Katherine De Zayas
Katherine De Zayas studied vocal classical music at her performing arts high school in Miami, Fl., but she knew that when the time came for college, she wanted to pursue a business degree. At first, she considered economics, but when she received her DePaul acceptance letter and saw an invitation to join the Strobel Honors Program at the School of Accountancy & MIS, the special invitation changed everything for her.
“I hadn’t considered accounting, but I knew I loved math, so I decided to look into it,” she says.
Then in February 2020, De Zayas attended a reception for incoming Strobel students to learn more about the program. “That’s where my interest was really piqued,” she says. “I got to talk to Strobel students and hear about their experiences; I talked to different accounting professionals and to faculty members, who were very caring, and I learned so much about how the Strobel curriculum sets students up for success.”
Today, De Zayas is enjoying her second year in the Strobel program and already has an internship lined up for summer 2022 at PwC.
A LEGACY OF 800 SCHOLARS
In 2021, the Strobel Honors Program marked its 40-year anniversary of providing educational opportunities to students, like De Zayas, at DePaul’s School of Accountancy & MIS. The prestigious program is by invitation only, provided to incoming first-year students with demonstrated academic achievement and potential.
Since its launch in 1981, the program has graduated more than 800 scholars and has remained one of a very small number of accounting honors programs in the country. It was named for its founder, the late Professor Eldred C. Strobel, who served as the accounting department chair for over a decade, though his impressive career as an accounting educator spanned nearly 40 years.
“The Strobel program’s industry connections have only grown stronger over the last four decades thanks to our expanding alumni network and the school’s already strong ties with big firm recruiters who know they can rely on DePaul for top talent,” says Ray Whittington, director of the School of Accountancy & MIS. “Over the years we have also advanced the professional development opportunities we offer and the way we engage with students to prepare them for lucrative careers in accounting.”
What makes the Strobel Honors program unique?
For one, Strobel students gain a cohort experience. Progressing through the program together helps students build a strong bond and network. They share their learning hurdles together and celebrate their successes together.
“Seeing the same faces throughout my entire first year was very comforting and really helped me navigate the courses,” says De Zayas of the cohort experience. “I’ve appreciated being able to meet so many students who are as academically driven as I am and to have a community where I feel comfortable to ask questions. It’s also inspiring to see my cohort members’ progress. Seeing many of them get internships, like me, just adds to the shared experience.”
Students are also grouped in small classes within Strobel, which further strengthens the cohort experience, especially given the rigorous nature of the curriculum.
Beyond the classroom, Strobel creates exclusive professional development and network-building opportunities for students, even during their first year. During the first week of classes, for instance, the program hosts events for students to meet recruiters from the big firms and other organizations across Chicago. As a result, Strobel students are often recruited first by the Big Four accounting firms, which specifically seek out students from the program.
FROM STROBEL STUDENTS TO SUCCESSFUL ALUMNI
Kate Dahlberg (BUS ’06)
Strobel alumna Kate Dahlberg (BUS ’06) is a deals managing director at PwC in Chicago, where she helps clients execute divestiture and IPO transactions. She is also a board member of the school’s donor society Ledger & Quill (L&Q) and has been for many years, driven, she says, by the way the organization provides an avenue to give back to students, including Strobel Scholars.
“Many of my fellow board members were recipients of L&Q funds during their own DePaul experience, and to see those folks, myself included, now being able to give to rising students has made for many wonderful ‘full-circle’ moments,” Dahlberg says.
“Strobel is an important opportunity for students not only because of the strong brand in the Chicago market and across the accounting profession, but also because of the incredible experience it affords to learn from best-in-class professors and other students who are at the top of their game,” Dahlberg continues. “When I was in Strobel, I remember so many instances where partners or other professionals would come and speak to our class. Nearly all were Strobel alumni and all spoke with passion about what they were doing at their respective firms. That motivated me to not only do my best to succeed in my career, but also to serve as a mentor and coach to others. Strobel taught me the true meaning of ‘paying it forward.’”
Another successful Strobel alumnus, whose experience in the program left a lasting impact on his career, is Michael Berger (BUS ’18), a fund accountant at Brigade Capital Management LP in New York. Berger first came to New York as an audit assistant at Deloitte following an internship in Deloitte’s Chicago office while he was a Strobel student.
Michael Berger (BUS ’18)
“During the first week of classes I remember attending a Strobel event that put me on a first-name basis with the recruiters, specifically one Deloitte recruiter, who I stayed in touch with for the next two years until I signed my offer for an internship, which eventually led to a full-time offer in New York,” recalls Berger. “There would have been other opportunities to make these connections on my own, but from day one the Strobel program made the first steps of my career progression effortless.”
BUILDING TOWARD THE FUTURE
Associate Professor of Accountancy Mary Mindak took over as Strobel program director in July 2021, following the retirement of Deloitte Distinguished Professor John McEnroe, who served as director and taught in the program for 20 years. Even with this change in leadership, the foundation of the program and its core mission will remain the same, notes Mindak.
“Continuing to recruit outstanding students, providing a challenging and innovative academic program, and connecting students to business professionals in networking events will continue to be a focus of the program,” she says. “We will continue to develop and enhance the curriculum to provide our Strobel students with an accounting education that prepares them to excel in their future career paths.”
“Even with my unique background, the Strobel program has given me a space to showcase my potential as an accounting student,” reflects De Zayas, who was recently selected to be a 2021- 2022 scholarship recipient by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. “I am so happy my hard work has shown results in my first year so that I can continue my education and pursue a future career in accounting.”
Interested in donating to the Strobel Honors Program scholarship fund to help more DePaul students? Go to give.depaul.edu/lq.
By Nadia Alfadel Coloma