MS in Accounting/MBA International Student Info Session

Julie Chasse is the Director of the Graduate School of Professional Accounting, she oversees the graduate accounting programs and leads student success initiatives. In her role, Julie manages student recruitment for the MS in Accounting and MS in Accounting/MBA programs. To ensure that our students gain the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in accounting, Julie assembles and runs an Advisory Board with leaders from the Big 4 and global accounting firms to review and optimize the curriculum.

Julie drives efforts that enable our students to accomplish their professional ambitions and our employer-partners to fulfill their talent acquisition goals. Her team works closely with employers to organize on-campus recruiting events, including information sessions, networking events, and interviews. Julie also mentors students individually for tailored career planning.

Prior to working at Northeastern University, she taught accounting at Des Moines Area Community College. She managed the Volunteer Income Tax Preparation (VITA) program on campus in conjunction with United Way, supporting over 200 low and middle-income individual returns filed annually. Before coming to academia, Julie worked at EY, culminating in her role as a tax manager. As a CPA, she advised clients on federal and state & local tax, and was responsible for income tax accounting, compliance, and consulting projects.

Kellianne Frankel is a recruiting specialist in graduate admissions, she develops strategies to bring awareness to the unique features and benefits of the Graduate School of Professional Accounting programs. As part of her role, she manages new student recruitment and the admissions process for the MS in Accounting and MS in Accounting/MBA programs.

Before working with the Graduate School of Professional Accounting, Kellianne began with D'Amore-McKim in 2018 as an operations assistant for graduate admissions. She supported the Full-Time MBA, Part-Time MBA, and specialty master's programs with application processing, marketing fulfillment, event planning, and prospective student outreach.

Prior to coming to Northeastern, Kellianne held roles in public relations and marketing, working with clients in the travel and tourism and consumer products industries, including Princess Cruises, Bermuda Department of Tourism, Bioré, and Bath & Body Works.

Jennette Britanico was raised in Toronto, Canada and graduated from McMaster University with a degree in philosophy. She started her career in sales and pension administration in the financial services industry. Jennette has led clubs and served on councils to advocate for her colleagues' concerns and improve processes.

After moving to the United States, she worked as an executive recruiter, sourcing and placing candidates from entry-level to C-suite executive roles. During this time, Jennette sharpened her relationship management skills and gained a deeper appreciation of the accounting profession. Driven by numbers, dashboards, and metrics in previous positions, she has received accolades and awards for surpassing performance targets.

Jennette enjoys learning how to golf, attending orange theory fitness classes, and is an avid Toronto Raptors and basketball fan. Her happy place is hiking with her dog on a trail or the waterfront. 

Tarrah Price is a proud Canadian who has spent much of her life living in the United States. Tarrah attended high school in Vermont to pursue her ski racing career when she was twelve. Upon graduating from the Green Mountain Valley School, she began her studies as a student athlete at St. Lawrence University competing on the NCAA circuit.

Tarrah's travels as a ski racer uncovered her love for integrating into new cultures. These experiences have led her to develop the ability to adapt to fast-paced and continuously changing environments.

Her involvement on and off-campus in her final two years at St. Lawrence University and her recent experience as an accounting and supply chain intern at The Black Dog are both testaments to Tarrah's ability to challenge herself as a leader while creating a positive environment for those around her. Tarrah is keen to continue living in Boston while working towards her public accounting goals. Tarrah enjoys golfing, skiing, biking, and traveling. 

Nirvana Zhang was born in Wenzhou, a city famed for its entrepreneurs, and growing up in Beijing, Nirvana showed interest in business at an early age. After high school in Louisiana, she studied tourism & hospitality management in at Johnson & Wales University to better understand the global hospitality industry.

However, the idea of becoming a CPA has always been alive in her heart since she grew up watching her family-owned business evolve. Whether it was event budgeting, assisting with reimbursements, or using 10-K forms to help companies develop strategies, Nirvana consistently applied her accounting knowledge to her research and internships. She also practiced and honed her management skills while working as the general manager at a restaurant.

As an international student studying in the U.S. alone for six years, there is no doubt about Nirvana's ability to adapt to different scenarios. Outside of school, Nirvana was an NCAA Division III cross country runner and soprano in the Chorus of Westerly. 

Richard Amankwaa grew up in Kumasi, Ghana and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and accounting from Ghana Baptist University College. After graduation, he began working as a universal relationship officer at Société Generale Ghana.

His interest in pursuing a career in the banking industry emerged because of his passion for providing standardized professional financial advice to Ghanaian society, specifically to those without formal education. One of Richard's goals is to become a CPA; down the road, he aspires to be an accounting professor.

He loves watching football matches and visiting his friends in his free time. Richard's favorite quote is from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, “To ensure success, keep your focus on the first place because no one ever remembers who came second – not even the second man to climb Everest or walk on the moon!” 

Opeyemi Lagunju graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University in 2015 with a degree in Management and Accounting. During her undergraduate years, she enjoyed engaging with her lecturers and sharing knowledge with her classmates and friends.

After graduation, Opeyemi worked for Geoplex Drillteq Limited, an oil and gas servicing company, where she prepared financial accounts, provided inventory cost analysis, and built third-party relationships. She then moved to Mark Calthers Consulting Limited where she gained experience managing people and working as a part of a team.

She currently owns a household linen business which has helped to nurture and sharpen her skills in book-keeping, client engagement, and conflict resolution. She is a great listener and enjoys playing Scrabble, meeting people, watching movies, and building sustainable relationships.