MAcc Directory 2021

MAcc Directory 2021

MAcc Class of 2 0 2 1

A Publication of the Michael J. Coles College of Business Master of Accounting Program

T he School of Accountancy at Kennesaw State University is home to the largest accounting program in the State of Georgia and home to the internationally recognized Internal Audit Center. Kennesaw State University is one of very few colleges and universities in the world recognized at the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Excellence Level. As such, it is authorized by the IIA to issue Internal Audit Education Partnership certificates. The Accounting degree program is fully accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The mission of the School of Accountancy is (1) to provide a high-quality accounting education to a diverse student group, preparing successful accounting professionals and future leaders in local, national, and global organizations; and (2) to influence the accounting profession through relevant research and professional engagement. We will achieve these goals by promoting excellence in teaching and research, delivering innovative undergraduate and graduate programs, and fostering an ethical environment of intellectual curiosity, innovation, and collegiality. The Master of Accounting (MAcc) degree program is an accelerated, cohort- based graduate program designed to help undergraduate accounting (business) majors achieve their professional career goals and certification requirements in a dynamic learning environment. The MAcc is presented in a fast-paced, two semester format that integrates CPA exam preparation into the curriculum. Students will take the CPA exam during the MAcc program, and they will specialize in either Audit/Advisory or Tax. The MAcc delivers a strong core of graduate accounting seminars to every program participant, enhances technical expertise, develops advanced communication and critical thinking abilities, and promotes leadership skills.

1

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

W e are in the third year of our new CPA-focused MAcc program. The new MAcc program allows students to explore audit, advisory, and tax in the fall and specialize in the spring. As part of this new program, we introduced two Capstone Experience courses where students pursue professional development and professional certification over two semesters. Last year 42 students not only worked on their graduate degrees, but also sat for the four parts of the CPA exam as part of their program of study. We are very encouraged by the excellent CPA performance of last year’s cohort, and we look forward to working with this incoming cohort of high-achieving accounting students. This year we rolled out a newmentoring program for the incoming cohort where students are assigned a mentor in their field of study. MAcc students are being mentored by Chief Audit Executives, as well as Partners and Directors of the top corporations and public accounting firms in metro Atlanta. The Class of 2021 joins KSU with median undergraduate and accounting GPAs of 3.8 and a wide range of professional and extracurricular achievements. We are committed to preparing our MAcc students not only to be technically proficient today, but also to be adept in enduring skills like critical and unstructured thinking, so they are prepared for a changing future. We look forward to an exciting year with this incredible group of students.

The accounting program at Kennesaw State holds a separate accounting accreditation by AACSB – INTERNATIONAL, THE HALLMARK OF EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS EDUCATION.

Heather M. Hermanson, PhD MAcc Director and Professor of Accounting

Kennesaw State University is one of only nine colleges and universities in the world recognized at the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Excellence Level. By completing the IAEP program at KSU, students are eligible to be awarded an IAEP Certificate.

Visit our website: KSUMAcc.com

3

AUDIT/ADVISORY

Eman Afani Eman Afani graduated Cum Laude with a BBA in Accounting from Kennesaw State University and is currently a MAcc student at KSU. She studied abroad in Amman, Jordan, gaining experience in IFRS as well as GAAP. During her undergraduate studies, she completed two internships specializing in both tax and audit. She has accepted a full-time position with Ernst & Young in its assurance practice and will begin upon graduation. In her free time, Eman enjoys visiting museums, going to the gym, and playing the violin. Heather Brady Heather Brady graduated Magna Cum Laude with Honors from Western Carolina University with her BSBA in Accounting and her BSBA in Finance. She is currently in the MAcc program at Kennesaw State University, specializing in Audit/Advisory. Heather has previously had two separate internships with the audit team at Dixon Hughes Goodman (DHG) in Atlanta. Upon graduation, she has accepted a full-time position as an audit associate at DHG. She worked part time during her undergraduate studies at Susan’s Accounting and Tax firm in Sylva, North Carolina. Heather has held the Finance and Operations Vice President position in both Alpha Xi Delta and Beta Alpha Psi. She loves spending time with her family, friends, and many dogs. She also enjoys trips to the lake, reading, working out, traveling, and going to church. Taylor Clark Taylor Clark graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with his BBA in Accounting in May 2020 and is currently a MAcc student at KSU. While pursuing his BBA, Taylor gathered almost three years of accounting experience through internships. Taylor obtained corporate accounting experience at Walton Communities and audit experience at Ernst & Young. Taylor has accepted a full-time offer from EY in the assurance service line. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends and cheering on his favorite sports teams. His long-term goal is to open his own real estate development company.

