Alumni

Jacqueline Shelly '15

Data Analyst
The PGA Tour

"At FAU, I learned that analytics is my passion"

Jacqueline at FAU... 
Jacqueline studied economics as an undergraduate and graduated in 2015. While an FAU student, she also played on the women's Golf Team. 

Why did you choose Economics at FAU?
I was drawn to study economics when I took Microeconomics in high school. I was fascinated by the subject because it explains how the world works. It's the study of why people behave and act the way they do based on their constraints of time and money. 

Students should choose economics because it is a broad subject and can be applicable across multiple fields. The skill sets gained from an economics degree are also in high demand, making students more desirable for positions over other candidates.

What are you up to now?
Currently, I am a data scientist for The PGA TOUR. Our team's focus is to grow fan engagement with our TOUR and players through analytics.  

From my experience after FAU, I've learned that analytics is my passion. I want to show business leaders the benefits of making data-driven decisions rather than just observation. The goal of economics! 

I am working towards my completing my Master's degree in Data Analytics from Penn State's World Campus program.

Chris Daniels

Chris is the Founder & CEO of Elevated (Candidate.Guru + Elevated Careers by eHarmony), the first ever artificial intelligence-based all-in-one employee engagement, employment branding and job candidate matching platform. Prior to Candidate. Guru,Chris spent 4 years as a Partner with Acertitude (formerly Technology Executive Group), a New York-based leadership consulting and executive search firm. Chris brings more than 25 years’ experience in human resources and customer experience technologies, enterprise software and big data & analytics. He applies in-depth knowledge of corporate strategy, emerging technologies and large-scale global business development to help clients understand the trends, competitive dynamics and market realities impacting their talent strategies.

AHMAD JOARDER
MAC '16

"The most valuable aspect of my educational experience at FAU would have to be the relationships I was able to establish with my fellow peers, the faculty, and advisors."

About Ahmad
Ahmad came to FAU after earning his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Florida. “I chose to attend FAU’s Master’s of Accounting program because of its great location in my hometown of Boca Raton and for its great in-state tuition value,” he says. While at FAU, Ahmad took advantage of the flexibility of the program and the study-abroad opportunities, traveling to Costa Rica during the summer of 2015. “I got to experience Costa Rica’s rich culture, learn about its economy, and gain first-hand knowledge of global trade,” he says. “I would not trade my study abroad experience for anything.”

Career Appeal
“I always wanted a career in a field which was recession-proof, offered performance-based pay, and stability," he says. "In public accounting, you get a mixture of all these three as compensation packages include a salary which is raised based on your performance. Also, accountants have the highest demand during recessions.”

Where is he now?
Ahmad currently works at Deloitte, where he received a full-time job offer before graduation. Find him on LinkedIn.

KRISTEN KIELKUCKI
BBA '07, MAC '09

Accounting Scholar, CPA, and Entrepreneur.

About Kristen
Kristen completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting at FAU, where she participated in the prestigious Accounting Scholars Program and Beta Alpha Psi. During her time at FAU, she interned with Grant Thornton, which led to a job offer upon graduation from the Masters of Accounting Program.

Where is she now?
After graduation, Kristen worked as an audit associate for Grant Thornton before going on to found Kristen’s Shoppe, a successful online women's fashion & accessories resale store. She passed all four sections of the CPA exam on the first attempt and became a CPA in 2015. Kristen currently works on the accounting team at Sentio Investments, LLC, the Advisor to Sentio Healthcare Properties, a healthcare real-estate investment trust.

BRIAN PETERSON
MAC '12

"I've always enjoyed business and serving people. Working in the accounting field allows me the opportunity to satisfy both of these passions..."

About Brian
After earning his bachelor’s degree in Accounting from UCF in 2010, Brian took an accounting job in South Florida and knew that he wanted to earn a Master’s degree. “FAU was the perfect fit,” he says. “FAU’s Master’s of Accounting program is accredited, awarded, structured, and flexible. I was able to take the necessary courses at a speed allowing me to work full-time. Being a Master’s student at FAU and working full-time provided me with invaluable educational and real-world, hands-on experience I still use today.”

Where is he now?
Since graduating from FAU with his Master’s degree in Accounting, Brian has worked in both the private equity and public accounting industries, including earning public accounting experience under the “Big 4” as an Auditor for Deloitte. He currently works as a CPA for Blum & Blum, a public accounting firm in Coral Springs and is an active member of both the AICPA and FICPA.

Brian's advice for new accounting professionals:
“A career in accounting is a marathon, not a sprint. It doesn’t happen overnight. Be patient and stay humble. Work as hard as you can and learn as much as you can from your peers. Earning a CPA license will open many doors for future opportunity. An accounting professional can work as an entrepreneur, seek a career in a corporate setting, or even pursue other business interests such as tax, law, or healthcare. Find what makes you passionate and use your accounting knowledge to help those around you.”

Brian and his wife bought their first home in Sunrise, Florida in 2015 where they happily await the arrival of their first child in July of this year.

SARENA VOLANTE
BBA '14, MAC '15

"I feel very accomplished, so early in my career, working exactly where I set out to work from the beginning of my accounting education."

About Sarena
While pursuing both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting at FAU, Sarena was both a highly involved and accomplished student. She was a member of Beta Alpha Psi (Executive Vice President and Social Director), the Accounting Students Association, the Florida Institute of CPAs (FICPA), FAU Women’s Cross Country Team and FAU Women’s Track and Field Team, and even volunteered for FAU’s Office for Students with Disabilities as a note taker. As a graduate student, Sarena was a tax intern for Cherry Bekaert in Fort Lauderdale as well as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for Principles of Accounting 1 and 2.

The Accounting Scholars Program
“The most valuable aspect of my educational experience at Florida Atlantic University was being a part of the Accounting Scholars Program,” she says. Sarena particularly values the relationships she developed with the students and professors through the ASP. “I have an entire network of professionals in the South Florida market – this is such an added value to me… I made life-long, very cherished friendships.”

Where is she now?
Sarena received her official offer with Ernst & Young in New York over a year prior to her start date and currently work in the Times Square office in the Real Estate Tax Services Group. “Over the next few years, I definitely want to stay with EY and move up in Real Estate Tax Services,” she says. “I found my niche and I really enjoy the work I do and the people I work with.” Sarena hopes to obtain her CPA license by January 2017.

CAITLIN SICILIANO
BBA '14, MAC '16

Transfer student, Accounting Scholar, Proud Owl.

About Caitlin
Caitlin earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from FAU, where she excelled in the prestigious Accounting Scholars Program. While at FAU, Caitlin participated in Beta Alpha Psi, Catholic Newman Club, and intramural sports. During her graduate studies, she was also selected to serve as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for Financial and Managerial Accounting.

Where is she now?
Caitlin was offered a full-time position with a top accounting firm an entire year before graduation and currently works as an Assurance Associate with PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

ROBERT WALDBILLIG
MTX '14

2014 Elijah Watt Sells Award Recipient for top performance on the CPA Exam.

Robert Waldbillig, MTX '14, received the Elijah Watt Sells Award for top performance on the Uniform CPA Examination. Of the 91,000 candidates that took the CPA exam in 2014, only 60 met the criteria to receive the award. Winners must receive a cumulative average score of 95.5 or higher on all four sections of the exam, and pass all sections on their first attempt.

Waldbillig graduated with his B.S. in Accounting from the University of Florida in 2013 before beginning the Master of Taxation program at FAU. He is currently employed with Crowe Horwath in Fort Lauderdale.