Long runs are relaxing for Georgian Court University Track & Field Captain Rachel Pausz ’22, but she’s all business in competition. “There’s a strategy about long-distance races and how you tackle them,” said Rachel, a Point Pleasant, New Jersey, resident. “They build mental toughness.”
Rachel’s professional strategy is to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), another rigorous challenge. A top academic achiever, she entered GCU with 30 credits through AP courses and knew 150 college credits are required to sit for the CPA exam. So the accounting major added a second major, computer information systems.
“I never had a course in the subject, not even in high school. I ended up loving computer science, which fits well with accounting,” said Rachel, who has a 4.0 GPA, is a member of several honor societies, and is a recipient of the East Coast Conference Elite 19 Award. While at GCU, in addition to athletics, Rachel conducted research funded by a NASA Space Grant, studied in Switzerland, has been active with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and served as vice president of Global Lions.
Georgian Court has given Rachel many memories, but topping them all: 2021 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) championships for both the women’s and men’s track & field teams. “We missed three seasons of competition because of COVID-19, but we trained anyway,” she said. “To finally come back and win championships was really rewarding. I was so proud of everyone.”
There’s another side to the focused, goal-setting, high-achieving Rachel. She’s known around campus as someone who lives the Mercy core values. She was surprised to learn of her reputation. “It might sound cheesy, but I enjoy trying to make people’s days better, build community, and treat everyone well,” said Rachel.
Rachel will begin her professional career at the tax accounting firm CohnReznick’s Holmdel, New Jersey, office in the fall. The November start date, in keeping with the tax season cycle, gives Rachel the opportunity to travel in Europe before going as far as her career ambitions take her.
This story is one in a series of feature stories focused on the Class of 2022. Story contributed by freelance writer Sheila Noonan. Photo by Joshua Tinto ’20, ’22.
