Jenkins MAC Program Fall Orientation Prepares Students for Program and Career Success
On Wednesday, Aug. 14, the Jenkins MAC program welcomed 120+ incoming students from the on-campus and online programs to New Student Orientation at the McKimmon Center. Belonging to the largest Jenkins MAC class in history, the students had the opportunity not only to receive an introduction to the program – but to network with peers and gain insight about CPA exam preparation, succeeding in the Jenkins MAC program and preparing for a successful career.
“Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life,” said Scott Showalter, director of the Jenkins MAC program, to kick off the event. “We probably shouldn’t call this orientation – because it’s really about preparing you for the rest of your life and career. We’re bringing in a lot of speakers today to teach you more about the accounting profession and the career options available to you.”
“We probably shouldn’t call this orientation – because it’s really about preparing you for the rest of your life and career.”
Joining a family
Sharing about the class breakdown, Showalter explained to students that they have the unique opportunity to learn from peers with diverse backgrounds, skills and perspectives. Of the cohort’s 183 total students, 52 represent different university undergraduate programs and 38 represent different undergraduate majors – and nearly 40% completed the ASAP program for non-accounting majors.
In addition to a diverse cohort, Showalter reminded students that the MAC family includes faculty and staff members who are committed to supporting them in the program and for the duration of their careers. Jay Arrington, director of admissions and enrollment; Jessica Moran, associate director of academic programs; Kelly Hardy, associate director of student programs and career services; and Derek Welsh, student services specialist, each introduced themselves and encouraged students to take advantage of the resources and assistance they have to offer.
“Our faculty and staff want to be helpful and make you feel supported along the way. We never want you to feel alone in the process,” Showalter said.
Gaining perspective
After offering an overview of the culture and expectations in the Jenkins MAC program, Showalter handed the podium over to Shawana Hudson Spann, partner at McConnell Jones, to share about her career journey and answer students’ questions about how to succeed in the profession. She encouraged students to maximize opportunities for mentorship, take risks, leverage their unique skills and personality traits, live out their values and remain eager to learn and try new things.
“People often think that you’re a leader because of what you know. That’s not the case. Often, you’re a leader because you’re willing to go first,” Spann said. “Technical ability will certainly get you the interview, but what I often tell young people is that what leaves a lasting impression on me is curiosity about the profession.”
Following an ice breaker activity, Showalter shared best practices for succeeding as a graduate student – including starting assignments early, prioritizing clear communication, asking good questions and learning to work effectively on teams.
“Most of what you’ve done in undergrad is group work – coming together, dividing it up and throwing it together. But what you’re doing in this program is teamwork.” Showalter explained. “A team delivers a product to a client – so you need to start getting in the mindset that your team is collectively responsible for that result.”
Showalter also encouraged students to leverage the diverse perspectives of their peers. “People come here with different perspectives and experiences. Use that,” he said. “You’ll get a better answer by having diversity of thought around the table. Those experiences will increase the value of what you have to deliver.”
Learning best practices
In the spirit of leveraging the insights of others, Arrington facilitated a panel discussion with Jenkins MAC alumni Andrew Ihle (‘24), Alexis Avalos (‘24), Mohamed Ali Mohareb (‘24), Arianna Brown Stephenson (‘24), Garrett Hewett (‘24) and Christian Christophe (‘22).
“Utilize the time you have with each other. No one is going to understand it like the person next to you will – and these connections will last you the rest of your life,” Christophe said. “Get to know these professors, too – because at the end of the day, they’re here to help you.”
According to Avalos, the camaraderie between students and support from faculty extends to online students as well. “Coming into the program, I was really nervous about that and afraid that I’d feel like just another number,” she said. “But that wasn’t the case. The faculty really care about you.”
“…these connections will last you the rest of your life.”
The alumni also dispelled fears about the CPA exam.
“Go at your own pace and don’t get blinded by what you see other people doing and how far along they are,” Christophe said. “Do what works for you.”
“None of the CPA exam sections are a test of intelligence,” Hewett added. “If you’re diligent and put the time in and do all the material, your chances of passing are extremely high.”
The panelists also encouraged students to leverage networking opportunities, participate in recruiting events like Meet the Firms, take advantage of career services and reach out to Kelly Hardy for help.
“I was really worried coming into the program – especially with my nursing background. I wasn’t sure who was going to hire me and how I was going to get a job,” Mohareb said. “But I had a lot of offers – and you will, too.”
Growing as leaders
In an interactive session, Chuck Saia, senior partner at Deloitte and author of You Got This, Kid! Words of Advice for Young Leaders, shared lessons on life and leadership and created space for self-reflection and discussion.
“Here’s the thing about leadership,” Saia said to open the session. “First off, it’s not innate – it’s a learned trait.”
Walking through the book’s seven analogies between the corporate world and animal kingdom, Saia reminded students that leadership is inextricably tied to who they are – including their unique traits that make up their “special sauce” and unique experiences that have given them thick skin.
“It has taken me 17 years to find out what makes me different and lead with that,” Saia said. “If you don’t lead with your authentic self, people are going to figure it out pretty quickly.”
On the flip side, Saia explained, leadership is not all about them – and also hinges on the type of people they surround themselves with. “Great leaders have a mentor – and great leaders also have mentees,” he said.
The day closed with a faculty panel and networking social. On Thursday, the orientation continued with a session on diversity of thought with Jamelia Livingston (‘09), partner at EY, and a session about preparing for the CPA exam with Kathy Krawczyk, professor emeritus in the department of accounting. After lunch, students learned from Carson Crosby, account manager at Becker, about Becker CPA exam review, and from John Broadfoot, director at Thomas, Judy & Tucker, about effective communication and professional etiquette. The day closed with breakout sessions for the MAC online and on-campus programs and an announcement about the Jenkins MAC Organization officers.
“It was an engaging two days welcoming new members to the MAC family and preparing them for their journey into the accounting profession,” Showalter said. “The energy in the room was great and tells us the students showed up to learn.”
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