Allison Conway Allison Conway graduated Summa Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with her BBA in Accounting. She is currently a MAcc student at KSU, specializing in Audit/Advisory. She is also a graduate teaching assistant. This summer, Allison worked at PYA as an audit and assurance intern in PYA’s Atlanta office. She has accepted a full-time offer from PYA in its audit and assurance service line upon her graduation. During her undergraduate degree, Allison worked as a tutor in the Coles College of Business, and she held various leadership roles with Miracle at Kennesaw State, a philanthropic organization benefiting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. In her spare time, she enjoys working out, volunteering in the community, and spending time with her friends. Andrew Conway Andrew Conway graduated Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with his BBA in Accounting and is a current MAcc student at KSU. The past two summers he completed an internship at Victory Real Estate Investments in Columbus, GA in its accounting department. In his free time he enjoys golfing, working out, and fishing, as well as being outdoors. He is looking forward to graduating from the MAcc program, as well as completing the CPA exam in May 2021. His future career goal is to become a well-versed accountant at a CPA firm, so he can become a valuable asset to its audit team. Anna Cooper Anna Cooper graduated Magna Cum Laude from Auburn University with a BBA in Accounting. She is currently enrolled in the MAcc program at Kennesaw State University, with a focus in Audit/Advisory. This spring she worked with KPMG Atlanta as an audit intern. Anna has accepted a position with KPMG upon graduation. She also has accepted a campus ambassador nomination from KPMG for this upcoming school year. In her spare time, Anna enjoys spending time with family, exercising, watching documentaries, and attending Braves games.

4

5

AUDIT/ADVISORY

William Hufstetler William Hufstetler is a MAcc student at Kennesaw State University and CPA candidate. He graduated Cum Laude with a double major in Entrepreneurship/Accounting from KSU’s undergraduate program. William has worked in the field of computer integrated surgery, specializing in DaVinci Surgery and winning the Leonardo Award with two departments. William is developing his skill sets to assist companies with program integration, agency cost reduction, human factoring, and decision making. He has experience in medical device adoption, maximizing life cycles through education, and complete program audits. In his spare time, William is a mountain biker and hiker. Angie Jackson Angie Jackson graduated Summa Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with her BBA in Accounting and is currently a MAcc student at KSU, specializing in Audit/Advisory. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she was a member of Beta Alpha Psi and several music organizations on campus. Angie served as the Philanthropy Chair for Sigma Alpha Iota and as a Trumpet section leader for the Marching Owls. She studied abroad in Italy and has completed two internships, one in the accounting department of WarnerMedia and one as an audit staff member at Moore Colson CPAs and Advisors. Angie has accepted a full-time offer from Moore Colson in its audit services line. In her spare time, Angie enjoys playing trumpet and singing, as well as doing calligraphy, traveling, and being with friends. Cameron Jannuzzo Cameron Jannuzzo graduated Magna Cum Laude from Georgia Southern University with her BBA in Accounting in May 2020. She is currently a MAcc student at Kennesaw State University, specializing in Audit/Advisory. During her time at Georgia Southern, Cameron was involved as Director of Sisterhood for her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, and Vice President of Service for the Accounting Association. She also was an active member of Beta Alpha Psi. She completed an audit internship at Aprio and accepted a full-time position at the firm upon graduation. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, cooking, and being outdoors. She one day hopes to become a partner at an accounting firm and travel the world.

