Emily’s journey to Willamette began with her undergraduate degree from Gonzaga University, where she majored in international/global studies and minored in French and business. Following a year of HR work at a Seattle-based law firm, she enrolled in the Atkinson Graduate School of Management in the fall of 2018, fully expecting to pursue a career in HR. But her professional goals shifted after she took her first accounting class.
Real-World Experience and Leadership
Throughout her time at Willamette, Emily embraced opportunities that helped shape her career. In the two-semester-long PACE (Practical Application for Careers and Enterprises) program, she worked as a consultant for Ride Connection, a Portland nonprofit. By streamlining their volunteer onboarding process, Emily reduced the number of steps from 36 to 24, enhancing efficiency in a critical community service.
Her involvement in Willamette’s Angel Fund program—where students evaluate startups and make real investment decisions—also broadened her understanding of the business world. “Before I took that class, I didn’t realize the upside of startups,” Emily said. “In the future, I might want to start a fund so people can invest in a portfolio of startups to spread the risk.”
In addition to her academic and consulting work, Emily served as president of the Atkinson Accounting Association and contributed as a staff writer for the MBA program, showcasing student and alumni stories.
A Career Built on Cooperation, Not Competition
Reflecting on her Willamette experience, Emily credits the program’s collaborative environment as key to her success. “Reducing that level of competition makes learning a lot easier,” she said. “Instead of worrying about the person next to you, you can learn from them—Willamette really facilitates that level of teamwork.”
Now working out of CliftonLarsonAllen’s Bellevue office, Emily is applying her accounting skills and nonprofit experience to her role as an auditor, providing services to hospitals, nonprofits, and tax clients. Looking back, she sees her time at Willamette as the springboard that launched her into a career she truly loves.
