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Why I Give: Q&A with Christina Hua '11

Christina Hua

Christina Hua '11

1. Why did you decide to attend the College?
I was born and raised in China, and I have always wanted to pursue higher education in the United States. I learned about the College through reading about the American author Pearl S. Buck, who lived in my hometown Huai'an when she first moved to China. As I researched Randolph College, I became drawn to its broad liberal arts education, exceptional faculty, and close-knit community.

Although I was unable to visit the College’s campus prior to attending, I was warmly received by the Admissions Office, particularly Ms. Joy McGrath, who was incredibly helpful and responsive to my questions. Her warm and thoughtful responses helped reduce my anxiety about attending college in the United States and were reflective of the welcoming community at Randolph College.

I decided to attend Randolph College and was fortunate to receive a generous scholarship offer, which made attending college in the United States financially possible.

2. What did your education and experiences at the College mean to you? Was there any one experience, professor, or memory that stands out as being pivotal or life-changing for you?
My education and experiences at Randolph College were truly life-changing. The rigorous liberal arts education helped me learn how to read critically, write cogently, and think broadly through exploring issues and ideas across the humanities, arts, and sciences.

As a non-native English speaker, I appreciated the College’s focus on writing skills and assistance provided by the Writing Lab. This training helped me become one of the best writers in my class at Columbia University, where I later earned my master's degrees in psychology and strategic communications.

I have many fond memories of Randolph College, from the Odd class traditions to the gorgeous campus behind the Red Brick Wall. I made lifelong friends and had the opportunity to work with wonderful professors who went above and beyond to help me learn and grow. My mind was expanded exponentially, and my life truly became Vita abundantior.

One of the most pivotal experiences of my time at Randolph College was working with
Dr. Dennis Goff, the chair of the psychology department, in the Summer Research program during my junior year. This experience provided me with extensive research experience and helped me hone my scientific research skills. Dr. Goff's guidance, patience, and pursuit of academic rigor were instrumental in my decision to major in psychology at the College and pursue graduate studies in it.

3. Why do you give to Randolph College? What does it mean to you to be a leadership supporter and member of the Conway Society?
I give to Randolph College because I am forever grateful for the financial support the College gave me and opportunities it afforded me. I believe it is my responsibility to give back so that the College can continue to educate and inspire future generations.

4. In what ways did your experiences at the College prepare you for life after graduation and/or for success in your career?
The liberal arts education I received at Randolph College prepared me for life after graduation and success in my career in management consulting. I learned to think critically and write clearly, and I was challenged to consider not only how to solve problems, but also which problems to solve and why. These skills are essential for success in any field, but they are especially valuable in management consulting, where the ability to think strategically and creatively is essential.

5. Tell us a bit about your career path/trajectory. Also, if you have thoughts on where you’d like to go in the next 5-10 years of your career, we’d love to hear about that, too. Did the education you received at the College prepare you for this and, if so, how?
I graduated from Randolph College with honors in 2011 and went on to earn an M.A. in Social-Organizational Psychology and an M.S. in Strategic Communications from Columbia University. I am currently a Senior Manager in human capital management consulting at Ernst & Young, and I am on track to become one of the first Chinese female partners in our New York practice in the next 3-4 years.

I am passionate about mentoring and coaching junior professionals, and I have been actively engaged in these activities since I joined Ernst & Young. I plan to continue doing so for the rest of my career.

I believe that my education at the College prepared me well for my career in management consulting. The liberal arts education I received taught me how to think critically and solve problems, and it also gave me the skills I needed to build relationships with clients and colleagues.

In the next 5 to 10 years, I hope to continue to grow my career in consulting and to make a positive impact on the lives of others. I also plan to continue mentoring and coaching junior professionals, and I hope to inspire them to reach their full potential.

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Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.

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A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Randolph College a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

 Bequest Language

"I give, devise, and bequeath to the Trustees of Randolph College (founded as Randolph-Macon Woman's College in 1891), a corporation located in Lynchburg, Virginia (the College), the sum of $_____ dollars [or property, securities, etc.], to be used for [describe the purpose in as broad and simple terms as possible], or in the event that such use shall in the judgment of the Board of Trustees of the College become impracticable, said trustees may use the bequest for other purposes as nearly akin to the original purpose as they judge will help advance the aims of the College."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to the College or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate, or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property, or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the College as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the College as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and the College where you agree to make a gift to the College and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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