How to Interest Students in Principles Courses in the Accounting Profession

Dr. Amelia Hart is a distinguished educator and leader in the field of accounting. She is recognized as one of Poets & Quants' Top 50 Business Undergrad Professors. With a passion for teaching, Dr. Hart has built a reputation for transforming students' academic experiences through her innovative and engaging teaching methods. Her ability to connect with students has led many to consider her one of the most impactful professors they have encountered.

Dr. Hart's commitment to excellence extends beyond the classroom. She is known for her mentorship and her dedication to student success, fostering a supportive environment where students thrive academically and personally. Her innovative approaches to curriculum development, as well as her active participation in faculty development initiatives, have earned her numerous accolades, including the Richard C. Reizenstein Outstanding Commitment to Students Award, University of Tennessee President's Citation of Merit, Decosimo Faculty Leadership Award, Rhea and Ivy Excellence in Teaching Award, Volunteer Faculty Launchpad Mentor, and many more.

Her impact includes service for nonprofit boards, academic, and other organizations including Goodwill Industries, United Way, the American Accounting Association, Beta Alpha Psi International, and the Tennessee Society of CPAs. Dr. Hart's leadership roles in professional organizations and her contributions to the accounting field have solidified her as a respected voice in accounting education. She co-authors the bi-monthly articles Accounting and Auditing articles in the Tennessee CPA Journal.

In addition to her academic and professional achievements, Dr. Hart is a sought-after speaker, known for her ability to inspire and engage audiences across a variety of sectors. She has been invited to speak at academic conferences, government entities, and nonprofit organizations, where she advocates for innovation, inclusive practices, and the future of accounting education.

As a mentor, professor, and thought leader, Dr. Hart continues to shape the future of accounting education, instilling in her students not only technical knowledge but also the confidence to excel in their careers and make a lasting impact in the profession.

Markus Ahrens is a Professor of Accounting and currently serves as the District Department Chair for the Accounting, Business & Economics Department at St. Louis Community College. Prior to his teaching career, Markus worked in accounting and finance for 15 years.

Markus has received national and state awards for his teaching and his innovation in the classroom, including the 2025 Faculty Lecture Award at St. Louis Community College. In addition, Markus is the proud recipient of the 2019 Innovation in Accounting Education Award from the American Accounting Association and EY, and the 2016 American Accounting Association/J. Michael and Mary Anne Cook/Deloitte Foundation Prize. Markus also received the 2018 and 2013 AICPA Bea Sanders Innovation Awards in Teaching Introductory Accounting Courses. Furthermore, Markus was awarded the 2018 Missouri Society of CPA’s Outstanding Educator of the Year Award and the 2017 Educator of the Year Award from the American Accounting Association Two-Year College Section.

Karen Osterheld is the Senior Director of the Center for Advancing Accounting Education at the American Accounting Association (AAA). In this role, she is responsible for the identification, development and dissemination of best practices and innovations in accounting education across the academy.

Prior to joining the AAA, Karen was a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Accountancy at Bentley University and was a full-time member of the faculty for 31 years. During her tenure at Bentley, Karen primarily taught introductory and intermediate accounting. Karen was also responsible for the academic internship program for undergraduate and graduate students in the department.

In 2003, Karen received the Joseph M. Cronin Award for Excellence in Academic Advising at Bentley. In 2008, she was nominated Faculty Member of the Year by the student body. She has also won two Bentley University Innovation in Teaching Awards and the Bentley University Service-Learning Award.

Karen has chaired the AAA Conference on Teaching and Learning in Accounting and served as the President of the Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Section of the AAA.

Karen started her professional career at Arthur Young in Boston and has eleven years of business experience, primarily as a manager in the financial services industry. She earned her B.S. Degree in Mathematics from the State University of New York at Albany and her M.B.A. Degree from the University of Wisconsin. She is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Massachusetts.

