Felisha N. Fret | Faculty Profiles

Diplomas/Degrees

Doctor of Philosophy in Accounting, University of Scranton (2024)

Master of Taxation, Hofstra University (2013)

Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting, Hofstra University (2008)

Recent Courses

Advanced Auditing

Cost Accounting

Principles Of Auditing

Courses Previously Taught

Principles of Accounting II

Specialization/Interests

Auditing, Taxation, Cost and Managerial Accounting

Teaching Philosophy

The basis of my teaching philosophy is to teach students from the prospective of a practicing professional. It is my goal to bridge the gap between academia and the profession by bringing my professional experiences into the classroom.

In my upper level undergraduate courses as well as my graduate courses, I assign projects that enable my students to apply the theory and concepts taught in the course to real-life situations. In other words, the students will assess, analyze and formulate conclusions as they would if they were already practicing professionals. The goal of each project is to allow the students to familiarize themselves with situations they may encounter in the workforce and allow them to improve their communication, analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

As a student, my most impactful professors provided me with a collaborative, encouraging and judgment free environment. They elicited participation and always prompted me to think as a practitioner. I aim to provide the same environment for my students in my classroom. I actively encourage the students to participate by asking them questions and making sure they understand the material.

I believe that by introducing real-life applications to the theory and concepts taught in each course, students will be empowered to confidently enter the accounting profession. They are the future of accounting. By providing them with the tools necessary for a successful career we are impacting a positive change in the profession itself.

With this practical approach students will not only be prepared to pass the CPA exam but they will possess valuable skills for their career. Specifically, they will possess critical thinking and analytical skills, a skeptical mindset, communication skills as well as proficiency in relevant accounting and auditing standards.

By providing a friendly, collaborative, safe environment conducive to achieving these goals, students will be given all the necessary tools to begin a fruitful and fulfilling career in accounting.

Research Interests

Auditing, Taxation, Auditor Judgment, Audit Quality, Governance, Forensic Accounting, Ethics

Articles

Navigating the Crossover in Tax Standards for Licensed Tax Practitioners in New York State, Part 1: An Examination of the Tax Standards

"CPAs are distinguished by being subject to high professional standards. But what happens when professional standards overlap, or even conflict with, federal and state laws and regulations? Under many common circumstances, CPA tax practitioners may be hard pressed to determine the correct course of action to stay in compliance...This article is the first of a two-part series which will address the knowledge gap in this area by presenting information that highlights the similarities and dissimilarities among standards, as well as the appropriate position to take when conflicts occur among standards. It will address, at length, the most common issues in professional responsibilities in tax practice for confidentiality, independence, and conflicts of interest. Part 1 presents an analysis of these issues as they relate to the various standards including the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, the AICPA Statement on Standards of Tax Practice, the Internal Revenue Service’s Circular 230, relevant sections of the Internal Revenue Code and the New York State Board of Regents, which governs the licensure of the New York CPA. Part 2 will discuss other special circumstances practitioners may encounter, identify implications for noncompliance with the standards, and present best practices for practitioners to ensure compliance."