UNF student earns two international business degrees while traveling the globe

Rosemarie Baker wanted to tour the globe while in college and she picked picked the UNF Coggin College of Business and Hicks Honors College to achieve that dream.

This summer, she is graduating with honors and dual degrees in international business. She spent two years studying in Jacksonville earning a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in international business and minors in management and psychology from UNF and two years studying in Spain earning a Bachelor of International Business from the University of Valencia.

Her first years at UNF were busy with business and Spanish studies as well as staring in UNF's College Tour episode during her sophomore year. She was also honored as a scholarship recipient by the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville.

While in Spain, Baker completed an internship working at the Valencian Port with Madico & Villarroel, a maritime traveler retail organization. She gained hands-on experience in accounting and helped manage day-to-day logistical operations while enjoying the "amazing view" of the Port. She traveled to 20 different countries while overseas, including Portugal, Italy, Bulgaria, Morocco, and the United Kingdom. She also successfully completed and defended a thesis on how a crisis financially affected the Boeing company.

Baker credits the mentorship and support from Dr. Kate Mattingly Learch, Coggin study abroad director, as making the biggest impact on her college experience. One of the first things she did when she got to Spain was mail Learch a post card.

Raised by a single mother who built an entrepreneurial career while raising her and her brothers, Baker also acknowledges her mom as the foundation of her persistence and drive.

After graduation, she is planning to accept an offer with Fidelity Investments to pursue her finance career.