Accounting Advisory Board Advocates for the Profession

September 7, 2011

It’s only been in existence for less than two years, but Menlo College's Accounting Advisory Board is going full steam ahead. At the end of August, the board met for its regular bimonthly meeting to discuss its plans for the school year. The board’s close involvement with campus reflects the school’s focus on personalized education and doing its utmost to assist students in the careers of their choice.

Formed in December 2009, the 13-person board is working hard to support and strengthen Menlo’s program in accounting, which students have been able to major in as of last year. "Our three main goals are to do events and outreach, provide students with internships and job placement, and advise professors on curriculum,” said Sharon Selleck, Assurance Director at Burr Pilger Mayer in Palo Alto. Selleck co-chairs the group with Donna Little, Associate Professor of Accounting & Finance at Menlo College.

First in the lineup is a new event that the board came up with after talking to various professors on campus. They said that their female students didn’t seem comfortable speaking up in class. To address their concerns, the board is launching the Women in Accounting and Finance Roundtable this week. “If they see successful women in industry, perhaps students will be encouraged to become more confident and succeed in their careers,” said Selleck. “The idea is to create this informal setting where students can connect with other women, and we hope that some mentoring relationships develop.” For this first gathering, Selleck will be there, along with fellow board members Laura Olson, a tax manager at Bay Area firm Hood & Strong; and Carolyn Amster, ’79, a partner at Burr Pilger Mayer. Students are invited to join the conversation, which will take place on September 8 at 7 p.m. at the Fireside Lounge. If there is interest, the board will try and repeat the event, bringing more women in the profession to campus.

The Accounting Advisory Group will maintain a presence on campus throughout the year. They’ll be at fall homecoming, handing out peanuts and connecting with alumni. In January, they’ll hold a scavenger hunt with trivia questions such as “Who held a million dollars’ worth of diamonds in her hands as part of her job?” and “Who traveled to Germany recently to review company operations?” to show different facets of the profession. And towards the end of the year, members will be on hand for resume workshops to help students land their critical first job.

"We have a core group of people that are very committed to helping the program,” said Selleck. “Professor Little is so passionate, and it’s so key for a board to have the person on the other side be involved 150 percent. It makes us proud to be involved."