By Jennifer Kleiner
Laquasia LeGrand
For the second year running, Big Four accounting firm KPMG has selected a George Mason University accounting student for its Future Diversity Leaders (FDL) program. Freshman Laquasia LeGrand, of Brooklyn, N.Y., has been selected as one of 60 FDL interns.
The FDL program is a leadership development and scholarship program for minority students studying business. Last year, KPMG began inviting applicants from George Mason for this highly selective national program.
Participants receive financial and professional support through mentoring relationships with FDL faculty advisors and KPMG professionals. The opportunities are immense for program participants, as students who successfully complete their internships while maintaining their high academic achievement will receive a full-time job offer from KPMG.
LeGrand is currently majoring in accounting and hopes to double minor in nonprofit management and criminology. While her long-term goal is to establish a nonprofit organization to aid troubled youth in Brooklyn, in the near term, she aspires to become a certified public accountant and work for one of the Big Four accounting firms soon after graduation—a dream that’s now closer to reality.
During her three-year internship with KPMG, LeGrand hopes to further develop the teamwork, computer and communication skills that will aid in her growth as a student leader and future business professional. In addition to personal growth, she is eager to begin the internship for its monumental professional opportunities.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to network with professionals in the field, learn the culture of the firm and discover which field of accounting I would ultimately like to pursue,” she says.
Mason accounting professor Robert Pawlewicz will continue to serve as faculty mentor for LeGrand and Mason’s 2013 FDL internship participant, Jennifer Khoo.
LeGrand also stays actively involved in the community and on Mason’s campus. She is a member of multiple student organizations, including the National Association of Black Accountants, the Consultant Club and the Black Student Alliance. In fall 2014, LeGrand will expand her campus involvement and begin serving as a resident and peer advisor.
“I’m excited to serve as a mentor and be able to have a positive impact on the incoming students at Mason through these roles,” she says.
With a total of 32 students selected, Mason surpassed American University, Georgetown University and George Washington University as the area business school with the most full-time hires and interns by KPMG in 2014. In addition to LeGrand, KPMG selected from Mason 13 full-time hires, three winter interns, 12 summer interns and three students for the Discover Leadership program.
This article originally appeared in a slightly different form on the School of Management page.