Michelle Decker Michelle Decker graduated Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with her BBA in Accounting in May 2020. Michelle is currently in the MAcc program at KSU, specializing in Audit/Advisory. During her undergraduate studies, Michelle held many leadership positions in Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity. She has worked as a learning assistant on campus and as an audit intern at a public accounting firm for 16 months. Michelle loves all animals, but especially loves spending time with her dog, Noel. She also enjoys going hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. Marcus Eberhart Marcus Eberhart graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with his BBA in Accounting in December 2019. He is currently pursuing his MAcc degree at KSU, with a focus in Audit/Advisory, while also sitting for the CPA exam. As an undergraduate student, he was actively involved in Beta Alpha Psi, serving in various leadership roles such as Web Coordinator and Treasurer. Throughout his 3.5 years as an undergraduate, Marcus attended summer leadership programs for HLB Gross Collins and Carr, Riggs & Ingram (CRI). He worked as an audit intern for CRI during Summer 2019, Spring 2020, and Summer 2020. He has accepted a full-time position with CRI as an audit staff accountant upon completion of the MAcc program. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out and laughing with his partner Alyssa, constantly seeking new things to do. Together, they take care of their three spoiled dogs. David Gonzalez David Gonzalez graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with his BBA in Accounting. He is currently a MAcc student at KSU, specializing in Audit/Advisory. Last Winter, he worked with Ernst & Young as an assurance intern. David has accepted a position with EY upon graduation. He also tutors accounting students at KSU. He looks forward to completing the CPA exam by May 2021. In his free time, he likes to work out, keep up with the NFL, learn about wine, and spend time with his friends and family.

6

7

AUDIT/ADVISORY

James Jordan James Jordan graduated from Kennesaw State University with his BBA in Accounting in July 2019. He is currently a MAcc student at KSU with an Audit/Advisory specialization. Before joining the MAcc program, James completed three different internships in order to broaden his experience. His first internship was with AGM Financial Services, where he completed individual tax returns for clients. His second internship was with the financial reporting department at Printpack, and his final internship was in internal audit at Norfolk Southern Corporation. James looks forward to completing the CPA exam by May 2021 to begin his auditing career. In his free time, he enjoys the outdoors and has dreams of hiking the Appalachian Trail. Preston Martin Preston Martin graduated Cum Laude from The University of Georgia in May 2020 with his BBA in Accounting. He is currently in the MAcc program at Kennesaw State University, specializing in Audit/Advisory. This summer he had a virtual experience internship with Deloitte, LLP. Preston has accepted a position with Deloitte Risk & Financial Advisory upon graduation. In previous summers, he completed a Securities Operations position with FIS Global and worked at Lifetime Fitness. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, running, and traveling with friends and family. Daniel Matteson Daniel Matteson graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with his BBA in Accounting in May 2020. He is currently participating in the MAcc program at KSU with a specialization in Audit/Advisory. During the pursuit of his undergraduate degree, Daniel worked at Chick-fil-A, where he had the opportunity to serve as a supervisor. In addition, Daniel has completed two audit internships with Carr, Riggs & Ingram and will begin working at CRI full-time as an audit staff accountant upon the completion of his MAcc. In his free time, Daniel enjoys serving his church, participating in sports, and spending time with his friends.

