Mercy College Associate Professor Denise Stefano Rises to Vice President of NYSSCPA

Denise Stefano

The New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) has nominated Mercy College Associate Professor of accounting, CPA and author Denise Stefano to serve as one of four vice presidents of the society, effective June 1, 2019. Stefano has held numerous positions at both state and chapter levels of the association, most recently as the Westchester Chapter representative on the Board of Directors. Her book, "2,000 Questions for the CPA Exam," was published in 2016.

The honor is a culmination of Stefano’s steady ascent and involvement with the NYSSCPA, arguably the most prestigious and active professional accounting society in the country. The long and impressive list of committees on which she has served tells only part of the story. Professor Stefano is maximizing Mercy’s affiliation with the NYSSCPA in ways that positively impact both the College and its students.

Foremost among them is the increase in the number and quality of internships for accounting students. “We’ve been able to forge relationships we’ve never had before,” she said. “Our students have very high placement rates with premier accounting firms, and Mercy has been offered accounting scholarships.” Stefano’s high-level role gives her access to the latest technical accounting practices, research, knowledge banks, resources for the CPA exam and career fairs—all of which she shares with her students.

In her new role with the NYSSCPA, Stefano will serve as a liaison between the society and its chapters. “I will visit them to hear their concerns, make sure they have what they need to succeed, keep them informed and report back to the Society Board of Directors,” she explained. Regarding her most visible role yet, she said, “Since joining NYSSCPA in 1999, I was always hopeful I could achieve some officer level status in the statewide organization. It’s where I can do the most good for members of my industry. My eye has been on this prize for quite some time.”