Rebecca Tresise
Student Office Assistant and Accounting Intern
The student internship program at UNM Rainforest Innovations is for UNM students who want to develop professional skills and a better understanding of the intersection of business, science, and law. The program is made up of Innovation Interns, Intellectual Property & Disclosure Assistants, an Office Assistant, and an Accounting Intern.
Our featured student intern this month is Rebecca (Becca) Tresise. She joined UNM Rainforest Innovations in June 2021 and has a unique, dual role. She serves as the Student Office Assistant and has recently taken on the duties of the Accounting Intern. “For the Office Administrator I do things such as answer the phone, greet people at the door, make labels or flyers, check and distribute the mail, and help decorate for any events. For the Accounting Coordinator I code patent attorney invoices, and then enter them into both Sophia and Serengeti databases, and have just recently learned QuickBooks.”
Becca is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a minor in business management at the University of New Mexico. While at UNM, she also became interested in pursuing a M.B.A. “Now my goal is to become a part of the 3-2 program with Anderson School of Management. With this I have to take the GRE or GMAT before I apply in the next term, and then start graduate school during my final year of undergrad. At the end of the year, I would graduate with my B.A. in Architecture and be halfway through my M.B.A. Then I would have just one year left of my master’s. With this course I hope to expand my options in the job world whether it be with an architecture firm or in the business world like UNMRI.”
Before attending UNM, Becca graduated as valedictorian at Manzano High School and grew up in Los Lunas and Tijeras. “I grew up between two households, living with my dad and grandparents in Los Lunas, and with my mom and grandma in Tijeras. I have always been very close to my grandparents, they helped raise me so I visit them as often as I can. I am the oldest of seven, with two sisters and four brothers. One of them is in college, one is in middle school, two in preschool.”
When asked what was the most valuable thing she has learned so far and what she enjoys most, she said, “The most valuable thing I have learned here at UNMRI is that I don’t have to be holed into one spot because of my current path in college. I have felt stuck with my architecture degree, and I am not sure if that is what I want to do. But various staff here some from different educational backgrounds, and that has pushed me to keep going, but also expand my horizons when it comes to graduate school…What I enjoy most here is the environment of the office, being the Student Office Assistant I have to come in person for my job, so I am here most days of the week, and I am able to meet new people and continue to get to know the staff around me. I feel safe and happy in this space that I enjoy coming to work and doing whatever tasks I need to in the day.”