Jake McWhorter Jake McWhorter graduated Summa Cum Laude from Reinhardt University in 2020 with a BSBA in Accounting and is currently a MAcc student at Kennesaw State University. He recently completed a summer audit internship with Frazier & Deeter. Following his audit internship, he completed and passed the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exam. While at Reinhardt, Jake was a member of Sigma Beta Delta and the Reinhardt University Golf team, where he achieved Academic All-America Honors in his junior and senior years. Jake plans to use the skills he has developed along with his CFE credential to pursue his passion for forensic accounting. When he isn’t researching all things accounting, you can find Jake on the golf course, playing guitar, watching the Braves, or looking for his next big trip. Jon Miller Jon Miller graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University in May 2019 with his BBA in Accounting. He is currently enrolled in the KSU MAcc program with a specialization in Audit/Advisory. He intends to complete all four parts of the CPA exam by December 2021. Upon finishing the MAcc program, he plans on working in internal audit or corporate accounting. Once he has ample career experience, he is interested in becoming an accounting professor. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, watching sports on TV, and drinking his favorite beverage, iced coffee. Claudia O’Donnell Claudia O’Donnell is currently enrolled in the MAcc program at Kennesaw State University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from KSU in May 2020 with a BBA in Accounting and Management. Before continuing her education in the United States, she obtained a Bachelor of Commerce with a specialization in Marketing Management from the University of South Africa and managed a successful property management company for over ten years. This past summer, she completed an internship at Ernst & Young and has accepted a position within EY Risk Consulting upon graduation. As an active member of the International Students Association at KSU, she enjoys learning about different cultures and hopes to expand her travel destinations in the future. In her spare time, Claudia loves playing with her dog and spending time with her family.

8

9

AUDIT/ADVISORY

Emilie Wells Emilie Wells earned a BBA in Accounting at Kennesaw State University in May 2020. She is continuing her education through her enrollment in the MAcc program at KSU, specializing in Audit/Advisory. During her time at KSU, Emilie worked part-time as a tutor for middle and high school students. In Winter 2020, she interned with Ernst & Young in the assurance services practice. She spent the past summer interning with Koch Industries as a tax analyst, gaining experience in international tax. Emilie is looking forward to earning her CPA and launching her career in public accounting. She has accepted a full-time position beginning Summer 2021 at EY as a staff associate in the Assurance Services Practice. In her free time, Emilie enjoys traveling and being outdoors. Aidan Woida Aidan Woida graduated Summa Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with his BBA in Accounting and is currently a MAcc student at KSU, specializing in Audit/Advisory. This winter, he worked at Ernst & Young as an assurance intern and accepted a full-time, post- MAcc offer with EY. He also has completed an audit internship with Nichols, Cauley & Associates, had a corporate accounting internship with Perma-Fix Environmental Services, and worked for the Atlanta Braves during the summers. Aidan enjoys watching soccer, spending time with friends, and hitting the golf course on the weekends. Abigail Xander Abigail Xander graduated Summa Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with her BBA in Accounting and is currently pursuing her MAcc degree from KSU, specializing in Audit/Advisory. She looks forward to completing the CPA exam by May 2021. This summer she worked at Windham Brannon as an audit and assurance intern. She also completed an internship with M3’s Professional Services department in the Summer of 2019 and has worked as a nanny during all four years of college. Abigail has held various leadership roles with Delta Phi Epsilon. She enjoys family time at the lake and going to the beach whenever she can. Her long-term goal is to become a Vice President or even CEO one day, and she hopes to get to visit Australia to hold a koala.

Andrew Rachiele Andrew Rachiele graduated from Kennesaw State University in December 2019 with a BBA in Accounting and has returned to KSU to complete the MAcc program. He completed an internship with Novogradac and Company during the 2020 busy season. During his internship, Andrew prepared audits for low income housing complexes. As an undergraduate, he worked diligently to complete his BBA with Cum Laude honors in three and a half years, while also working as a store clerk for RaceTrac and as an assistant for a small PR firm. Andrew plans to complete his CPA exam and MAcc degree by May 2021. He likes to spend his free time watching sports with family and friends, while passionately supporting his lifelong teams, the Braves and Falcons. Lauren Rousseau Lauren Rousseau graduated from the University of Mississippi with her BBA in Accounting in August 2020. She is currently a MAcc student at Kennesaw State University, specializing in Audit/Advisory. This past winter, Lauren worked at KPMG as an audit intern. She accepted a full-time position at KPMG upon graduation. In her free time, Lauren enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing with her golden retriever, and going to the beach. Savitree Thavong Savitree Thavong graduated Summa Cum laude from Kennesaw State University with her BBA in Accounting. She is currently attending the MAcc program at KSU, specializing in Audit/Advisory. During her BBA, she was a NCAA Division I golf player. She was named Player of the Year and All-Decade Team from the ASUN Conference. She also was involved in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to enhance KSU student athletes’ well-being. Savitree has experience in internal accounting with Henssler Financial and KW Realty. She expects to complete the CPA exam by May 2021. Her goal is to seek a full-time position in audit upon her graduation in May 2021. In her spare time, she loves playing golf and trying new cafés in the Atlanta area.

