. I came to my first hockey game when I was seven! So coming here was always a possibility. And when I visited during my college search it just... fit.
But it was the Paul Scholars program that sealed the deal. The people I met through my cohort are my best friends to this day. I'm living with four of them next year! And the scholarship money was hard to pass up.
I came here not really knowing where I wanted to end up. And that's okay. That's what college is all about: finding your path.
The only thing I 100% knew? I love Excel. There's no problem that a spreadsheet can't solve! But I've realized I actually can't stand just crunching numbers.
I need my work to involve people. Data is best when paired with a human note.
Rines Angel Fund was a huge part of finding my way. It's such a cool opportunity to participate in angel investing: you work with founders and research real companies to weigh whether to invest actual money.
You're never just sitting, listening to a lecture in Rines. Everything is hands-on. You learn a lot! This year we've heard pitches on everything from novel recycling mechanisms to sustainable dog food and healthcare databases. It feels good to be able to make a real impact.
My time in the Economics program has also been huge. (Hence my major!) Second semester freshman year I asked Karen Conway if I could help with any research. She said yes! To this day we still get coffee once a month. Where else could I get that kind of a connection with a professor?
I've definitely found a home here. I think anyone can. Whether you're interested in sustainability, stocks, hospitality – you meet people with a host of different skills, and that makes academics fun.
And that's just Paul, let alone UNH. Take advantage of how big UNH is and make friends in justice studies, psychology, mechanical engineering. Diversity helps expand how you see the world.
I'm so glad I ended up here.