“That’s called teaching, Teresa.”

That was my Tutoring Center director’s response after he heard me declare that I loved tutoring accounting so much I wanted to “tutor this stuff forever!” That simple comment set me on the path to becoming a teacher.

From my community college, I transferred to a university to earn my bachelor’s degree in accounting. I went on to earn a master’s degree and my CPA license and gained experience in both public and private accounting -but I was eager to get back to teaching.

Today, I teach at the same community college where I first discovered my passion for accounting and helping others learn. I guess my path turned out to be more of a circle -a fun journey that brought me right back to where I started. I’m so glad to be here helping students find their own paths, whatever those paths may be.

I make sure to bring my enthusiasm and interests into the classroom. I’m known for my creative activities and engaging teaching methods. From a Pokémon-themed syllabus to a Squid Game-inspired escape room, I enjoy integrating pop culture into my courses and finding new ways to make learning approachable, meaningful, and fun.

I also love sharing what I’m learning with other educators. I speak nationally and write about curiosity, play, connection, and the many small choices that can make a classroom feel more welcoming and engaging. My published works include “The Importance of a Good Bedside Manner for Doctors Teachers,” “What a Cool Syllabus…But is it Accessible?”, and “The Unexpected Benefits of Play.”

Along the way, I’ve been grateful to receive several honors for my teaching and service, including Excellence in Teaching, Service to the Community, and Program Excellence awards from my college. In 2025, I received the national Cook Prize, recognizing sustained excellence and outstanding contributions as an accounting educator.

Beyond the classroom, I serve as President of Teachers of Accounting at Two-Year Colleges (TACTYC), a national nonprofit organization supporting accounting educators. I especially value the opportunity to help strengthen connections among faculty, share practical ideas, and create more opportunities for accounting educators to learn from one another.

When I’m not teaching, speaking, writing, or mentoring -I can usually be found hiking, reading about teaching and learning, or curling up with a good mystery novel with my cats, Archie and Oliver.