Samuel Pena-Rojas

About Samuel Pena-Rojas

Hey everyone! My name is Samuel Pena-Rojas, and I am a student at the University of Washington Tacoma. I am majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Business Data Analytics. If you are interested in learning more about my background and experience, feel free to read below.Background:I am a first-generation student, the first in my family to attend post-secondary education. I operate under three main core values: Curiosity (1), Optimism (2), and Growth (3).Curiosity is the center of all my work. I am naturally curious about every process, how it operates, and why it works.Optimism is the engine that drives the work I complete. Understanding processes can take time and some unlearning; however, optimism is what motivates me to continue and recognize what can be achieved.Growth is what ultimately allows me to execute my work. My main approach is to leave places better than I found them. Whether it\'s establishing new relationships, providing accessible materials, or creating future opportunities, I make sure that every opportunity I get is to open another opportunity for someone else.Why Finance:When I began my higher-education journey, I knew I wanted to major in business, but I didn\'t know which business field would get me excited. As I began developing business experience, one thing became clear: I enjoyed gathering information, interpreting it, and presenting recommendations, which aligns exactly with finance.Top 5 Milestones:Managing $400K+ in student funding while improving internal tracking systems.Allocating $4M+ in student funding with critical analysis of student outcomes.Achieving a balanced budget in consideration of future capital investments.Securing $100K+ for student programming and involvement.Optimized process operations for effective internal transitions and data-driven recommendations.My Lesson:Through my experiences in finance, student leadership, and data analysis, one simple thing stood out clearly: as important as it is to be the best at what you do, it\'s just as important to set those up after you to be the best they can be.Future Goals:In the foreseeable future, I am aspiring to gain financial expertise, expanding my knowledge of finance towards achievable, challenging yet realistic solutions. As I complete my Bachelor\'s program, I will gain experience in finance and leadership, with the goal of returning to higher education to complete my MBA.Hobbies (for fun):Some hobbies I enjoy include music production, vocal production, pickleball, and developing my Excel skills.Let\'s Connect!

Experience

1. Vice President of Finance

   Washington Student Association

   Mar 2026 — Present · WA, US

   Serve as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the WSA and act as an authorized signer on the organization\'s bank account and other financial institutions.Track and provide periodic reports on the finances of the WSA.Create a draft budget for consideration by the Spring General Assembly.Create a monthly spending report within two (2) weeks after the end of the month.Present spending reports during regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors.Consider spending requests made by students or staff.Present an overview of the budget at the Fall meeting of the General Assembly.Track and provide oversight of all of the organization\'s spending.Maintain and develop internal financial policies.Chair the Finance Committee.Transition the next Vice President of Finance.Complete monthly reports as directed by the President and professional staff.Complete other tasks and duties as directed by the Board of Directors or the President.

Education

• Rogers High School

  High School Diploma

• Pierce College at Puyallup

  Associates of Business (DTA), Business

  2022 — 2024

• University of Washington Tacoma

  Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA, Finance

  2024 — 2026