Chastity Bryant: Discovering the Light Within

Finding time to work two jobs, raise three children and attend night classes for a master of science in accounting sounds like a full plate, but Chastity Bryant managed to do all of that and more.

Born and raised in Tacoma, Bryant wanted a local college experience that offered smaller, more intimate class sizes. She also wanted to build a core group of people to help create what she calls a “book of business” or a network of people to collaborate with and befriend within the UW Tacoma community.

Bryant graduated from Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) with an undergraduate degree in sociology. While there she realized the importance of campus involvement, so when she chose to attend UW Tacoma for her graduate degree, she joined as many clubs and organizations as she could handle. “I wanted to plant myself wherever I could and get connections and resources,” said Bryant.

Bryant is a member of the Accounting Student Association (ASA), the Black Student Union (BSU), a senator in the Associated Students of University of Washington Tacoma (ASUWT) and a member of the Senior Gift Giving Committee. She also volunteers at Tacoma Associated Ministries’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

For some, juggling multiple extracurricular activities may be overwhelming, but Bryant is constantly motivated by her mother to stay the course and give herself grace if she feels like she falls short. “My mom is always there to help whenever I need her,” said Bryant. With the support of her family, she’s able to stay focused on her end goal, which is to become a shareholder at Clark Nuber, a well-known and accredited accounting firm in the Seattle area.

Bryant decided the next stage of her academic journey was to get her master of science in accounting while working for a small real estate firm. There, she quickly realized the importance of financial literacy. With her degree from UW Tacoma, she wants to become a CPA and a resource to her community to those who are looking to make the best financial and investment decisions for themselves and their families. “I want to show the steps in order to create a good foundation for their future,” she said.

Bryant’s advisor in the Milgard School, Karen Janz, encouraged her to start looking for employment outside of the real estate firm. That’s when Bryant discovered Clark Nuber. Bryant applied for their summer internship which ultimately led to a full-time position as an audit associate while attending classes at UW Tacoma. “It’s great because I’m able to take what I learned in my classes at UW Tacoma and apply them to my job,” she said.

Bryant was named one of UW’s Husky 100, along with seven others from the Tacoma campus in 2023. She was elated when she found out that she was nominated by a professor and is appreciative of the recognition that she has received. Bryant thanks her family, her professors -- specifically Assistant Teaching Professor Gordon Craig – and her advisors for helping her stay accountable and on the path towards completing her master’s. “I truly am thankful to the campus community and Professor Gordon for bringing out the light in me that I didn’t even know that I had,” said Bryant. “I’m proud to represent UW Tacoma in a positive light.”