10

11

TAX

Larianne Bernard Larianne Bernard graduated with honors from Kennesaw State University with her BBA in Accounting in May 2020. Larianne is currently in the MAcc Program at KSU, and she intends to specialize in Tax. While pursuing her BBA, Larianne completed two spring tax internships at Carr, Riggs & Ingram and has accepted a full-time position with CRI upon graduation. In her spare time, Larianne enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her family.

Lakshani Dammalage Lakshani Dammalage graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with her BBA in Accounting in December 2019 and is currently enrolled in the MAcc program at KSU. She is the recipient of the Educational Foundation of The GSCPAs Scholarship, the J. Larry Stevens/KSU Foundation Scholarship at KSU, and the AICPA Legacy Scholarship. She is currently serving as a graduate teaching assistant. Lakshani interned with CoNexus CPA Group for a year and a half while pursuing her BBA. She also completed another tax internship with Ernst & Young during the busy season and has accepted a post-MAcc position with EY. In her spare time, she loves hiking, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends. Moyosolaoluwa (Yossy) Dare Moyosolaoluwa (Yossy) Dare graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with a BBA in Accounting. He is currently a MAcc student at KSU. Yossy is a student member of both Beta Alpha Psi and Beta Gamma Sigma. He has work experience in tax at Burgeon Financial Group. Yossy has aspirations of pursuing a law degree in the future. In his spare time, he enjoys exercising, reading, and watching movies. Br’Shawn Davis Br’Shawn Davis is a MAcc student at Kennesaw State University, specializing in Tax. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Clark Atlanta University (CAU) with a BA in Accounting in December 2019. While studying at CAU, Br’Shawn served as the executive board SCREP Reporter, Secretary, and Vice President for the National Association of Black Accountants. She was also an active member of the CAU Isabella T. Jenkins Honors Program. During the summer of 2019, Br’Shawn interned at Deloitte Tax LLP in the Global Employer Services sector. She has accepted a post-MAcc position with Deloitte. In addition to being an accountant, Br’Shawn is also a licensed realtor and the owner of a real estate investing and consulting business. In her free time, Br’Shawn enjoys cooking, exercising, and traveling.

Alexis Conway Alexis Conway graduated Summa Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with her BBA in Accounting in May 2020. She is currently a MAcc student and graduate teaching assistant at KSU. She worked this summer at Richard W. Wurst, CPA in Marietta as a tax intern and completed a virtual upskilling program with Aprio. Throughout her undergraduate program, Alexis worked part-time as a student assistant in grant accounting at KSU. Alexis loves helping her community and has gained many community service hours through her involvement with Miracle at Kennesaw State and Beta Alpha Psi. In her free time, Alexis loves watching movies and spending time with her family. Alexis is looking forward to completing the CPA exam by May 2021 and working in a public accounting firm after graduation. Cameron Corley Cameron Corley graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with his BBA in Accounting. He is currently a MAcc student at KSU, specializing in Tax. While attending KSU as an undergraduate student, Cameron worked for the School of Accountancy for three semesters as a teaching assistant for introductory accounting. Cameron has had experience in an accounting/finance role with Properties of The Villages and as a tax intern with Aprio, LLP. He has accepted a full-time offer from Aprio, and he will begin his career with the firm in September 2021. In his free time, he enjoys traveling to new places and spending time in the great outdoors. In the future, he hopes to become a partner at a public accounting firm and start a family.

