Jimena Lugo Martinez strives to succeed for herself and for her family
By James Auvil
Jimena Lugo Martinez is a first-generation student and accounting major who has built an impressive resume through internships, leadership programs and campus involvement. As a member of the Accounting Connections club, she demonstrates how students can discover their path later in their academic careers and still achieve meaningful success.
Martinez graduated high school in the top 10 of her class and initially planned to pursue a career in the medical field. After participating in a health science internship program, she set her sights on becoming a nurse practitioner.
She spent several years working in a surgical office, gaining hands-on experience before realizing nursing was not the right fit. She began college at a nearby community college, which she described as “a great transition into a larger school like UAH.”
After transferring to UAH, Martinez initially pursued a general business degree until faculty member Dr. Stan Clark encouraged her to switch to accounting based on her strong performance in both the classroom and student organizations.
Martinez gained early professional experience through an internship with the Office of Internal Audit for The University of Alabama System. In that role, she audited multiple departments at UAH, helping improve efficiency and operations while developing skills in risk management, internal controls and governance.
She later attended summer leadership programs at Anglin Reichmann Armstrong and BMSS in 2025, where she learned how accounting firms operate and built professional connections. During one program, she entered a scholarship competition and presented a paper on how technological advancements are transforming accounting, earning a $1,000 award.
Martinez also interned with Progress Rail as part of its accounts payable team. There, she processed a backlog of invoices and ensured accuracy across incoming payments. She secured the opportunity through the College of Business career fair and said the company’s proximity made it even more appealing.
“This company is global, and their headquarters was just 30 minutes from me,” she said. “I was very lucky to get the opportunity. It seemed too good to be true.”
During her internship, Martinez helped implement an AI-driven tool to automate invoice processing. She trained the system to identify key details such as vendor information and purchase order numbers, improving accuracy and reducing manual data entry.
“The more it learned, I saw those invoices less and less,” she said.
Despite her professional success, Martinez said her greatest motivation is her family. As a first-generation college student, she values the opportunity to earn a degree and takes pride in supporting her siblings as they plan their futures.
“I’m really glad they can come to me and ask questions,” she said. “I can be a role model for them.”
Martinez currently works in public accounting with a focus on tax preparation. After graduation, she plans to continue in the field while studying for her CPA license. She also hopes to pursue an MBA, with the goal of becoming the first in her family to earn a master’s degree.
