Counting on Success: Meet the Michigan Ross Master of Accounting Class of 2025

The Michigan Ross MAcc Class of 2025 is comprised of 78 students, 56% of whom are women. The 2025 cohort hails from 41 undergraduate institutions, with 63% of the students being non-University of Michigan alums. The new class also comes to Ross with a highly impressive academic record, with an incoming GPA of 3.75.

This year’s cohort of MAcc students kicked off their year at the EY Accounting and Public Policy Symposium in Washington, D.C., where they got a firsthand view of how public policy shapes business standards. After networking with alums and accounting professionals in the capitol, students returned to Michigan Ross ready to tackle a year of challenging curriculum, take advantage of valuable opportunities to gain relevant work experience, prepare for the CPA exam, and more.

Below, meet four members of the MAcc Class of 2025.

Ruolin Li, MAcc ’25

Hometown

Shandong, China/Raleigh, North Carolina

Undergraduate school and major

I graduated from the University of Southern California with a major in economics.

What is your post-graduation career interest?

I plan to pursue an advisory career in public accounting.

Why did you decide to enroll in the Michigan Ross MAcc Program?

I needed additional credit hours and wanted to choose a strong business school that would align with my long-term education and career goals. After researching several accounting programs, Michigan Ross stood out as a top choice. I’m also looking to return to the East Coast to start my career after spending my undergraduate years on the West Coast. With Ross MAcc's strong alumni network on the East Coast, I’m confident this program will provide valuable connections and opportunities to support my career aspirations.

What strengths/unique perspectives do you bring to your cohort?

I’ve had the opportunity to intern and work across various industries around the world. My global experiences bring a fresh perspective to our cohort, which I believe will add valuable insights to our discussions both inside and outside the classroom.

What are you most looking forward to in the program and at Ross?

I’m especially excited about the opportunity to take law classes! My interest in international policies, combined with the chance to study outside of Ross, will help me gain new perspectives. I’m eager to explore how lawyers approach business cases, make judgments, and take responsible actions. 

How do you think this experience at Ross will impact your future?

Starting with the orientation in Washington D.C. for the EY Symposium, where I learned about current policies in the accounting field, to taking core classes and various electives on campus in Ann Arbor, the opportunities at Ross are truly vast. The resources are abundant — whether I want to pursue a PhD or enter public accounting, there are always mentors and resources. I believe Ross provides a great platform for me to continually push myself to be the best version of myself while also absorbing new knowledge and perspectives from a wide range of experiences.

Ruben Garcia, MAcc ’25

Hometown

Fort Gratiot, Michigan

Undergraduate school and major

I graduated from the University of Michigan, where I earned my BBA.

What is your post-graduation career interest?

I have accepted a position with Plante Moran working in assurance and hope to gain a

wide breadth of experience regarding business operations to apply to future career interests.

Why did you decide to enroll in the Michigan Ross MAcc Program?

As a graduate of Michigan Ross, I felt particularly connected to the Ross community and know firsthand the quality and breadth of resources offered here. Given my interest in accounting, the MAcc was the perfect fit.

What strengths/unique perspectives do you bring to your cohort?

Given that a large percentage of this year’s cohort did not attend U-M for their undergraduate degree, I hope to use my extensive time as a student leader here at Ross to help integrate my classmates into our academic community.

What are you most looking forward to in the program and at Ross?

I’m looking forward to forming new friendships with all of the amazing people in my cohort.

How do you think this experience at Ross will impact your future?

Ross offers both a world-class education and a world-class community of people. My experience here will help build vital technical skills for my career while also broadening my network to include so many impressive and intelligent students and teachers.

Adrienne Lincoln, MAcc ’25

Hometown

Alpharetta, Georgia

 Undergraduate school and major

I attended the University of Georgia, earning a BBA in finance with international business.

What is your post-graduation career interest?

Consulting or forensic accounting.

 Why did you decide to enroll in the Michigan Ross MAcc Program?

After my undergraduate degree, I wanted to get a degree with more technical expertise, which drove me to accounting. I liked the Ross program specifically because of the freedom to choose electives and the trip to Washington, D.C., to kick off the program in a unique way.

 What strengths/unique perspectives do you bring to your cohort?

Over the past year, I have received training in human-centered design and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to address complex challenges for various organizations, including the University of Georgia Office of Research, Chick-fil-A, Inc., Southwire Spark, and Augusta National Golf Club. This experience has enhanced my teamwork abilities, improved my presentation skills, and deepened my understanding of successful project management. I look forward to bringing these strengths and insights to the Ross MAcc Program.

 What are you most looking forward to in the program and at Ross?  

I am most excited about building new connections through the MAcc Program at Ross. The program has already been a welcoming and supportive community, and I am eager to deepen my relationships with my cohort and expand my network within the Michigan community.

 How do you think this experience at Ross will impact your future?  

I hope that this experience will provide me with a fresh perspective on the world. Growing up in the South, I had limited exposure to life in the North. I believe that immersing myself in this new environment will broaden my horizons, enhance my adaptability, and deepen my understanding of diverse cultural and professional practices. This broader viewpoint will be invaluable as I navigate my future career and personal development.

Leo Gabaron, MAcc ’25

Hometown

I was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but I am a first-generation American.

Undergraduate school and major

I graduated from the University of Michigan with a double major in economics and romance languages (French and Spanish) and minored in business at Ross. 

 What is your post-graduation career interest?  

I am interested in working in criminal investigation for the government, but it is a long year ahead, so things may change.

Why did you decide to enroll in the Michigan Ross MAcc Program?

The main reason was my Financial Accounting (ACC 302) professor, Debra Krolick, who really ignited a desire and motivation to continue learning accounting and pursue it at higher levels. 

What strengths/unique perspectives do you bring to your cohort?

I believe my ability to work in a team is very beneficial. I was on the men's track and field team at U-M, and I take a lot of what I learned there and try to apply it to classroom and group team settings. I am also a first-generation American, and I think that gives me a lot of perspective on being a little in-between. I'm not an international student, but I'm also not a multiple-generation American, so I grew up in a European household — both of my parents are French immigrants — which shaped the way I went through schooling and how I viewed the world. 

What are you most looking forward to in the program and at Ross?  

Learn the intricacies of what accounting really is and how it is applied, oftentimes in ways we don't necessarily realize. I also want to become more involved in student life, and I believe Ross does a perfect job of motivating and opening paths for students to do so. 

How do you think this experience at Ross will impact your future?

It will obviously have a positive impact, but I also think that it will help me broaden my perspective so that I can take the analytical component of classes and apply it to the real world.