Future accountant stays at New Paltz for MBA

Emily Magnus ’14 ’15g

Hometown: Yonkers, N.Y.
Major(s): B.S., Accounting (undergraduate), Master of Business Administration (graduate)

Clubs/Organizations/Activities:

Former VP of Finance, American Marketing Association

Former treasurer, Bouton Hall Government

Former co-vice president, Dean’s Student Advisory Board

Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society

Study Abroad: Prague, Czech Republic

Internships:

Mid-sized accounting firm based in Manhattan

Hudson Valley Renegades

Emily with Professor Ted Clark, after the New Paltz chapter of the American Marketing Association was awarded silver at the AMA International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans last year.

Why did you decide to stay at New Paltz for your MBA?

I was able to start the MBA program as an undergraduate because I had enough credits. To take the CPA exam, you need 150 credits. Getting those remaining credits I needed from the MBA program in one year was a fantastic opportunity that I couldn’t really turn down. I got to see how the workload would be, and I really liked that I would know the faculty. They have been so helpful and supportive with helping me study for the CPA exam, and I can’t thank them enough for that. One of my professors saw me during office hours and explained something I was having trouble with. If I went to a different school, I wouldn’t have that opportunity. I wouldn’t be able to say, “I learned this in your class two semesters ago, can you please re-teach it to me?”

How did you learn about New Paltz, and why did you decide to go here?

I’ve always gone to very small schools. One of my dad’s good friends recommended New Paltz, so we decided to drive up one afternoon, and I said, “This is it.” I loved the campus environment, and the town looked so homey and inviting. I was very drawn to that. The fact that you can walk from

Emily holding her membership certificate after being inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, exclusive to business students at an AACSB accredited school who rank in the top 10 percent of their graduating class

campus to town is fantastic. I didn’t see that at other schools. My friends at other colleges either live close to campus or close to town. But here, you can have both.

Did you always know you wanted to study accounting?

I knew I wanted to do business, because I thought it was a nice, structured path. I was always good at math, and I liked that accounting was challenging.

Have you strongly connected with any particular faculty members?

My advisor, Professor Victoria Hansen. I had my first accounting class with her, and after that, I knew this was what I wanted to do. Professor Sally Schultz has also been very influential. I’ve taken three classes with her now, and they are always such a challenge. But I often come to her with questions, and she’s always so helpful to me.

What are your future goals?

I’ve been interning at the same accounting firm for the past three summers, which has been an amazing experience. I’ll be joining them full time in November 2015. I’ll be working in auditing, but I had some time in the forensic department, which is ultimately what I’d like to do. Audits are routine, but in forensic accounting, there’s a trigger – for instance, someone is stealing money. There’s more excitement with forensic accounting. It’s a little bit of detective work.