Ole Miss Patterson School of Accountancy

Congratulations to Stella Winter for passing all four sections of the CPA exam on the first sitting! Stella is a 2024 Bachelor of Accountancy graduate and 2025 Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics graduate. She is from Collierville, Tennessee, and is employed in audit with Deloitte in Memphis. “The Patterson School of Accountancy master’s program prepared me exceptionally well for the CPA exam. The professors set high standards for their students and genuinely care about their success beyond Ole Miss. I am especially grateful for the experience, not only for the strong educational foundation it provided but also for the work ethic and perseverance I developed through the PSOA.” Stella Winter

Congratulations to Jacob Bailey, 2025-26 Hearin Foundation Graduate Fellowship recipient! Jacob is a 2025 Bachelor of Accountancy graduate and current Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics student. He is from Tupelo and will be employed there in tax with Nail McKinney after completing his master’s degree. “I chose to pursue my master’s in the Patterson School of Accountancy because of the strong foundation it gave me as an undergraduate and its excellent reputation. This program allows me to continue growing academically and professionally while gaining hands-on experience in data analytics and preparing for the CPA exam.”  With the goal of improving the economic status of Mississippi, the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation has generously provided funding for fellowships awarded to students in our Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics (MADA) and Master of Taxation and Data Analytics (MTDA) programs. 

Thank you to our Alumni Board, whose support helps us continue to be one of the nation’s leading accounting schools. We hope to see many of our alumni at our tailgate before the Ole Miss vs. South Carolina game on November 1! Ole Miss Alumni Association Ole Miss | Office of Development

Congratulations to Jack DeBaere, 2025-26 Graduate Assistant! Jack is a 2025 Bachelor of Accountancy graduate and current Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics student. He is from Woodbury, Minnesota, and will be employed in audit with PwC in Minneapolis after completing his master’s degree. “I chose to pursue a master’s degree in the PSOA because of the lifelong connections I’ve built and continue to build with peers, faculty, and alumni. The program offers an abundance of resources designed to support students in passing the CPA exam and launching a fulfilling long-term career in accounting.”  Jack DeBaere 

Congratulations to Lainey Bartlett, 2025-26 Hearin Foundation Graduate Fellowship recipient! Lainey is a 2025 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi. She is a current Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics student. Lainey is from Vancleave and will be employed in audit with HORNE in Hattiesburg after completing her master’s degree. “Rapid technological innovations are changing the job market and the skills firms are looking for in their employees. An emphasis in data analytics will help me get ahead of the curve, or, at least, go along with the curve. I asked many employers whether there would be a benefit in a data analytics emphasis in a master’s program in accountancy, and I received a unanimous ‘Yes.’" With the goal of improving the economic status of Mississippi, the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation has generously provided funding for fellowships awarded to students in our Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics (MADA) and Master of Taxation and Data Analytics (MTDA) programs. Lainey Bartlett

Congratulations to Caroline Klocke, 2025-26 Graduate Assistant! Caroline is a 2025 Bachelor of Accountancy graduate and current Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics student. She is from Wentzville, Missouri, and will be employed in audit with Deloitte in St. Louis after completing her master’s degree. “I chose to pursue my master’s degree in the Patterson School of Accountancy because of the incredible experience I had during my undergraduate years. I was fortunate to learn from knowledgeable, supportive professors and be surrounded by great peers. The PSOA also offers so many unique opportunities that I wouldn’t have found anywhere else!”  Caroline Klocke

Congratulations to Kaylan Ainsworth for passing all four sections of the CPA exam on the first sitting! Kaylan is a 2024 Bachelor of Accountancy graduate and 2025 Master of Taxation and Data Analytics graduate. She is from Canton and is employed in tax with HORNE in Ridgeland. “The master's program was instrumental in my success on the CPA exam. Especially for REG and TCP, the Master of Taxation and Data Analytics program gave a lot of the background needed for those sections. While additional studying was needed, most of the material on the exams had been covered throughout the program to where studying was not as overwhelming as it would have been with just the bachelor-level education. Most importantly, it was inspiring and motivating to study while being surrounded by peers and teachers who challenged and believed in me.” Kaylan Ainsworth

Congratulations to Luke Wardrop, 2025-26 Arthur Andersen & Co./W. Kelly Clifford Fellowship recipient! Luke is a 2025 Bachelor of Accountancy graduate and current Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics student. He is from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and will be employed in audit with KPMG in Cleveland, Ohio, after completing his master’s degree. “Going through undergraduate studies in the PSOA, I learned about a lot more than just accounting. Arriving at Ole Miss undecided on what I wanted to pursue, the PSOA allowed me to explore a field I was previously unexposed to and thrive. I made connections with faculty and professors that greatly helped me develop positive work habits and early career aspirations. It became obvious through conversation with several faculty members their passion for the field and genuine desire to see students succeed. Through the combination of extremely knowledgeable, passionate faculty and the generous resources provided to students through the PSOA, staying at Ole Miss for my postgraduate education was an opportunity I could not pass up. After going through some summer term classes, I've learned so much already and enjoyed it as well. I can see why UM graduates have such great performance on the CPA exam and wouldn't want to be going through a master's program anywhere else!”  Funding for the fellowship is generously provided by Arthur Andersen in honor of Kelly Clifford. The fellowship is awarded annually to a master’s student with excellent academic performance as an undergraduate. Luke Wardrop

Congratulations to Ashlyn Roche, 2025-26 Patterson School of Accountancy Graduate Assistant and KPMG Tax Scholarship Recipient! Ashlyn is a Master of Taxation and Data Analytics student. She is from Madisonville, Louisiana, and completed her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree at the University of Southern Mississippi. Ashlyn will be employed in business tax with KPMG in Baton Rouge after completing her master’s degree. “I chose to pursue a master’s degree in the Patterson School of Accountancy because of its outstanding reputation, supportive faculty, and strong professional resources. The program provides a unique opportunity to focus on both taxation and data analytics—skills that are increasingly valuable in today’s evolving accounting environment. I am confident that the PSOA’s rigorous curriculum and design will prepare me for success on the CPA exam and a fulfilling career in tax.”  Ashlyn was selected for the scholarship by KPMG through a competitive application process. The goal of the KPMG Tax Scholarship Program is to create pathways for future leaders in the tax profession. Ashlyn Roche

Congratulations to Martin Valencia Huerta, 2025-26 KPMG MADA Scholarship recipient! Martin is a 2025 Bachelor of Accountancy graduate and current Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics student. He is from Tunica. “I chose the MADA program because it combines accounting with advanced data analytics, which will provide me with a strong foundation in this area. It allows me to strengthen my technical skills while preparing for the CPA exam, so I can add value by using data to improve decision-making and uncover insights in audit and finance.”  Funding for the scholarship is generously provided by KPMG. Martin Valencia Huerta