“My Olivet education created the ground work for what I’m doing now in my career,” says Andrew Frederick ’25, who double majored in accounting and finance at Olivet Nazarene University. “I understand the language and directions from my clients. I’m applying my knowledge in the real world.”
Andrew credits his professors in the McGraw School of Business at Olivet for helping him plan his education well and find his first professional position. Professor Dave Horton was his academic advisor and also his accounting professor.
“Professor Horton guided me into the right classes at the right times to make sure I could graduate in four years,” Andrew says. “He made my major so simple for me. He kept me on track to achieve my goals. He always had time for me. And we talked about what was going on in my life, sports, current events, even his favorite Peanuts comic strip.”
During his sophomore year at Olivet, Andrew interviewed to be an intern with Forvis Mazars — one of the largest public accounting firms in the United States. He did intern with the firm at its Fort Wayne, Indiana, location during the summer between his junior and senior years.
“At Olivet, I made great friends and especially enjoyed intramural sports competitions,” Andrew says. “I was surrounded by experienced faculty and staff members who know what they’re doing. Integrating into life at Olivet was easy for me. My Olivet education gave me the foundation I needed for continuing to learn and for success.”
Forvis Mazars offered Andrew a full-time position as an audit associate in September 2024, during his senior year at Olivet, with an October 2025 start date. After graduating with his Bachelor of Science in Accounting, he passed all of the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exams, and relocated to Fort Wayne, where he now lives and works.
Danae Williams ’24 grew up with Olivet in her life. Her mother and brother are both Olivet graduates. Bill Bahr ’96/’05 MBA/’14 MA, head coach for Tiger women’s soccer, was her travel soccer coach for eight years. Her team practiced on the soccer fields at Olivet. As an Olivet student, she played soccer for the Tigers.
For her academic studies, Danae majored in Accounting. Her goal was to graduate from Olivet in three years.
“Professor Horton was my academic advisor,” she says. “He always went above and beyond. When I landed an internship with a Bourbonnais accounting firm during my sophomore year, he helped me adjust my schedule so that I could complete my degree on my timetable.”
When Danae began applying for post-graduation jobs, her Olivet education and her intern experience quickly set her apart. “Professor Tricia Mills encouraged me to apply to the larger, higher profile firms,” Danae says. “I thought I wasn’t prepared to make it in a large firm. I quickly realized that she and Professor Horton had prepared me well for my career. They helped me to be confident enough to follow my dreams.”
After graduating from Olivet (in three years), Danae did an internship in summer 2024 with KPMG LLP, a global firm that provides audit, tax and advisory services in 138 countries and territories with more than 276,000 employees around the world. In September 2024, the firm offered her a full-time job, and she accepted with a start date of October 2025.
Next, Danae studied for her CPA exams all day and completed her master’s degree in accounting and data analytics online at night. She has already passed all sections of the CPA exam. In October 2025, she joined the KPMG team in the firm’s Chicago office as an audit associate.
“When I started at KPMG, I noticed that most of the new employees were from huge schools,” Danae says. “Professor Horton and Professor Mills were right. I was ready and well prepared for the work I’m doing.”
Danae recently had a “full circle” experience that underscored her realization. “Professor Horton and Professor Mills brought Olivet’s Accounting and Finance Club members to our firm’s Chicago office,” Danae says. “I got to talk with the students and invited them to reach out to me anytime. Everyone was so happy to see me doing well.”
Olivet’s McGraw School of Business is currently searching for one more Accounting professor to join their faculty. To apply, contact grewerts@olivet.edu or go to olivet.edu.
To learn more about the McGraw School of Business and the Accounting major, email admissions@olivet.edu or call 800-648-1463.
