Camila Neuhaus ’24 just graduated from Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management, but she is already giving back through the newly established Whitman Leadership Circle in appreciation for the opportunities and support she was given, as well as to continue her family’s legacy of giving financial support to students.

Originally from Brazil, Neuhaus and her family came to the U.S. in 2015, settling in Boca Raton, Florida. As a high schooler, she had a difficult time adapting to American culture, food and language, and sometimes her accent made her feel like an outsider. She counted the days until she could return to Brazil for college. But, all that changed when a friend from Florida, who was also from Brazil, went to Syracuse University the year before her and asked Neuhaus to come north for a visit.

“I never expected the winter chill that I experienced on my first visit,” says Neuhaus, but that was soon forgotten as she saw first-hand the dorms and the modern facilities on campus that were so different from any college she had ever seen in Brazil.

Upon returning to Florida, she convinced her father to visit Syracuse with her. He agreed but didn’t understand why his daughter would want to go to school in the middle of New York state. But, once he experienced the campus, he saw why she was drawn to it, and became a great supporter of the University.

Neuhaus applied to Syracuse early decision, was accepted and given the $25,000 Archibald-Day Scholarship, a specialized four-year merit scholarship for exceptionally accomplished students who showed leadership potential and “the promise of changing the world for the better.”

She had finally found her home away from home at Syracuse University. However, she wasn’t sure what to study. Neuhaus liked math but was reluctant because “You don’t see a lot of women in math careers in Brazil,” she says. Ultimately, she decided to study business, majoring in accounting and finance thanks to the encouragement of two female professors at Whitman.

“I didn’t even know what accounting was until I had a class with Professor of Accounting Practice Maryann Montforte, but I really liked it, and she showed me that I had an aptitude for it,” Neuhaus says of her first major. “Whitman has an excellent accounting program that builds students into outstanding professionals, and I believe every student should take advantage of it. Having a strong foundation in accounting is crucial for everyone, regardless of their major, and it has been essential in my career in finance.”

Neuhaus also took Principles of Finance from Associate Teaching Professor of Finance Fatma Sonmez-Leopold, who became a pivotal figure in her academic journey. “The first time she came into class, she was so stylish and confident in her high heels, and she showed me what was possible for a woman in business. I asked her about changing my major from accounting to finance, and she said, ‘Do both!’, so I did.”

Professor Sonmez-Leopold became more than just a professor; she was a mentor from the first semester of Neuhaus's sophomore year, guiding her through the right connections, courses, books and mindset.

“She made me believe in myself and saw potential in me that I hadn’t yet recognized. I owe much of where I am today to her mentorship, which opened many doors for my future. She started as my finance professor, became my mentor and is now a lifelong friend. I advise every student at Whitman to take advantage of the great professors and build lasting relationships with them, as the success of a Whitman student goes beyond just classroom learning,” Neuhaus adds.

As Neuhaus settled into the Whitman School, her father wanted to pay forward the scholarship money his daughter had received by creating the Neuhaus Ferreira Scholarship to provide financial assistance to outstanding undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need. Preference was given to students who helped promote the educational benefits of a diverse student body, particularly those of Latin American or Caribbean descent. This scholarship was established in 2020 and completed in 2024, the same year Neuhaus graduated and was hired as a financial analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

In gratitude for the positive experience she had at Whitman, Neuhaus decided to continue her family’s legacy of giving. Now part of the Whitman Leadership Circle, Neuhaus has directed her pledge to the Whitman Retention Scholarship Fund, which aims to provide financial assistance to help ensure students graduate from the University.

“Sometimes, students don’t have the extra funds to take a $1,000 certification course or the money to buy a plane ticket to go to a job interview, and those become serious obstacles to those who otherwise have the ability to be successful,” she says. “I want to see the scholarship not just go to a student with a 4.0 GPA but someone who has the drive and the capacity but might just be missing a piece of the puzzle.”

In addition to her gift, Neuhaus also intends to help mentor students needing extra support. She knows the value of a mentor, as she had many at Whitman. And, as a student, she tutored others through Beta Alpha Psi, a professional service fraternity for accounting, finance and IT majors.

“These were curious students who often just lacked the belief they had in themselves or the parental support often necessary to navigate the college experience,” she explains. “So, I started a free tutoring program that went from one student to 35 very quickly. Many were first-generation Americans or first-generation college students who couldn’t afford private tutors, didn’t know the way to set themselves up for career success, or just needed a little help to earn better grades.”

Neuhaus says she owes everything she has to Whitman for giving her the confidence to see that a young woman from Brazil could have a future in any area of business.

“As a Latina woman, I knew it was going to be very competitive in the professional world, so I soaked up all the knowledge and opportunity I could at Whitman to give myself a fair advantage,” she says. “The nice thing is that I do feel accepted in my new role, and it is a diverse workplace. I wish I could go back to my younger self and tell her that she would be graduating with the connections I have now, the respect I have gained, the job I got and the things I have accomplished that I never thought I could. My hope is that my pledge to the Whitman School will help other students have the ability to accomplish similar dreams, too.”

By Caroline K. Reff