Shannah Henk: Creating Corporate Opportunities

University of North Dakota alumna, Shannah Henk, recently visited campus to recruit College of Business and Public Administration students for Best Buy through the Pancratz Career Development Center. Here, she was able to connect as an alumna with multiple current College of Business and Public Administration students. Henk, a Knowledge and Training Specialist for Best Buy Direct, which is part of Best Buy Corporate Headquarters, graduated with her MBA from UND this past August. Although she isn’t a Best Buy recruiter, her employers were impressed by her enthusiasm for recruiting UND students. “Something that was really cool for me was that I’m not a recruiter, but Best Buy was excited that I wanted to go to UND for some recruiting,” said Henk. She noted that it was rewarding for her to see things come full circle, “It’s nice to have had mentors and now to be a mentor to help students navigate their journeys.” While attending UND Henk was a mentee in the mentor program. Her Mentor was Kim Woods, who is the Associate Vice President of the COBPA. Henk, who attended UND for 6 years to complete her undergraduate and graduate degrees was happy to come back and help. “It was great to be back and to work with students in the same shoes I was in just a year and a half ago,” said Henk. Kathy Lund, Henk’s supervisor for her graduate assistantship with the Pancratz Career Development Center wasn’t surprised that Henk came back to help UND students. “Because of her passion for helping others succeed, I knew that she would be an alumna who would be back to connect with CoBPA students,” said Lund. Henk believes that UND was instrumental in helping her achieve professional success.. “UND presents so many opportunities for students to take advantage of. I was able to capitalize on many of the opportunities, and they helped me get to where I am today,” she explained. Due to Henk’s visit to UND, a current student was offered an internship with Best Buy this summer. Desiree Robinson, a senior Human Resources major and leadership minor, is flattered and excited to join the Best Buy team this summer, “It is my understanding that some of the Best Buy recruiters were so impressed by me that they decided to create an HR internship position for me since Best Buy didn\u27t publicly have the option to intern in HR. I had originally applied for another position in Marketing & Media. I think it is a big deal to have a company as successful and well known as Best Buy on a resume. I am fortunate to be involved in the unique and progressive experience that this internship will have to offer me,” said Robinson. Henk was a huge help to Robinson in landing this internship, and she hopes to come back to UND to recruit more students in the future