Landi Rodriguez, a junior accounting student in the Merrick School of Business, was among the 676 U.S. students named a Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Scholar. Each student received $15,000 for the 2024-2025 academic year. The board has prioritized efforts to financially support careers in accounting and investor protection, including the expansion of the PCAOB Scholars program. Since its inception in 2011, the board has awarded $32.56 million in scholarships to 2,918 recipients.

Rodriguez recently sat down to share more of her story.

What initially drew you to the field of accounting?
When I decided to go back to school in 2017, I knew I wanted to do something in business because of the flexibility and stability available in that field, and as a requirement of that course of study, I enrolled in an accounting fundamentals course. I have been a lifelong fan of all sorts of puzzles, and learning to solve the puzzle of the accounting equation in the context of the coursework assigned was so satisfying to me. While the specific processes and procedures appealed to my desire to find out the why of things, the range of opportunities within the accounting profession specifically will allow me to try my hand in a variety of roles, and the universal availability of career opportunities will allow me to find security wherever my life takes me.

The PCAOB Scholarship program is highly competitive. What do you think made your application stand out?
The most important thing that comes to mind is my membership in the Theta Iota chapter of Beta Alpha Psi (BAP), which has introduced me to numerous professionals in the accounting and finance industries. BAP membership has also allowed me to build a strong rapport with my fellow students and several professors, which undoubtedly helped my name reach the list of potential nominees when UBalt was selected to nominate a student for this scholarship. The accounting profession is constantly evolving.

What are some of the emerging trends in accounting that you find particularly interesting?
The blending of new technology, particularly artificial intelligence, with the realities of the accounting profession is so fascinating to me. The accounting equation itself has not changed in half a millennium, but the ways in which it is applied can be very nuanced. Blending that with artificial intelligence—which is still very much in its infancy—is going to be an ongoing and delicate procedure involving so much time and many great minds, working together. As technology and accounting professionals continue collaborating to develop AI tools for industry professionals, I doubt very much that the end products will look like anything that was envisioned when the initial steps were taken. I can’t wait to see where it takes us.

What are your long-term career aspirations in accounting?
There are so many potential paths ahead of me, and there are still so many aspects of accounting my education has yet to touch on that I hesitate to say, “I definitely want to do this.” I do like the idea of auditing. I haven’t taken an audit course yet, but from what I’ve gleaned from my peers and mentors audit seems like the ultimate puzzle.
My first love is theater, though, so I would love to build a career working with performing arts companies and organizations that promote arts accessibility. I really don’t know exactly where my career will take me, but I’m excited to find out.

Do you have any advice for students interested in pursuing a career in accounting?
This field of study is demanding and has pushed me so hard in ways I didn’t expect. Most accounting professionals I’ve spoken with have their CPA and are particularly blunt in highlighting the importance of earning that credential and the demands of the work required to do so, which continues even after a degree is earned. Especially early on in your accounting journey, it is so important to learn to be able to ask questions and build a network of peers and mentors. I wouldn’t describe myself as a particularly social person, but forging support systems with my classmates and other Beta Alpha Psi members has helped me to step outside my comfort zone and learn to ask questions when I’m struggling or offer support to others when they need it. On top of building and maintaining good study habits, that’s the most important way to shore up your chances of success.

Why was UBalt the right place for you to continue your educational journey?
When I began pursuing an accounting career in earnest, I wanted to attend school in-person because that format suits my needs better than remote learning. The small class sizes at UBalt, as well as its proximity to my home and workplace, made it a perfect fit for my life. It’s also a commuter school, which works well for non-traditional students like me. Even the upper-level courses I’ve needed have been available in the evenings, making it possible for me to keep working full-time to help support my family while I get the educational support I need to keep moving forward on my journey.

A little more about Landi.
In 2012, she earned an A.A. in Theatre Studies from Arizona Western College in her hometown of Yuma, Arizona. She relocated to the greater Baltimore area in June 2013. She took a hiatus from my education while getting settled, and did not enroll in courses again until 2017. She worked up the momentum to go back to school—which was difficult—but she is glad she did.

Outside of school and work, she is an avid reader with a particular passion for science fiction and fantasy, but she dabbles in all genres. She is also actively involved with “Stand Up For . . . Theater,” a non-profit organization based in Columbia, Maryland, which focuses on fighting bullying and promoting acceptance by producing shows selected to start conversations on those topics. In her free time, she likes to knit and crochet in the company of her three cats. She also advocates for the destigmatization of mental health issues.

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