Denise M Stefano

Professor Denise M. Stefano, CPA CGMA MBA is an Associate Professor in the Accounting Department of Mercy University, and recently completed a 13-year term serving as the Department's Chairperson.  As a full-time faculty member, Professor Stefano teaches a wide variety of accounting courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  Among her many accomplishments as the accounting program’s academic leader, in 2022, Professor Stefano secured a #2 ranking for the M.S. in Public Accounting Program as measured by a Georgetown University study that placed Mercy University accounting graduates among the highest of job earners nationally (net of debt repayments) two years post-graduation. Additionally, under Professor Stefano's leadership, the Accounting Program saw a 15% climb in CPA Examination pass rates.  She is a New York State licensed Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Global Management Accountant, and recently earned Digital Mindset and ESG Accounting and Reporting Fundamentals badge/certifications through the AICPA-CIMA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) alliance.  

Professor Stefano has significant expertise in CPA Examination preparation having served as a lead instructor and Advisory Board Member to a major CPA Examination Review provider, and Senior Digital Editor of Accounting Examination products (including CPA, CMA, and CIA examinations) for a major global educational publisher.  She has also provided consultative services in the development of CPA Examination materials and has authored, and had, five of her own CPA Examination preparatory books published by McGraw-Hill.      

Prior to joining Mercy University, Professor Stefano had an extensive career in both public and private accounting practice serving as Senior Auditor and Business Advisor for one Big Accounting firm, and a Senior Consultant and Director of Business Development for a former consulting division of another Big Accounting firm.  She has also served as Corporate Controller and Chief Financial Officer for both publicly-traded and privately-held companies, and spent roughly 10 years as Director of Product/Content Development for a nationally-recognized provider of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) training products and services for CPAs.  There she developed, designed, and provided technical review of accounting, auditing, finance, ethics, taxation, management, IT, and human resource/legal course content and oversaw course production of one of the company’s major catalogs and product lines.   

Professor Stefano has served as a member of the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) Board of Directors, is a former Vice President of the NYSSCPA, and former President of the NYSSCPA Westchester County Chapter.  She is also a former member and served in several officer positions (including President), of the NYSSCPA Foundation for Accounting Education (FAE) Board of Trustees.  Additionally, Professor Stefano has spent several years serving on FAE’s Curriculum Committee.  Professor serves and/or has served on a host of NYSSCPA chapter and state-wide committees and task forces, and has chaired the Accounting and Auditing Principles, CPA and Accounting Careers, and High School Scholarship committees.  Since 2022, Professor Stefano has served as an AICPA Legacy Scholarship judge and has participated in awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars of academic scholarships and awards through the AICPA Scholarship Foundation.

In April of 2022, Professor Stefano was nominated for the AICPA's national "Distinguished Achievement in Accounting Education Award," and in May of 2017, the NYSSCPA presented Professor Stefano with the “Dr. Emanuel Saxe Outstanding CPA Educator Award.”  In March of 2019, the NYSSCPA also selected Professor Stefano to be among several influential women in the accounting profession featured on its social media platforms for Women’s History Month. 

In addition to her membership and significant service to the NYSSCPA, Professor Stefano is also a member of several other accounting and finance-related organizations including, but not limited to, the AICPA and Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).  She is also a former member of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Board of Governors. 

Professor Stefano also remains active in a variety of volunteer activities, including (but not limited to) her service on the Scholarship Committee of a not-for-profit performing arts school, and audit committee member to a major global, not-for-profit organization dedicated to eradicating the spread of malaria throughout the African continent, and whose major donors include the Gates Foundation.  Professor Stefano has also served as a Board Member and Treasurer to a Westchester County-based, not-for-profit organization offering after school support and activities to elementary school children and has provided volunteer services assisting students with development of reading fluency and literacy skills in the kindergarten class at a local children’s hospital, and K-3 classes at a Westchester County-based elementary school.