12

13

TAX

Talisa English Talisa English graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with her BBA in Accounting in May 2020 and is currently a MAcc student at KSU, specializing in Tax. During her time as an undergraduate, Talisa was involved in Beta Alpha Psi for three years. Talisa interned at CliftonLarsonAllen LLP in Spring 2020, where she experienced both tax and audit work. Talisa also was part of the first-ever virtual Advance internship with PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP, and she has accepted a full-time offer with PwC upon graduation from the MAcc program. Talisa is passionate about rescue dogs and loves to travel to the beach with family, friends, and her dogs. Abby Gotthardt Abby Gotthardt graduated from the University of Georgia (UGA) with her BBA in Accounting in August 2020. She is currently in the MAcc program at Kennesaw State University, specializing in Tax. This summer she worked at Cherry Bekaert LLP as a tax intern. Abby has accepted a full-time position with Cherry Bekaert upon graduation. She held various leadership roles at UGA in a college ministry called Wesley. Abby loves to hike, travel to national parks, run, spend time with family and friends, and read. Her long-term goal is to work with different ministries and not-for-profits as a business consultant or an accountant/financial planner. Ashika Mistry Ashika Mistry graduated with honors from Kennesaw State University with her BBA in Accounting in May 2020. She is currently a MAcc student specializing in Tax at KSU. During Spring 2020 she completed a tax internship at Carr, Riggs & Ingram and has accepted a full-time position with CRI upon graduating from the MAcc program. Ashika’s long-term goals include becoming partner at a public accounting firm and thereafter opening her own accounting practice. She loves spending time with family and friends, dancing, and enjoying sports such as tennis and soccer.

Michelle Pereira Michelle Pereira graduated Summa Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with her BBA in Accounting in December 2019. She is continuing her studies at KSU in the MAcc program. She intends to complete her MAcc with a Tax specialization and pass the CPA by May 2021. During her time as an undergraduate student at KSU, she was a member of Beta Alpha Psi and the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA). She was also selected for and completed the Coles Scholar Program business minor. Additionally, she completed three accounting internships. Beginning Fall 2021, Michelle will start full-time at Ernst & Young as a tax associate. In her spare time, she enjoys going to Atlanta United games and traveling. Caitlin Shivers Caitlin Shivers graduated from Kennesaw State University with her BBA in Accounting in May 2020. She is currently pursuing her MAcc at KSU, with a specialization in Tax. While pursuing her BBA, Caitlin participated in Beta Alpha Psi and served as president of the campus ministry, Cru. She has gained tax experience through an internship at Bennett Thrasher, and she has accepted a full-time offer with BT as a tax associate in the real estate and hospitality line. In her free time, Caitlin enjoys writing music, reading, serving at her church, and spending time with friends and family. Ce-Quan Stokley Ce-Quan Stokley graduated Magna Cum Laude from Clark Atlanta University (CAU) with his BBA in Accounting. He is currently enrolled in the MAcc program at Kennesaw State University, specializing in Tax. Ce-Quan served as the President of the Institute of Management Accountants for the CAU chapter. He has gained tax experience by completing an internship, as well as working in a full-time position within the field. He enjoys volunteering as an income tax assistant and completing low-income taxpayers’ tax returns. Ce-Quan prefers to spend his free time jogging, finding new television shows, and trying new restaurants.

