Accounting Diversity Consortium
EY and Wake Forest University School of Business partner for this unique event
By Stephanie Skordas, Sr. Associate Director, Communications
The Accounting Diversity Consortium (ADC) attracts the best and brightest collegiate minds in the country. Funded by EY, it’s a two-day preview of what could be their next steps in the accounting careers: earning a graduate degree in accounting, and working with colleagues at a nationally recognized firm.
The 40-45 students who attend will participate in a mock class, hear from alumni who earned their Master of Science in Accountancy degrees from Wake Forest, and network with EY representatives.
“EY places special emphasis and value on hiring staff of color, women and others with diverse backgrounds,” said Natasha Gore, assistant director for MA and MSA enrollment management. “They appreciate the strong brand Wake Forest has in graduate accounting education and came to us about eight years ago to create this event.”
Gore and EY representatives find potential students at conferences held by the National Associate of Black Accountants, and Gore also travels to major HBCU campuses to visit classrooms and host dinners to meet the juniors and seniors who are interested in accounting careers.
“We’re looking for students with high academic achievements, but also people who have a unique story,” Gore said. “We’ll find first generation college students, students who may have just realized they want a career in accounting or even those who have known from early childhood that numbers are their thing. It’s a good mix of people, which makes the event really robust.”
And when it comes to robust benefits, Gore says students who’ve attended ADC in years past almost universally mention networking.
“What stands out the most for them is the amount of networking. This very unique event gives them the opportunity to not only examine where they can earn their graduate accounting degree, but also be surrounded by a group of like-minded people who may have a similar culture background,” she says. “For some of the students, this may be their first time on an airplane or leaving their home state. We love to be a part of that, to help them open up and see what futures are possible.”
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