UC Davis Graduation with Streamers
Success Stories

Success Stories

As a student of the Graduate School of Management’s Master of Professional Accountancy program, you will have access to a tremendous network that includes a cohort of driven students and accomplished alumni. Enjoy reading stories about their past experiences, current successes, and how their UC Davis MPAc helped them achieve their goals.

Alumni Spotlight: Larry Yee MPAc 13

Director of Finance, Mayfield Fund | Former Sr. Manager, PwC

"A lot of what I do today was grounded in the things I learned, and all of it started here," says Larry Yee, now a Director of Finance for the Mayfield Fund and a graduate of the inaugural MPAc Class of 2013.

Alumni Spotlight: Dominic Piombo MPAc 21

Assurance Associate, EY, San Francisco

UC Davis MPAc student Dominic Piombo shares his journey through UC Davis as a double-Aggie, which professor has stood out the most, and his advice to prospective students and the community.

Alumni Spotlight: Lana Kress MPAc 18

Tax Consultant, PwC

A tax consultant at PwC, alumna Lana Kress MPAc 18 shares about her student experience, teamwork in the accounting industry and joining one of the Big 4 accounting firms.

Alumni Spotlight: Chris Riggin MPAc 19

Tax Consultant at Deloitte

What's it like working at a Big Four firm? A tax consultant at Deloitte, alumnus Chris Riggin MPAc 19 shares how internal collaboration at Deloitte makes it possible to meet the client challenges of keeping up with accounting rules and regulations in multiple states and countries. And, a few words of wisdom for future MPAc students.

Teamwork on the Gridiron and in the Classroom

Kicker for UC Davis football team also tackles MPAc program

Goal post: Max O’Rourke blogs on balancing the demands as UC Davis Aggies football kicker with academics in the MPAc program.

Alumni Spotlight: Christine Lee MPAc 16

Apercen Partners LLC

Christine Lee MPAc 16 shares why teamwork is one of the most important aspects of building a high-performance accounting firm—and how she honed her skills while a student in the Master of Professional Accountancy program. 

Ted Reiterman MPAc 16

Audit and Assurance In Charge, Deloitte

Ted Reiterman MPAc 16, shares about collaboration in the accounting industry, the biggest challenges and his tips for new business students.

True Grit: New Passion Leads to Accounting Career

"At 12, I declared I would one-day be an NCAA D1 swimmer"

As a child I was single minded. My parents often tell stories about my childhood, when I would make a “decision” to do something and would never back down. Fear or failure were not options. I attacked my goals and never backed down.

Alfonso Patiño Nava MPAc 13

Deloitte

Now thriving at Deloitte, Alfonso Patiño Nava, alumnus of our Master of Professional Accountancy program, shares the biggest challenges in the industry, his most valuable course at UC Davis and his advice for new business students.

Daniel Covrig MPAc 17

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Realizing that his professional success required a deeper immersion in finance, Covrig entered the UC Davis Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) program in fall 2016.

Brian Gage MPAc 15 Finds Renewal at UC Davis

Perseverance Propels Him Toward Long-held Career Dream

By Joanna Corman

The word “no” doesn’t resonate with Brian Gage MPAc 15. In high school, he dreamed of graduating from UC Davis.

As an undergraduate biochemistry major at Davis, he enrolled in pre-pharmacy while working at his family’s initially flourishing restaurant in Folsom. Gage’s dad, a computer engineer, bought the restaurant between jobs, investing his life savings into it. But he had no restaurant experience.