By Dorian Martin ’06  

Neha Deshmukh ’23 loves to stay busy, which has resulted in an eclectic college experience. In addition to her studies and holding numerous Texas A&M University student leadership roles, the 73rd MSC president has traveled to Italy and South Africa, indulged her passion for blockbuster films, crocheted a variety of creations, and portrayed Aladdin’s Princess Jasmine at local children’s parties.  

Still, academics remain her priority. The Woodlands native is on track to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in business honors and accounting, a minor in film studies and a master’s degree in financial management. “I am pursuing business because every industry needs to have business specialists, and I appreciate that versatility,” she said. “I specifically wanted to pursue accounting because I love numbers and logic puzzles. Over the course of my accounting classes at Texas A&M, I have found that accounting is definitely the right fit for me.” 

Finding Home Away from Home 

Deshmukh made the decision to attend A&M after she met Mays Business School Adviser Claire Raabe ’16 ’18 at a business honors reception. While introducing herself, Raabe correctly pronounced Deshmukh’s first name, something that rarely happens—and that attention to detail made the then-prospective student feel at home. “Many institutions that I considered made me feel like it was going to be my privilege as a student to attend their school,” she explained. “It was different at Texas A&M. Everyone made me feel like it’s actually the university’s privilege to have me. They made me feel welcome and wanted.” 

Soon, Deshmukh was finding her place in the Texas A&M community. As an incoming freshman, she was among 30 National Scholars selected for the MSC Conway-Fitzhugh International Honors Leadership Seminar. The pre-college experience brought the new Aggies to the Italian hill towns of Assisi and Castiglion Fiorentino. “The seminar was a defining experience that was kind of like my Fish Camp,” she said. “I met my best friends—including my three roommates of three years now—there.” 

But like her peers, Deshmukh’s college experience was turned upside down by COVID-19. “COVID began in my freshman year, and it has really been a defining characteristic of my college experience,” she said. “It was difficult to navigate the changing landscape of classes and extracurriculars these past few years. Texas A&M has supported students by adapting to that changing landscape along with us, from the second half of spring 2020 when we were fully remote to now when we are almost entirely back in person.” 

Despite these ups and downs, Deshmukh has felt a strong and consistent sense of community across campus. “My favorite part of being an Aggie is the friendly culture of campus,” she explained. “I love that you can strike up conversations with strangers while waiting for the Rudder Tower elevators, or stop a random person on the street to ask for directions to a certain building.” 

Stepping In—and Up 

 She’s also remained committed to creating space in her college experience for the vast array of extracurricular opportunities Texas A&M offers. “I wanted to pursue involvement that matched my interests and my strengths,” she explained. “I wanted to have a good balance of career-driven and hobby-driven organizations, as well as a balance between professional and social.” 

The film buff found a natural fit early on by volunteering for MSC Aggie Cinema; she served as the organization’s 2020-21 vice-chair and the 2021-22 chair.  “I love movies and entertainment and want to make a career out of applying my knowledge of accounting and business to the media and entertainment space. MSC Aggie Cinema gave me the chance to start working toward that.” 

She also has served on Texas A&M National Scholar Ambassadors, Business Student Council’s Career Fair Committee, the 12th Can, and MSC Finance Resource Team. Deshmukh also was the 2021-22 director of business for the MSC Stark Northeast Tour. Moving into her senior year, Deshmukh wanted to stay involved with the MSC, so she applied for the position of MSC president.  

Now as she passes the MSC Presidency to biology major Monserrat (Monse) Westrup ’24, Deshmukh is reflecting on what she’s learned in the role about communication, flexibility, boundaries, and delegation. “Being in this leadership role has taught me not only how to be a better leader, but how to be a better team member. The lessons I learned while serving as the MSC president have prepared me to be my best self when I start my first full-time job after graduation.”