Jennifer M. Cainas, DBA, MAcc, CPA, is a professor of instruction at the Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy and current serves as the Associate Dean for Financial Management and Business Operations for the Muma College of Business at the University of South Florida. Jennifer currently teaches large, mass lecture classes for introductory financial and managerial accounting, but has also taught upper-level and graduate accounting courses. She has taught in a variety of formats, including mass lectures, online, hybrid and hyflex classes. During her teaching career, she has taught and mentored over 25,000 business students and has won numerous teaching awards at the college, university, state, and national level, including the J. Michael and Mary Anne Cook/Deloitte Foundation Prize in 2024. She is also the faculty adviser for the Delta Gamma Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi and received the national outstanding faculty advisor award sponsored by RSM, both in 2023 and in 2013.

Dr. Cainas is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the American Accounting Association (AAA), the Institute of Management Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She is a member of the Management Accounting Section as well as the Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum Section of the AAA. She has published articles in journals such as Journal of Emerging Technologies, Issues in Accounting Education and Strategic Finance. She regularly presents at AAA section, regional and national meetings.

Dr. Rebecca Shortridge joined the University of Tennessee Chattanooga in July 2021 as the Gary W. Rollins Endowed Chair and Department Head of Accounting. Prior to joining UTC, Dr. Shortridge was the Donald E. Kieso Endowed Chair of Accountancy at Northern Illinois University. At UTC, Dr. Shortridge teaches graduate financial statement analysis and principles of accounting. Dr. Shortridge is serving as the President of the Leadership section of the American Accounting Association. She also chairs a task force on Principles of Accounting for the Future Accountants Sponsoring Organizations, In 2021, Dr. Shotridge was recognized by the Illinois CPA Society as a Woman to Watch. Dr. Shortridge earned a Bachelor of Accounting and MBA from Indiana University and her Ph.D. in Accounting from Michigan State.

Kara Fitzgerald is President and CEO of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA), the premier professional association for Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) in Tennessee. She is responsible for carrying out the mission of TSCPA and the Educational and Memorial Foundation of TSCPA. Kara works in partnership with the TSCPA Board of Directors and Council to develop and execute the Society's strategic vision, always working to promote, protect and support the CPA profession in Tennessee. Additionally, she works with various committees and represents the membership with various governmental entities, including the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy, the Tennessee Department of Revenue and the Tennessee General Assembly.

An association executive with nearly 25 years of experience, Kara's career in association management began at the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, where she learned the value of a professional membership association. Kara then spent 10 years in various roles at the Tennessee Society of CPAs, most recently as Vice President – Operations, until she was named President and CEO in April 2021. Having spent her early career in public and private accounting, she understands the importance of protecting the CPA profession and maintaining its role as a trusted advisor.

Kara is a licensed CPA in the state of Tennessee and earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential, which is the marker of a committed association professional who has demonstrated the wide range of knowledge essential to manage an association in today's challenging environment. She also holds the credential of Chartered Global Management Accountant® (CGMA). Kara is a member of TSCPA, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Tennessee Society of Association Executives and the American Society of Association Executives.

Kara earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee Technological University. She lives in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee with her husband and two children. She enjoys travel and spending time with family.

Dr. Perry Moore is the Charles E. Frasier Chair of Accountancy, Director of the MAcc Program, and Director of Assessment at Lipscomb University's Pfeffer Graduate School of Business. He is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Internal Auditor, and is Certified in Risk Management Assurance. A Nashville native, Perry graduated from Lipscomb with a degree in accounting and then completed his graduate studies at the University of Alabama and the University of Georgia.

For the Tennessee Society of CPA's, Perry is a member of their Scholarship Committee. Perry has also directed their "Accounting Academy", a program designed to attract high school students to accounting careers.

Perry is active in the Institute of Internal Auditors. He has served as a Past-President of their Nashville Chapter. Perry is also a Past-President of Delta Mu Delta, an international honor society for business majors, where he currently serves as Treasurer.

Perry provides training for CPAs across the state of Tennessee on Professional Ethics. In 2023, the Tennessee Society of CPAs named Perry as a TSCPApex Award recipient in honor of his exemplary efforts and achievements in advancing the accounting profession through his leadership on the Tennessee State Specific Ethics CPE Program.

Perry serves as a member of the CPE Standards Working Group for the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). In 2015, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs honored Perry with their International Teaching Excellence Award. In 2022, the AICPA honored Perry with the Mark Chain/FSA Innovation in Graduate Teaching Award. He has also received teaching awards from the Tennessee Society of CPAs, Lipscomb University, and the University of Georgia.