Riley Satterfield’s path to The University of Akron (UA) began in her hometown of Canal Fulton, Ohio. Now excelling as a dual major in human resources and business information systems, Satterfield’s academic journey wasn’t always straightforward.
A graduate of Northwest High School, Satterfield also attended RG Drage Technical Career Center, where she earned both a high school diploma and an associate degree from UA. Originally planning to pursue a career in sports medicine and rehabilitation, she made a significant shift toward human resources (HR) — a field she now finds deeply rewarding.
“Last year was my first year on campus, so I was technically a freshman, but coursework-wise, I’m a junior.” She recently added business information systems to her plate, expediting her graduation timeline to fall 2026 or spring 2027.
Despite originally wanting to pursue a different career path, Satterfield’s passion for the HR field remains clear.
“Most of my passion comes from human resources. It’s just always wonderful to have that technology background, especially with the way the business environment is developing today.” Her combination of interests has already proven beneficial, both academically and professionally.
Satterfield is actively involved in the College of Business at UA. She’s a member of the College of Business Dean’s Team, a highly selective group that students can only join by referral. Her involvement began after Dr. Erin Makarius, professor and chair of the Department of Management, recognized her potential. Satterfield had no idea at the time how prestigious the team was, but soon learned through the application and interview process that it was a big deal. She also serves as the undergraduate recruiter student assistant for the Dean’s Office.
Satterfield is also a newly minted member of Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), a national organization that supports HR professionals. This year, she made it a priority to adjust her class and work schedule in order to attend meetings, and it has paid off.
“I feel like I’ve learned more from interacting with HR professionals at SHRM meetings than I have in other settings,” she shares, appreciating the real-world insights provided by guest speakers.
Her dedication to HR was further validated when she was awarded a scholarship from the Leadership and Human Resources Management Advisory Board. Encouraged by Makarius, Satterfield applied by writing a deeply personal essay about her aunt’s overdose, which had a lasting impact on her family.
This scholarship opened even more doors for Satterfield, including an invitation to give a speech at the annual HR Advisory Board event, on Oct. 3, 2024. Despite being nervous to give her speech, her performance clearly left an impression. After the speech, numerous professionals congratulated her and even requested her resume.
“Riley stood out in my human resource management class when we were doing a class exercise on recruiting students to UA. She used her background at a career technical center to develop ideas for pathways to the University,” said Makarius. “She is successfully applying the content of the course and courageously sharing her story with others. Riley is innovative, helpful and committed to success!”
Looking ahead, Satterfield is focused on her future. She’s actively searching for internships and is confident that her resume, packed with experience and extracurriculars, will help her stand out. And if she hits a roadblock, she plans to turn to UA’s Career Services for help.
When asked about her long-term goals, Satterfield says she’s leaning toward a generalist role in HR to maintain a broad skill set. Ultimately, Satterfield wants to be a vital part of whatever company she works for, contributing not just her skills, but also helping others achieve their goals.
“I’d be happy to go into training and development or recruiting,” she stated. “I’d like to do just a little bit of everything.”
Someday, she hopes to give back in the same way the HR Advisory Board has supported her. Satterfield expressed interest in being on the Advisory Board one day herself. Her nickname, "Smiley Riley," given by Advisory Board members, hints at the bubbly personality that’s helped her make strong connections — a key advantage in the HR world.
Media Contact: Cristine Boyd; cboyd@uakron.edu; 330-972-6476