Online MAC Students Thrive with Alumni Employers in the MAC Family Network

Online MAC student Natalie Walton, payroll manager at Schaffer, Baum & Zubach PLLC in Nags Head, N.C., and her coworker Hunter Haskett, a tax and accounting associate, decided to apply to the Jenkins MAC program after hearing about the value of the program from firm partner and Jenkins MAC alumna Mariia Zubach (‘19).

“Mariia has always spoken so highly of the MAC program and the wealth of knowledge the faculty bring to the classroom – explaining how their teaching styles and real-world experience added to her learning and made complex topics more understandable,” Walton says.

“She also highlighted the variety of classes she took and explained how each one offered valuable insights and practical skills that have aided her professional development and been relevant for our clients,” Walton continues. “Her enthusiasm for the program and how great it is really helped me decide on NC State.”

According to Walton, the program has been a unique opportunity to learn advanced accounting concepts to further her growth in the accounting field and broaden her career opportunities in the future – and she appreciates the support she has received at Schaffer, Baum & Zubach as she continues her education.

“I feel fortunate to work at a CPA firm with three exceptional partners who are committed to helping us advance in our career,” She says. “They offer strong support for our education and have been wonderful mentors. Mariia, in particular, has been one of my biggest cheerleaders, providing the initial push and encouragement I needed to join the MAC program to grow my career.”

Welcoming online students

Haskett, too, says Zubach’s recommendation played a vital role in her decision to apply to NC State. However, it was the welcoming nature of the larger MAC family that ultimately sold her on the program.

“I ended up in the MAC program at NC State because of the people. I considered other MAC programs, but I didn’t feel as though they knew much about me or prioritized online students as much as NC State does. The MAC team really tries to and succeeds at making online students feel as included as seated students,” she explains.
Although she was nervous about joining an online program, Haskett says that the MAC staff was quick to answer questions she had during the application process – and when she arrived at the Jenkins MAC orientation in August, she realized she made the right decision.

“I ended up in the MAC program at NC State because of the people. I considered other MAC programs, but I didn’t feel as though they knew much about me or prioritized online students as much as NC State does.”

“When I showed up to orientation, Jessica helped me pick out my name tag and knew exactly who I was – and that I worked with another student in the program, as well as a MAC alum,” she says. “It really confirmed that the MAC team cares about their students, online and seated, and that they will do everything they can to help you succeed.”

Flexible formats

Online MAC student Katelyn Davis, staff accountant at CenterEdge Software in Roxboro, N.C., shares a similar experience. Like Walton and Haskett, she has had the unique opportunity to work with leaders in the MAC family network, including Gray Burnett (‘08), chief financial officer at CenterEdge, and Joshua Minor (‘11), controller at CenterEdge. 
While exploring graduate programs to further her education, she heard more from Burnett and Minor about the Jenkins MAC program and discovered the program met her unique needs – offering a flexible online format that allowed her to keep her employment, an ASAP program to help her complete program prerequisites at her own pace and a curriculum that includes courses in data analytics and enterprise risk management.

From there, the decision was easy to make.

“Coming in with a non-accounting degree and only a year of accounting experience, I had a lot of gaps to fill – and it has been extremely helpful to work through the prerequisite material at my own pace,” she says. “And as someone focusing on the business and industry side of accounting, having the right credentials matters, so I’ve appreciated how the Jenkins MAC program helps students acquire skills to navigate an increasingly data-driven and regulated workforce.”

The flexibility and value of the curriculum, combined with the support of the larger MAC family, has made joining the Jenkins MAC program as an online student an overwhelmingly positive experience.

“I consider myself incredibly lucky to have such supportive team members, as well as great mentorship from MAC alumni Josh and Grey. I would gladly work with them until they retire. They have consistently supported and respected me, and they are always willing to challenge me,” Davis says. “I have also appreciated the attention given to online students by MAC faculty and staff. They take extra care to include us as much as possible in on-campus activities and check in regularly.”