14

15

TAX

Patrick Tjandra Patrick Tjandra graduated Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with his BBA in Accounting and is currently a MAcc student at KSU. While pursuing his BBA, Patrick was involved as a member of Beta Alpha Psi at KSU. In addition, Patrick has been able to receive experience through internships at CryoLife, Mohawk Industries, and Frazier & Deeter. During his internships, he was able to gain corporate accounting and tax experience. He also enjoys drawing, playing basketball, and spending time with his family. He is looking forward to completing the CPA exam by May 2021 and obtaining a full-time job. Vanesa Toro Vanesa Toro graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with her BBA in Accounting in May 2020. Vanesa has returned to KSU to pursue her CPA and MAcc degree with a specialization in Tax. While pursuing her BBA, she was involved in the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) and Beta Gamma Sigma. In Spring 2019, she interned at Aircrew Taxes where she focused on preparing individual tax returns for pilots and flight attendants. After graduation, Vanesa would like to pursue a commercial pilot license. In her free time, Vanesa enjoys hiking, biking, and watching The Office for the hundredth time. Julia Turbyfield Julia Turbyfield graduated Cum Laude from Mercer University in May 2020 with a BBA in Accounting. She is currently a MAcc student specializing in Tax at Kennesaw State University. Julia was involved on Mercer’s campus through leadership positions in her sorority, Chi Omega. Julia interned with Jones and Kolb during the Spring 2019 and during the delayed tax season in Summer 2020. Julia has accepted a full-time offer at Jones and Kolb as a staff accountant upon graduation. Julia finds peace and joy through hiking trails, going to the lake, and watching sunsets. She is looking forward to starting her career as a public accountant.

Ashley Wigley Ashley Wigley graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with her BBA in Accounting and is currently a MAcc student at KSU. While pursuing her BBA, Ashley was involved in Gamma Phi Beta, Order of Omega, Beta Alpha Psi, Beta Gamma Sigma, and Golden Key. Ashley has experience in public tax at Aprio, public audit at HLB Gross Collins, and industry tax at Chick-fil-A. Ashley is looking forward to completing the CPA exam and her MAcc, with a concentration in Tax. She is looking for a full-time job to start after her May 2021 graduation. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping, playing with her dog, and spending time with family and friends. Alex Williams Alex Williams graduated Magna Cum Laude with his BBA in Accounting and is currently a MAcc student at Kennesaw State University. While obtaining his BBA, Alex was a member of the leadership team for the Kennesaw State Marching Owls. Over the past two summers he has interned at TriBridge Residential and Rangewater, multi-family property management companies, where he gained experience in corporate accounting. Alex enjoys being outside working, spending time with friends, cars, and the Atlanta Braves. His long-term goals include working in international accounting and owning his own CPA firm.

16

17

A s the Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships, my passion is student success and helping students make lasting connections that will enhance their professional careers. I want to personally invite you to get involved with the School of Accountancy (SOA) at KSU. Being involved with the SOA: (1) helps the next generation of accountants learn from professionals in the field, (2) expands students’ real-world experience, and (3) provides comprehensive support for our students. You can get involved in many ways. One is providing financial support. By donating to the SOA, you ensure we will have the resources to keep improving students’ educational experiences. By donating one or more scholarships, you are helping students to reduce the financial burden of their education. Recruitment is another great way to get involved with the SOA. We strive to help each student get connected with the correct employment fit. One way to engage in our recruitment process is to become a Partner with the School of Accountancy. Partners with the SOA participate in both supporting our students and engaging them through on-campus involvement. Ways to recruit on campus include: (1) registering for our Accounting and Finance Career Fair, (2) participating in other on-campus recruitment activities and interviews, (3) offering internships, and (4) meeting with Beta Alpha Psi. Alternatively, if you would like more direct access to accounting students, we have opportunities for guest speakers and mentorships. Without the generosity of outside organizations and individuals, the SOA cannot offer the best educational experience for our students. After reading more about the MAcc Class of 2021, I hope you will choose to get involved with the SOA at KSU! For more information, please contact me directly at [email protected].

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

• Partner with the School of Accountancy • Provide financial support • Donate a scholarship (our greatest need is for scholarships for the best and brightest accounting students) • Register for the Career Fair • Participate in on-campus recruitment events • Participate in on-campus interviews • Mentor students • Provide internships • Participate in Practitioners Week • Sponsor Beta Alpha Psi • Sponsor annual Accounting Achievers Banquet

Sincerely,

Visit our website: ColesSOA.com

Nicole Pearce M.Ed. Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships

18

19

Visit our website: KSUMAcc.com