Moscow native finds U of I prepared her for the big stage

Considering how focused she was on finding a top-notch business school after graduating from Moscow High School, Catherine Niehenke anticipated hearing a lot of sales pitches while evaluating universities.

Perhaps the best one she heard was the one that kept her in Idaho.

“I researched a lot of big business schools, and my dream school was Boston University,” Niehenke said. “I’ve always wanted to live in Boston. But after meeting with Erick Larson and asking him what U of I’s College of Business and Economics (CBE) could do for me, I realized I would have access to opportunities here that I might not have had elsewhere.”

When you look at her college resume — which includes double majoring in accounting and international studies, double minoring in marketing and French, taking an Education Abroad trip to France and being awarded the Alumni Award for Excellence for both CBE and the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences— it’s clear Niehenke took advantage of every opportunity she found.

“Anytime I talk about successful students, they understand how to manage their time,” said Larson, CBE’s student engagement director. “The busier they are, the more successful they are. They have a checklist of things they want to do and they make sure they get them all done. That’s Catherine, and it’s what makes her stand out.”

Checking her list

As if carrying two majors and two minors wasn’t enough to keep her busy, Niehenke devoted just as much time to leadership positions at U of I.

A partial list of her past and current roles includes president of CBE’s Graue Scholars Program, president of her Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and treasurer of the Martin Institute’s International Affairs Club.

Niehenke’s leadership didn’t always come as an officer. She also volunteered her time for activities she felt passionate about, like helping establish a donor-funded food pantry at the Martin Institute for students facing food insecurity issues and producing promotional videos for a CBE-driven clothing drive.

“I think it comes down to wanting to make a difference in people’s lives,” she said. “I realized I might not always have the information or all the skills necessary to get a project done. But in a group setting, where other people have strengths I don’t have, I can help lead the effort, and we can accomplish a lot.”

If the concept of slowing down is somewhere on Niehenke’s checklist — “It’s something I’m still working on,” she laughed — it’s probably near the bottom. In the meantime, she’s spent four years focusing on the items at the top.

After gaining exposure to several different regional companies during her time at U of I, she found what she was looking for with the accounting firm Ernst & Young. She secured an internship with the London-based company last year, which she has since parlayed into a job offer after graduation — an offer that allows her to cross off another checklist item.

“I was really drawn to the company,” Niehenke said. “All of the people I’ve worked with are very driven, intelligent and strategic and they are working on a lot of cool projects. Plus I get to work for them in Boston!”

Leading by example

Because of the positions she’s held at U of I, Niehenke’s leadership experiences have been under a figurative spotlight. Last fall, she stood under a literal spotlight speaking to hundreds of guests at the 2025 Recognition Gala at the ICCU Arena.

Niehenke’s presentation highlighted her scholarship opportunities, which were a major factor for her choosing U of I.

“I was deciding between schools and money,” she said. “I was fortunate to receive several scholarships to attend U of I. Between that and realizing that I could ultimately get to where I wanted to be by not going to a more expensive school, coming here was a good decision.”

One of the scholarships she received was from the Graue Scholars. The program’s four pillars of academic excellence, professional development, leadership and mentorship, and community impact aligned perfectly with her areas of interest and her strengths.

According to Larson, faculty advisor for the Graue Scholars, a big part of the program is helping each individual unlock their leadership talents by working with them on their weaknesses as well as their strengths. He chose to mentor Niehenke a little differently.

“For Catherine, I just tried to stay out of her way,” he said. “There’s this question of whether a leader is born or leadership is developed. I think it’s both. I think she was born with it, and she has done everything possible at U of I to develop it.”

Niehenke, who originally learned about Ernst & Young through a Graue event, credits her success to the simple idea of saying yes.

“I’ve always erred on the side of saying yes because you never know what’s going to come of it,” she said. “I did a lot of cool things at U of I, and I think doing all those things teaches you about yourself. Ultimately you figure out what’s important to you. I think that’s very valuable, and U of I has been a great place to do that.”