Leah Clair '15, '15G

Husson Program: B.S. in Accounting and MBA

Current Profession: Audit Manager, Financial Services Practice Group, BerryDunn

What do you like (love) most about Husson? 

When I first attended Husson about 10 years ago, the College of Business and my professors in the Accounting Department made my career in public accounting accessible and attainable, and they provided the necessary education to support my success. As an individual who hires many interns and staff accountants from Husson to work as auditors at my firm now, I can confirm that Husson continues to be a center for excellence in education and preparation for real-world application.

 What's your earliest memory of getting involved with Husson after graduation? 

As a graduate student, I worked for Dr. John Lowe in what is now called the Center for Student Success, and I became an adjunct professor teaching Husson Experience. I continued to teach for 5 years after graduation and now have the pleasure of working closely with many of my former students in their professional careers here at BerryDunn.

 Why do you give back to Husson? What motivates you? 

A long time ago, before I attended Husson and during my first B.S. degree program, I was an economically disadvantaged student and greatly benefited from the financial aid I received. I want to provide the same opportunity and access to the accounting profession that I was afforded.

Follow-up to question 3 - Why is giving back so important? 

In the highly technical nature of the accounting profession, we face a shortage of interested workers. I would not be where I am today without the encouragement and jump-start I received through mentoring and monetary support. We know that people often come to the accounting profession because they know someone who is/was an accountant. By giving back to Husson I want to continue to raise awareness of the accounting profession as an option and to be the person that students know.

How has your Husson degree helped you? 

The opportunity to be an adjunct professor directly influenced my approach to staff development and training. The coursework prepared me with a strong understanding of the technical nature of my day-to-day auditing work, which focuses on accounting principles and professional standards. My relationships with fellow students, professors, and others around the College of Business, the University, and in my various graduate assistant positions encouraged me to continuously develop my communication and management style, which serves me well now as a key aspect of my job is engagement team and client management. Throughout my years at Husson, I was honored to learn from and collaborate with a whole host of individuals across many Colleges, student support service areas, and administrative departments. I value the relationships that have continued into my professional career.