College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

Latasha Bunton, a senior from Bowling Green who studies Human Resource Management, couldn’t have guessed how her last semester of college would go. A jam-packed semester became even more challenging when a global pandemic forced in-person classes to transition to an online format. On top of the change in course delivery, Bunton found herself responsible for homeschooling her five children as schools everywhere closed their doors.

“I’ve been trying to balance all six of my classes and all eight of their classes each with them,” Bunton said. “It’s really hard for me to not have that space and time to myself to ingest my readings or a lecture. I need that, and I don’t have it right now. It’s been a struggle to get my work done. That’s never been a struggle for me. Even when I was working full-time and running around with kids in sports, I still had that moment when the kids were at school or at their after-school program that I could get that time in.”

Bunton, a single parent, said that on the days the kids are with her, the work starts early.

“Top of the morning, I’m waking kids, making breakfast and then tutoring the kids on their homework. I’m constantly switching back and forth between first grade, fourth grade, fifth grade and eighth grade. And then, I’ll realize that I have a test, and I need 120 minutes of peace and quiet,” Bunton said.

Bunton credits the “caring and amazing faculty” at WKU for helping her succeed, especially during this challenging last semester. Likewise, she said the Human Resource Management program at WKU provided her with comforting reassurance for what she wants to do with her life.

“The classes just felt so natural to me. I have been able to fully understand and apply the content,” Bunton said. “I know human resources is what I want to do. This is the perfect job for me.”

Bunton started her college journey at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) and originally planned to go into pharmacy or radiology. At that time, she was working as a pharmacy technician. During her time at SKYCTC, she changed jobs and became a student ambassador for the college where she had the chance to help plan career fairs. 

 “I fell in love with helping in the planning of career fairs,” Bunton said. “Human Resource Management became my big plan, but I knew I had to earn a bachelor’s degree.”

Bunton transferred to WKU to pursue Human Resource Management after earning her associate’s degree in Business from SKYCTC.

During the last two years at WKU, Bunton participated in the student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) where she learned about organizational problems and successes through speakers and field trips. She also went on two field trips sponsored by the WKU Gordon Ford College of Business’ Professional Education and Knowledge (PEAK) program: Career Hike, a one-day field trip to Nashville and Career Trek, a two-day field trip to Atlanta where she had the opportunity to tour The Coca Cola Company’s world headquarters.

In addition to her academic program, Bunton interned for a year and a half in the human resources department at Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLCs, a company that makes brakes for semi-trucks and trailers.

“My supervisor was wonderful there. I shadowed her for a while, but then one day she said I was ready,” Bunton said. “I took over all the recruiting for hourly positions. For salary positions, I looked through resumes and sat in on interviews, but I recruited for the hourly positions on my own. I had the highest retention rate when it came to the recruitment that I did.”

Bunton graduates next week with a Bachelor of Science in Management and a concentration in Human Resource Management. She has also earned a Certificate in Applied Data Analytics. She hopes to begin her human resources career as a HR generalist in a manufacturing, government or hospital setting.

Bunton’s children, DeAndre, 13; Drian, 11; Daylan, 11; Jarvis, 10; and Aniah, 7, have served as her personal cheerleaders throughout her four-year journey and continue to push her toward the finish line. Bunton said they’re looking forward to celebrating this big accomplishment together.

For more information about earning a degree in Management with a concentration in Human Resource Management, visit: https://www.wku.edu/management/human-resource-management-concentration.php

#WKUGrad series: As part of our #WKUGrad series, articles on graduating students are shared in the weeks leading up to Commencement. See all of their stories at https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=default&categoryid=799&multinewsid=187