In This Story
Coming into the Costello College of Business at George Mason University thinking that she wanted to be an entrepreneur and build her own business, Yodae Muleta’s perspective changed once she took a few accounting courses. Since then, she has participated in internships and found that she wants to pursue a career in the risk consulting field.
With concentrations now in both accounting and operations and supply chain management, Muleta got a leg up on her senior year when she received the James R. Beers Endowed Scholarship in the fall of 2024.
Muleta had received Costello College of Business scholarships the previous two academic years, and she always made sure to attend the college’s scholarship luncheons, which brings recipients and donors together. At the luncheon honoring the fall 2024 recipients, she was delighted to share a table with James R. Beers. “He was just very positive and encouraging, telling me to continue and keep doing what I’m doing and progressing in my studies, and to make sure I stay in contact with him,” she says. “He’s very kind.” She also appreciated how he brought notes and copies of articles for him to refer to in his discussions. “It may be considered old school, but that’s best practice,” she says. “What if it was on his phone and he couldn’t access it?”
The scholarship luncheon also gave Muleta the opportunity to speak with recipients from across the business college. “Getting to hear about their experiences and their stories and what the different scholarships mean to them is really encouraging for me, too, because everyone has a different educational journey,” she says. Through these connections, she is building a strong network among her Costello peers who are poised to be the business leaders of tomorrow.
“I heard someone put it perfectly about what the scholarship means to them, and I also second that,” says Muleta. “Somebody mentioned that getting this scholarship gave them back the gift of time.” She has more time to study and really focus on her coursework. As a member of the Management Information Systems and Operations Management Association at George Mason, she took on the role of president two years ago. The scholarship frees up more time for her to work with the other officers to plan and organize their events.
On track to sit for the CPA exam following the semester, Muleta has put thought into helpful advice for other accounting students. She recommends spacing the accounting concentration courses over multiple semesters to maintain a manageable course load and avoid becoming overwhelmed. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of actively asking questions in class to ensure a strong understanding of the material and to stay engaged with challenging concepts. Muleta also recommends students work with the Office of Student Success and Academic Services to help reach their goals. “Collin Arthur, my advisor, helped plan out my schedule so that I would be eligible for the CPA,” she says. “You have to put in work to plan your schedule with two concentrations.”
Muleta has put in the work and is excited to take the next steps in her career in the risk consulting field. Her plans have changed since beginning her freshman year, but the support system at the Costello College of Business has helped make those ambitions attainable.