Closing The Distance

Despite taking her Walsh classes remotely from D.C., Jennifer Hochwald feels like she’s never left campus

Many Walsh College students enjoy the flexibility that remote learning opportunities give them. But perhaps few take remote learning at Walsh as far as Jennifer Hochwald has.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan-born Hochwald relocated to the Washington, D.C., area when her husband took a new job in Virginia. Hochwald, already a student at Walsh, continued with her classes from her new home, more than 500 miles away from Walsh’s Troy campus.

“The support and professors at Walsh are amazing, and the relationships you can establish with faculty and fellow students set Walsh apart,” says Hochwald. “I can plug into Career Services to help with my resume, connect with Walsh alumni in the local area, and the list goes on.”

A mother of two boys ages 15 and 12, Hochwald had put an earlier career as an insurance underwriter on hold to raise her sons. When she was ready to go back to work, Walsh was the natural first stop.

“My husband graduated from Walsh, and after attending his graduation, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, when I go back, I’m going to go to Walsh,’” she recalls. “I loved the atmosphere, I loved the sense of community, and I loved how Walsh was plugged in to so many local businesses because I thought it would be great for internships and future job opportunities.”

She started her Walsh career majoring in accounting but has now fixed her sights on a career in tax work. “I always thought taxation was intimidating, and when I started all my tax classes, I realized it was actually fun,” she says. “And tax is a part of everyday life. What do they say about the things that are certain in life: death and taxes, right?”

As Hochwald was deciding to switch her degree from accounting to taxation, she appreciated the help she got from professor Rick Davidson. “He took the time to give me advice and recommendations when I had questions about switching my program to tax and helped me plan for what classes to take. He is very knowledgeable and encouraging,” she says.

She also cites another tax professor, Eric Skinner, for his passion and deep knowledge of the subject. “He does a great job explaining the material and has been very gracious with his time to go over questions and help us prepare for our exams. His exams are tough but also challenge you to think in a different way to make sure you know the material.”

And even after moving with her family to Virginia, the support she found at Walsh continued. “The professors have been great. They’ve been able to do extra Zoom sessions if I have questions, or even when I first moved here, I just had some questions about job opportunities,” she says.

A CPA exam is in the future, as well as an internship with a D.C.-area firm this spring and a full-time job beginning in August. She’s looking forward to developing ongoing relationships with her future clients, helping guide them through the thickets and opportunities of tax law.

And though living several states away from the Troy campus, Hochwald plans to maintain her ties with the community she found at Walsh. Those ties are the sort that lasts.

“I keep in touch with all my friends in Michigan and students from my classes,” she says. “So I’ve got a good group. And everybody’s been great. We have some solid relationships that you develop from that.”