Nate Deiuliis, an Accountancy major from Columbia, Md., has long been drawn to numbers. He recalls sitting in a stroller while his grandmother quizzed him with simple math problems as they walked through the mall—something he genuinely enjoyed. That interest carried through the years in small but telling ways, whether he was volunteering to be the banker in Monopoly or keeping score during other games.
He naturally gravitates toward structure and organization, but when it came time to choose a college, Deiuliis approached the process with an open mind. He knew he wanted to leave Maryland and initially considered a range of schools. Without the ability to visit campuses during COVID-19, he relied heavily on conversations with current Wake Forest students he connected with through his extended family. Those conversations ultimately shaped his decision.
“I decided to apply early decision solely to Wake Forest, knowing I would explore other options if it did not work out,” Deiuliis said. “Thankfully, I was accepted, and looking back, I would not change a single thing.”
Although he arrived on campus with a strong interest in math and science, he said accounting was not an obvious choice at first. For a time, he considered majoring in math, but he also knew he wanted to build a career in business. That balance came into focus during his sophomore year, when he took Accounting 111.
“I had never really been exposed to accounting before that class,” he said. “It was challenging, but it immediately made sense to me. It felt like solving intricate business puzzles.”
The course marked a turning point, but his decision to major in accountancy still came with some hesitation. Deiuliis questioned whether the field aligned with his personality, given the common perception of accounting as solitary work.
“I’ve always been a very social person,” he said. “I wondered if my personality matched what I thought the profession would be.”
Over time, however, that perception shifted. Through both coursework and internship experience at the accounting firm EY, he saw firsthand that the accounting field is built on communication, teamwork and relationships. That realization gave him a stronger sense of confidence in his path.
As he progressed through the major, Deiuliis began to see accounting as a way of understanding how organizations function.
“Numbers aren’t just numbers,” he said. “They tell the story of how businesses operate: decisions, risks, priorities, all of it.”
One class in particular stood out for how clearly it connected classroom concepts to real life. A tax course gave him the opportunity to immediately apply what he was learning, from discussing strategies with his family to completing his grandmother’s tax return.
“It was the first class where almost everything felt directly applicable to real life,” he said. “It showed me how meaningful this knowledge can be outside the classroom.”
Mentorship also played an important role in his experience. Deiuliis credits Professor Jennifer Hudson with helping shape his academic direction, and also expressed appreciation for professors Lauren Reid, Whitney Simpson, Doug Beets and Ann Brooks.
After graduation, Deiuliis plans to continue at Wake Forest in the Master of Science in Accountancy program and prepare to sit for the Certified Public Accountant exam. He will then begin his career in financial services auditing with EY in Charlotte, N.C.
As he looks ahead, Deiuliis is both excited and realistic about what the future holds.
“What excites me most is the flexibility that comes with an accounting background,” he said. “What scares me is how quickly things are changing, especially with technology like AI. But that also motivates me to keep learning and adapting.”
That perspective reflects how he approaches both his education and his future—grounded, but forward-looking.
“I’ve realized there’s always more to learn,” he said. “And that’s something I’m excited about.”
