What are your career goals / academic goals? 

My academic goals are to graduate from Marist with my bachelor’s degree, and hopefully a master’s degree through the 4+1 MPAccy program. I hope to obtain my Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner licenses, and begin a career as a forensic accountant.   

Why did you choose to pursue your degree program at Marist? 

I chose to pursue my degree because I have always found a fascination with the science of money, and I wanted to explore a degree field that would prepare me for a lucrative career. I was attracted to the Accounting program at Marist through the strength of its connections, partnerships, and prestige, and I have been fortunate to have been under the instruction of professors with an abundance of real-world experience that they utilize in the classroom every day.   

Tell us about a project or course that was particularly meaningful to your professional/academic development:

One experience that was particularly meaningful to my professional and academic development is my time as a member of Marist Model United Nations (MMUN). I sought to diversify my educational experience at Marist by combining my rigorous accounting curriculum with topics that I am especially passionate about, one of which is international politics. As a member of MMUN, I qualified to attend the National Model United Nations (NMUN) conference in Manhattan, where I received awards for my performance alongside my fellow Marist students. As a participant in MMUN and NMUN, I was able to refine and perfect my public speaking ability, and my capacity for collaboration and conflict resolution, while making lifetime friends around the world. I was fortunate enough to become a member of the MMUN board, where I currently serve as Vice President. It is an experience that I will cherish forever and one that I hope to share with other Marist students.   

Tell us about a meaningful experience you had at Marist:

One meaningful experience I had at Marist as it pertains to my degree is starting an accounting-focused club at Marist. During my second year, my Intermediate Accounting professor approached me with an opportunity to found a student chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners at Marist. I, alongside several other students in my class, as well as my professor, Dr. Niemotko, successfully founded and chartered this club at the end of our spring semester. Becoming an associate member of ACFE, as well as an executive member of our student chapter, has expanded our access to resources for prospective fraud examiners, and we made it our mission to educate and spread awareness about fraud examination as a profession. 

What advice would you give to a student considering pursuing this degree at Marist?

I would advise any student considering pursuing a degree in Accounting to practice as much as possible, every night if you can. It’s not enough to simply memorize formulas. You need to understand the process as to how each topic is solved, and how to think critically through each situation. Practice healthy habits, including drinking water, getting to sleep on time, attending EVERY class, and seeking help as soon as you have difficulty. Accounting can be a challenging degree, but your instructors are here to help you, and you can do anything if you put your mind to it.