Karen Magana is a first-generation student, online shopper, spreadsheet maker, student body president, an accounting major, and part of the Woodbury School of Business. 

Magana has learned it is not only normal but it is expected for future plans and visions to change. Growing up in Provo, Utah, Magana knew of Utah Valley University (UVU) but it was not until she visited UVU her junior year of high school for a DECA competition that she decided she wanted to attend UVU. The welcoming and collaborative energy she experienced at UVU that day swelled a desire within Magana to be part of such a community. 

The support from professors and fellow classmates is what has kept Magana at UVU. There is an atmosphere of hope for each other’s success and cheering each other on that is obvious. Magana feels people are very willing to help both inside and outside of the business school classrooms. When Magana started at UVU she was a digital marketing degree student. However, her plans changed when she took her Financial Accounting class and it just made complete sense in her mind. One of the accounting professors was very excited to introduce Magana to an accounting firm and other accountants. Magana says “there are so many people like this at the WSB who want to pay it forward and help push our students to opportunities.” 

Right after the pandemic hit Magana received a text message from a friend encouraging her to apply for student government. Uncertain, Magana decided to run and got the Chief Inclusion Officer position. The great student government experience led Magana to later run for and win the position of Student Body President. Once again, her plans changed and so did the trajectory of Magana’s future. 

Magana loves to ride her bike around her neighborhood, watch movies, bake sporadically, create spreadsheets for her online shopping, and spend time with her significant other, her nieces, and her nephews. She hopes to earn her Master's in Accountancy and eventually qualify for a CPA license landing herself a career in accounting where she hopes to break the boring accountant stereotype with her intense charisma and charm.

This is not what Magana set out to UVU to do but visions and plans change, and that’s okay. Magana is very grateful for the journey UVU has provided her. Magana is Woodbury.