Massachusetts State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump recently visited Worcester State University to share her story of becoming the first female State Auditor in Massachusetts’s history and to talk with students about politics, world experiences, and volunteer service.
Bump is the 25th Auditor of the Commonwealth, and is serving her second term after being first elected to office in 2010. Prior to her election, she served in former Governor Deval Patrick’s Cabinet as Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development. She also served eight years representing Braintree in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
While recounting her journey, which included being a wife, mother, volunteer, and a business advocate and counsel for many private companies, Auditor Bump offered many lessons to the students.
“Working together is key,” said Auditor Bump, recalling her personal experiences of working with those whose opinions she did not agree with. She also emphasized the importance of listening to the opinions of others and considering alternative views, and how these life skills have positively influenced her career.
In addition, Auditor Bumps talked about the idea of “luck” and how is up to individuals to make the most of all of the opportunities that present themselves and to take advantage of resources that are provided. Over the years, she said, she found that one cannot rely on luck, but rather it has to be flagged down.
Bump’s message was well received by WSU students such as Michael Lorian, a freshmen in the Community Leadership Experience. “Auditor Bump had a lot of really great things to say,” he said. “Despite my own party affiliation I’m always more than happy to see what the other side has to say and it was very insightful.”
According to freshmen history major Matt Dorian, Auditor Bump delivered a wonderful lecture. “She’s an inspiring woman,” he said. “I’m a Republican, however I actually voted for Suzanne in last year’s election since I thought she was doing a great job in office.”
Auditor Bump has worked as a business advocate and counsel for many private companies and has served on the boards of non-profits organizations including St. Francis House and the Edwina Martin House in Brockton. She currently chairs the Municipal Finance Oversight Board, serves on the board of the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission, and is the Immediate Past President of the Boston Chapter of the Association of Governmental Accounting. A native of Whitman, Massachusetts, Bump attended Cardinal Spellman High School, graduated from Boston College, and received her Juris doctorate from Suffolk University.
This story was written by Kayleigh Berger ’16.
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