Students in the Heller College of Business don’t just gain certifications, network with peers and complete their classes with a comprehensive support system—they often leave with something even more long lasting: lifelong friendships across generations. Two Roosevelt alumnae, Leticia Ransom (MBA, ‘95) and Arica Latimer (MSHRM, ‘15) did just that. Graduates of Roosevelt’s MBA and master’s in Human Resource Management programs, respectively, they proudly maintain a decade-long friendship that began in the Fay Servicing mortgage company HR department.
“It was 2015 and I was managing the HR department for our Chicago office at the time, and we needed to expand the team,” says Ransom. “As a Roosevelt graduate myself, I knew that the school produced very accomplished graduates, and I posted our opening on the Roosevelt alumni job board.”
Latimer, who returned to graduate school after an earlier career of fashion merchandising in Chicago, immediately answered the listing but accidentally arrived for the interview a week early.
“I was initially so embarrassed, but then I really hit it off with Leticia and she’s become such an invaluable friend and resource as I’ve continued my career path in HR,” she says. “Seeing an accomplished Black woman in this industry has really compelled me to push further, and I’ve always leveraged our relationship to learn more about good leadership characteristics and how to be my authentic self in the corporate world.”
The two HR professionals quickly became friends, with Leticia providing insight and guidance on how to create a sustainable career track. Since that unorthodox job interview 11 years ago, Latimer has furthered her career as the senior human resources generalist at leisure property consulting group Arch Amenities, while Ransom works at Chicago-based Origin Investments. The pair have maintained their friendship throughout the years, frequently meeting and catching up to discuss job interview tactics or long-term professional goals.
“The thing many people don’t consider when they talk to HR professionals is the problem of who we talk to if we’re frustrated with an office dynamic or hiring practices,” says Latimer. “That’s why this relationship is so important. We can vent and celebrate a recent promotion with someone who’s been in similar trenches, and who understands that it can be difficult to be impartial sometimes when you’re solving interpersonal problems.”
The two also recently celebrated Roosevelt’s 80th anniversary at Civics Night earlier this year, and Latimer will continue to contribute back to the University community when she joins the Women’s Leadership Council Advisory Board is fall. As an advisory member, she will assist with campus-wide initiatives that allow professional women in the Chicagoland area to network and attend educational programs throughout the academic year.
“I’m very excited to join,” Latimer says. “I’m at the stage in my career where I want to give back to the Roosevelt community and specifically the young women going through business programs, so being able to pass on my knowledge like Leticia did with me is something I’m really looking forward to.”
