Student Spotlight - Erik Jacob

Aug 28, 2026 8:00 AM

Bobcat Bulletin Student Spotlight highlights students who are successful inside and outside the classroom. This edition of Bobcat Bulletin features Erik Jacob.

Hometown: Sykesville, Md.

Major: Business Administration with a concentration in Small Business/Entrepreneurship

Why did you choose to attend Frostburg State University?

I chose Frostburg State University because of its small class sizes and its distance from both home and my job. I wanted something that was both close enough for me to drive home on the weekends, should I want/need to, while also giving me a reason to take long-term leave from an increasingly toxic workplace to let things cool down.

What extracurricular activities were you involved in?

During the 2023-2024 academic year, I served as secretary of the Finance Association. I became vice president in Fall 2024 and interim president in Spring 2025. As membership declined, the organization ultimately reached a point where continued operation was no longer viable. My responsibilities then shifted from managing the association's day-to-day operations to overseeing the process of winding down the organization.

At the same time, I served as vice president of the Computer Science Club, where I assisted the president with their regular responsibilities and organized workshops of my own, including one focused on virtualization and the use of virtual machines. From Fall 2024 through Fall 2025, I served as president of the Computer Science Club, managing its day-to-day operations and planning activities and trips, including the Club's Spring 2025 visit to the System Source Computer Museum.

I also served as Fandom Society's membership officer throughout 2024, overseeing attendance, member retention, enforcement of club rules, and the resolution of potential conflicts between members. In 2025, I became president of Fandom Society and began a revitalization effort aimed at increasing membership and student engagement. This initiative included developing a new Constitution, strengthening communication with University staff, increasing the organization's presence on campus, and moving to a larger space that allowed us to accommodate more students.

For a brief period, I also served as vice president, later vice president of planning, for the eSports Club. I stepped down as president of the Computer Science Club at the end of the Fall 2025 semester and chose not to seek re-election as president of Fandom Society after deciding to study abroad in Japan.

What is your favorite memory as a student?

I think my favorite memories as a student was leading the Computer Science Club on a trip to the System Source Computer Museum in Hunt Valley, Maryland. At the time, the same space also housed two additional museums, the National Electronics Museum and the Bloop Museum.

Computer history is one of my many passions, and I believe it's important for people to understand just how far technology has come from room-sized mainframes that essentially functioned as glorified calculators to the powerful, compact computers we use today.

We were also joined by several exchange students from India, who really enjoyed the trip and the opportunity to see more of Maryland beyond the airport and Frostburg.

Which faculty and/or staff member has influenced you as a student?

I feel bad having to pick just one or two faculty or staff members out of all the amazing people here who have influenced me as a student, but if I had to narrow it down, I'd choose Dr. Michael Monahan M'91 and Dr. Amit Shah in the Management Department, Professor Steven Kennedy '09 in COSC, and Victoria Gearhart '12/M '15 in the CIE.

Drs. Monahan and Shah, who is also my faculty advisor, have been incredibly helpful in making sure the business classes I am taking (or have taken) in Japan will transfer back to FSU as major requirements and electives. Dr. Shah has also been a wonderful faculty advisor overall. Bonus points to Dr. Monahan for coming to watch a presentation that a classmate and I put together on the Coldplay Kiss Cam incident and what it means for HR professionals in MGMT 357 with Dr. Ken Levitt.

Professor Steven Kennedy '09 has been an amazing, hands-on advisor for the Computer Science Club and has encouraged me to pursue studying abroad since I first expressed interest in doing so. And, of course, Victoria and her team have been absolutely wonderful in helping me get to Japan, from working with me through my late registration with the exchange program provider to checking in on me after the earthquakes and typhoons I've experienced while here.

But honestly, everyone I've worked with at FSU has been wonderful, both professionally and personally.

What advice would you give to a student currently studying your major?

If there was one piece of advice I could give to any business administration/management student, it would be to get involved in a club on a leadership level. While joining a club and interacting with its members is a wonderful way to stay engaged on campus, joining a club's leadership team allows you to apply what you have learned in your classes in a low-stakes real-world environment. Throughout my various positions across the clubs I've been affiliated with, I have applied management skills like budgeting, accounting, policy making, people planning/delegation, event planning, communication, public relations, data gathering and HR management/conflict resolution.

Tell us about a class or activity at FSU that has had a surprising effect on your life.

I think one of the activities (or clubs) that has had the biggest effect on my life would have to be Fandom Society. It was one of the earlier clubs that I joined, and it's where I met several people who I've come to trust as close friends, including someone became my roommate during the Fall 2025 semester.

What is a cause dear to your heart?

Outside of FSU, one cause I am incredibly passionate about is the right to repair. In my free time, I run a computer repair shop, LevelUp Computers & Technology, although it is currently on hiatus until after I graduate. Over the past several years, computer manufacturers have made their products increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to repair. Components that used to be user-serviceable often now require specialized tools or software to replace.

This has contributed to an increase in e-waste, which can have both short- and long-term consequences for the environment. It also makes it more difficult for independently owned computer repair shops to operate, as parts, specialized tools and repair or diagnostic software may be unavailable to them unless they pay exorbitant prices or agree to extremely restrictive terms.

Because of this, I am a strong supporter of right-to-repair legislation that requires manufacturers to provide access to the parts, tools and repair and diagnostic software needed to service the devices they produce. After all, if you own something, you should be able to take it to whomever you choose for repairs or service, or even repair it yourself if you have the skills to do so.

What do you do for fun?

I've got a whole host of hobbies (most of which are quite expensive ). I collect and repair/restore vintage computers, game consoles, iPods and other tech. I have a sizeable collection of fountain pens, a small selection of which I use on a regular basis. I enjoy 3D printing, and have sold 3D printed items in the past, including parts for cosplays. I'm also an avid gamer with a particular fondness for Pokémon, Final Fantasy and retro titles. I've dabbled in game development here and there as well. I'm also a bit of a car enthusiast. While I drive what can only be described as one of the most boring cars in existence, I've attended a few car meets, and I can even do basic repairs and maintenance on my car. I'm not very good at it, but I do enjoy gardening as well, having started (or attempted to start) a few vegetable and herb gardens on my family's farm back home. I also enjoy spending time with the various animals on my family's farm and occasionally helping out with the farmwork.

What three words can you use to describe FSU?

As you can tell from everything else I've said, I'm the textbook example of "Why use 3 words when 20,000 will do?" But I'll give it a shot.

1. Affordable
2. Picturesque
3. Close-knit