Senior accounting major Miranda Pier is reshaping the traditional college path. First she landed an outstanding job; now she’s focusing on graduating and preparing for the Certified Public Accountant Exam.
In January 2021, Miranda will begin as a tax consultant with Deloitte, the largest professional services network in the world. The opportunity came after Miranda served as a federal tax intern with the organization during her junior year.
“I always knew I wanted to study accounting,” Miranda said. “I took an accounting class in high school and I liked it so much, I asked to take it again. I like working with money. I thought I’d graduate college and enter the workforce while studying for the CPA exam, but my experience with Deloitte has turned my whole career around. It’s so cool to be able to say I’m from The University of Olivet at a place like Deloitte.”
Miranda knew a relationship-based college experience would help her succeed in the field of accounting. In fact, close relationships with her professors and networking helped her explore opportunities with Deloitte. Alumnus Ed Kozlowski ’88 works with the company and helped to organize a job shadowing event for OC accounting students, which Miranda was a part of. Later, he stayed in touch with Miranda as she progressed through Deloitte’s hiring process.
Jacki Looser, assistant professor of accounting, also supported Miranda. “She really cares about how well her students are doing,” Miranda said. “She’s even made special accommodations to help me, like organizing a tutorial class that fit with my schedule. There are about 30 accounting students right now, and Professor Looser works with all students one-on-one to find internships. I know I wouldn’t have had the same opportunities at a different college thanks to Professor Looser.”
In addition to a strong dedication to academics, Miranda remains engaged in student life. She recently served as the treasurer of the Accounting Student Organization and is a captain of the women’s tennis team, even representing her team on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Miranda is also a fellow of the President’s Leadership Institute (PLI) and has attended travel and service learning trips to Costa Rica, North Carolina and Antigua.
Miranda’s travel experiences particularly stand out. “I’ve gotten to do so many neat things on these trips,” she said. “I had dinner with a local family and went ziplining and white water rafting in Costa Rica. I got to learn about entrepreneurship and natural disaster recovery in Antigua. I helped rebuild a flood-damaged church in North Carolina, complete with learning how to put dry wall in. I got to meet and learn from a lot of new people that I wound not have met otherwise. These experiences were a lot of fun but they also opened my eyes to different cultures and the world.”
And, Miranda notes it’s easy to get involved at The University of Olivet because students have close relationships with faculty, staff and peers. “I encourage high school students to visit OC to get the feel of it,” she said. “You won’t be a number; you’ll be known as an individual. It’s easy to get involved and Olivet sets you up to be successful.”
Learn more about The University of Olivet by contacting the Office of Admissions at 800-456-7189 or admissions@uolivet.edu.
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