Samantha Tirakian

Samantha Tirakian is graduating with a master of business administration from the Mike Ilitch School of Business. Tirakian also earned a bachelor of science in accounting from Wayne State University in May 2022, graduating summa cum laude with university honors and a 3.95 GPA. As a member of the Accelerated Graduate Enrollment (AGRADE) program, Tirakian simultaneously took undergraduate and graduate courses, which shortened the time to her M.B.A.

Tirakian’s many academic achievements include being on the dean’s list each semester and serving as a member of the Irvin D. Reid Honors College, receiving a 2022 PCAOB Scholarship, and being named a 2022 Mike Ilitch School of Business 25 Under 25 awardee. As an undergraduate student, Tirakian co-authored an SEC comment letter on a proposed disclosure requirement on registrants’ ESG (environmental, social, governance) efforts with former Wayne State Chair of Accounting M. Roling. Her undergraduate university honors thesis was titled, “Will SEC-mandated ESG disclosures provide the necessary outcome to effectively combat climate change?”

Outside the classroom, Tirakian held two internships and was extensively involved with the Wayne State community. She was a member of the WSU B-Start program, a peer mentor for WSU’s Learning Communities program and an informal accounting peer tutor.

Following an internship at KPMG in Detroit as an audit intern, Tirakian accepted a full-time position as an audit associate for fall 2023. Tirakian plans to become a CPA with specialization in auditing and financial reporting fraud investigation.