Get to Know Riley
Riley Hamilton earned her BBA in Human Resources Management at just 19 years old after starting college with 24 dual credit hours. While at UTSA, she took the opportunity to hone essential professional skills, develop as a leader and dive into campus life.
Taking a Bold Step
Originally from the small town of Lampasas, Texas, Riley knew she was ready for an adventure. She took community college classes with her sister and earned enough credits to finish high school at 16 years old with 24 dual credit hours.
“It pushed me ahead of my high school classes, and I thought why not? I might as well,” Riley said. “I come from a small town, and I wanted to leave, so this was a good opportunity.” As a freshman at UTSA, she only needed two elective classes plus her BBA major courses to graduate.
Embracing Community
Riley applied to just one place: UTSA. She was drawn to its blend of resources and community. “It’s not a big campus, which is nice, but there’s a huge community within the university and within the College of Business,” she said. She quickly found a supportive group of friends who studied with her and helped her along the way.
Finding Real-World Experience
Riley supplemented her in-class learning by getting a job on campus. She worked in the communications department of the Alvarez College of Business, diving into UTSA’s branding, social media, newsletters, advertisements and performance analytics.
“It was cool to see everyone getting something I wrote,” Riley said. “Also, learning what grabs people’s attention and what doesn’t, what is interactive and what isn’t, helped my HR career.”
Growing as a Leader
While on campus, Riley joined the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and became president. “There wasn’t much membership or involvement,” she said. “But we’ve gained 15 members this semester and expanded our exec team from three to six. Helping the chapter rebuild has been super rewarding.” Riley also took on leadership roles in Phi Mu Sorority and the Panhellenic Council. “I would say everything I’ve joined furthered me as a person,” she said. “I’ve grown a lot and learned tons about how versatile HR roles can be.” Now, this Roadrunner is ready to get an early start on a thriving career!
“I just loved the community that UTSA fosters."