College of Business: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Christian Haverney
Tax Senior
Roedl Langford de Kock LLP
(3 years tax-related experience)

After changing careers from financial services to tax, I felt that a graduate tax program would allow me to transition into a highly complex field at a faster pace. In hindsight, I am confident to say that I truly benefited from participating in the Illinois MS Tax Program. The Illinois MS Tax Program offers an executive schedule of study that provides for an in-depth curriculum while balancing the seasonally demanding work load of the tax profession. The program’s faculty, including leading contributors to the Chicago and national tax community, were fundamental to mastering the challenging program schedule. The instructors were vested in the students’ success at all times – a critical component to navigating the complexities of the tax code and maximizing the learning experience. With its focus on team collaboration and student interaction, I have learned not only from the outstanding faculty, but also from co-students. The participation in the Illinois MS Tax Program has been a truly invaluable experience.

Scott Hersted
Tax Manager
Citadel LLC
(12 years tax experience)

After a number of years of experience in public accounting where I was fortunate enough to touch a wide range of tax issues, I still felt there was more to learn. Moving up the ladder in public accounting generally requires a professional to choose a specialty, so I feared my opportunities to continue detailed work on diverse projects were disappearing. I knew all along that an MS in Taxation would provide the best opportunity to fill knowledge gaps and further tune my antenna for tax issues. By the time I was ready to commit to the education, I had significant work responsibilities and a family. These put a significant constraint on the time I would have available for school. Knowing that this endeavor was going to require sacrifice from family, friends, and work meant I needed to get the most out of the opportunity, so I developed the following additional requirements for my MST. I wanted: to be part of a modern curriculum that was based on the most current developments yet retained enough historical reference so I could gain a feel for how the tax landscape had and may continue to evolve; to have a curriculum that delivered practical knowledge and experiences that would be useful in a professional setting; to be part of a diverse and experienced student body that would offer its knowledge in the classroom so I could learn from my peers as well as my professors; to be taught by faculty with as diverse of a background as the student body; an academic challenge to set an example for my children; and, finally, to be in a program at a top tier institution that would leave me with a valued diploma. The Illinois MS Tax Program met all of my educational objectives in one intensive year. The curriculum and materials are valuable in my daily work, my classmates shared their experiences and became friends, and the professors brought valuable insight from diverse backgrounds in education, public accounting, industry, and advocacy groups. In addition to all of that, the Illinois MS Tax staff provided excellent support in all areas imaginable which allowed my classmates and me to focus on the education. I am thrilled to have been a part of the Illinois MS Tax Program and couldn't imagine any other way to go about obtaining such an education.

Audrey Kowatch
Senior Associate
PricewaterhouseCoopers
(5 years of tax experience)

Completing the Illinois MS Tax program is one of my proudest accomplishments in my professional life. I cannot imagine a better program for building my knowledge and understanding in the field of taxation while allowing me to continue working full-time. Having the opportunity to attain my degree in one year without interfering with my professional commitments was invaluable. Furthermore, I appreciated the intensity of the program. The rigorous format gave me an immense sense of accomplishment upon completion, and it also created a bond between myself and fellow students that will never be forgotten. I was impressed by the instructors' and administrators' dedication to the success of their students. The staff provided continuous support, and the expertise of the instructors far exceeded my expectations. The knowledge I gained was even more useful after having the perspective of several years of work experience in tax. I instantly put my new skills to use in my day-to-day work. Completion of this program has directly contributed to my current successes and my continuing career in tax.

Mounika Maddipatla
Experienced Associate
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
(6 years of tax experience)

Having worked as an international tax and transfer pricing professional in India, I was looking at an MST program that would give me a firm grip on the various concepts of US taxation and enable me to lay a strong foundation for an international tax career in the US. On the completion of this MST program, not only was this objective fulfilled, but I also gained tremendously from the unique networking opportunities that this program provides. I chose this program out of the various other accounting programs, not only because it was a one-year program, but also because the faculty of the program included renowned professors from the Urbana-Champaign campus as well some of the most reputed tax practitioners and advisors in the country. The faculty not only strive to teach some of the most complex tax concepts in an easy, fun-filled manner, they also share their client experiences and offer practical advice. I found it remarkable that the program paid significant attention to the development of soft skills through workshops on communication, networking and negotiation skills. This shows the program’s commitment to help the students grow into well-rounded professionals. Like the faculty, the speakers at the lyceums are persons at the zenith of their respective fields, who provide insight into the proceedings at Washington and offer pragmatic views on current tax issues.

It would be an incomplete testimonial if I did not mention the highly dedicated staff who strive to cater to the needs of every student. Being new to the country and being all on my own, I was anxious about how well I could settle down in Chicago. The staff proved to be incredibly supportive and resourceful in helping ease this process. Be it career advice or help on where to find the best accommodation, I have found the staff to be ever-ready to help. For me the hallmarks of this program will be the high quality of teaching, the atmosphere of enthusiasm and camaraderie in the classroom, and the career-building opportunities that this program offers. Needless to say, being a part of this program has been one of the best career decisions I have taken.

Beth Anne Murphy
Senior Tax Associate
Ernst & Young LLP
(4 years of tax experience)

Since completing my undergraduate degree, I have known I wanted to pursue a Master’s of Science in Taxation. During my undergraduate coursework, only basic tax courses were offered so I lacked the technical background needed to successfully serve my clients. As I started preparing for the manager role, I noticed this technical expertise was not only necessary but vital. I heard about the University of Illinois MS Tax program from colleagues at EY and did my own research, discovering what a successful and well-respected program it is. Plus, I liked the idea of being able to complete my degree in one year, rather than have it span 2-3 years. Overall, the program did an excellent job of equipping me with the tax technical skill set I will need to further develop my career. I was able to apply concepts I was learning in class directly to my client base almost immediately. Some of the tax technical concepts I picked up through on the job learning were clarified in a formal setting. In addition, the U of I MS Tax Program helped refine my soft skill set. With the workshops and class presentations we participated in, I am confident I can present myself in a more refined and professional manner when dealing with my superiors and clients.Finally, I don’t think I would have been able to complete the program if it wasn’t for the help of the faculty, staff and classmates. Everyone was incredible, and I will truly miss seeing everyone on a weekly basis. I look back on the last year and the knowledge I gained from this program reinforces my opinion that pursuing this degree at the U of I was one of the best career decisions I have ever made.