Story by Alexa Leach, Class of 2025
Over the Winter Term, students in Accounting 490D/590D, Accounting and Tax Policy, had the opportunity to visit New York City and Washington DC, led by Professor Tim Eaton. There were 20 students on the trip, ranging from sophomores to graduate students.
In New York, students attended the opening bell at the NASDAQ, a Wall Street Experience tour, the 9/11 Memorial, One World Observatory, EY, the Lincoln Center, and BlackRock. After the opening bell ceremony at the NASDAQ, the Miami University logo was displayed for all of Times Square.
At EY, students heard from leaders in consulting and learned about the integration of generative AI in accounting and finance practices. During the BlackRock visit, the role of accounting in the asset management industry was explained. Students also toured the Lincoln Center, which houses performing arts entities, including the Metropolitan Opera and The Juilliard School, and met with one of the accounting executives to learn some of the accounting issues unique to the industry. The 9/11 Memorial served as a meaningful experience for students reflecting on the event.
In Washington DC, students engaged with industry professionals at PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, the World Bank, and the Federal Reserve. Other visits included the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, the U.S. Capitol, the National Archives, the American Red Cross, and the International Spy Museum.
At PwC, students learned about the tax implications of ESG and sustainability reporting. Another notable discussion with KPMG focused on federal audit and the firm’s role in this practice. At the Federal Reserve, students met in the Board of Governors room, where interest rates are adjusted. Interesting discussions with the Federal Reserve focused on accounting research and financial stability. During the Deloitte visit, students heard from a variety of professionals, including Tricia Tolivar, the CFO of Cava—a rapidly growing Mediterranean chain restaurant.
“I enjoyed learning from professionals in the industry about topics I will be experiencing in my career after graduation. My favorite aspects of the trip were the different topics that each visit focused on including AI, ESG, interest rates, audit, and nonprofit accounting. Learning about these topics in a firm’s national headquarters and connecting with Miami alumni was an invaluable experience. One of my favorite visits was to BlackRock, learning about the amount of assets they have under management and their New York facility was interesting. We also had a fair amount of free time to explore both cities allowing me to see a Broadway show, explore Central Park, walk the National Mall, and visit Georgetown! This experience capped off my time at Miami in a meaningful way.”
—Alexa Leach
The group met with other industry leaders, including several Miami alumni who hold positions at accountancy firms, as listed below.
- Christopher Dearborn, Managing Director at the NASDAQ in New York
- Bradley Warner ’19, Manager of Financial Services, at the EY New York office
- Josiah Grimm, Senior Director of Finance, at the Lincoln Center in New York
- Ryan Ewert (VP Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman), Meagan Kelly ’09 (Managing Director), and Caroline Griffin (VP of Business Strategy) at the BlackRock New York office
- Matthew Haskins, Principal at the PwC Washington DC Office
- Meghan Cadigan, Managing Director at the KPMG Washington DC Office
- Li Lou, External Affairs Director at the World Bank in Washington DC
- Margaret Buckley ’08, Accounting Policy Analyst at the Federal Reserve Board
- Sam Jerow ’18, Financial Analyst at the Board of Governors
- Lissa Perez ’91 (Partner) and PJ Theisen (Partner) at the Deloitte Arlington, Virginia, office
Rachel Stevens, FSB Academic Advisor, joined the group. The trip was made possible by the coordination efforts of Amanda Pyzoha, EY Professional Development Advisor.
Reflecting on this trip, Professor Eaton stated, “It is an honor to lead this class, continuing in the footsteps of Professor Marc Rubin, who founded this trip several years back. The students were engaged, professional, and enthusiastic! I am particularly grateful for the opportunity to get to know them better through this experience. Another highlight is not just interacting with wonderful organizations but also seeing several of our Miami Alumni in these visits, including at EY, PWC, Deloitte, BlackRock, and the Federal Reserve. I hope some of the students attending this trip will be our contacts and speakers for future visits!”
