First-year business students now have a helping hand when entering TCU’s Neeley School of Business. Neeley’s Professional Development Center (PDC) has put forth a brand new program aiming to provide guidance for first-year students. 

The “Welcome 2 Neeley” program looks to outline stepping stones for first-year business students to optimize their time at Neeley.

“The motive behind these meetings is to minimize any hesitation students may have about how, where and when to get plugged into Neeley and to empower them to begin taking steps to establish themselves as rising professionals,” Kelly O’Brien, the director of Neeley’s PDC, said. “These meetings provide students with information that lets them see how they can start getting involved and connected at Neeley.” 

This program has high aspirations for the upcoming semester, aiming to make students feel comfortable when entering Neeley. It is all a part of Neeley’s student onboarding initiative, which is being developed with the current first-year business students, O’Brien said. 

“The goals for these meetings are to make students feel welcome at Neeley, reinforce their identity as a Neeley student and leave understanding the importance of getting involved early,” O’Brien said. 

The PDC employs business students as professional development coaches. These coaches facilitate the “Welcome 2 Neeley” meetings, looking to provide guidance and a familiar face for first-year Neeley students. 

Coaches will also deliver a clear understanding of the Alcon Career Center, the PDC and extracurricular activities that Neeley offers.

Brynn Kitcher, a junior double major in accounting and finance, is one of the 2025 professional development coaches. After learning from her own experiences, she sees the potential that this program has. 

 “All of the information we’re now sharing with incoming students wasn’t presented in such an organized way before,” Kitcher said. “I had to figure it out gradually on my own. With this program, students can now see all of their options upfront and plan their years here more strategically.”

“Welcome 2 Neeley” teaches new lessons not only to first-year students but also to coaches.

“This program has shown me the evolution of Neeley and its commitment to supporting students from the very beginning,” Kitcher said. “Recognizing the importance of engaging incoming students early, Neeley and the PDC created this initiative to welcome them into the business school community.” 

Within the last month, this new program has received overall enthusiastic and positive student feedback.

“Student reflections in Engage@Neeley, our mobile platform hosted by Suitable, show students are communicating excitement about exploring opportunities and getting involved,” O’Brien said. “They are starting to think of themselves as rising professionals, indicating in reflections the importance of updating their LinkedIn profile, getting on Handshake and creating a more professional resume.”