Accounting Professor Encourages
Experiential Learning for Students
“St. John’s is the perfect incubator for teaching students how to
connect with people from different cultures,” said Nina Dorata,
Ph.D., CPA, '79CBA, '88MBA, Associate Professor in Accounting and
Taxation in The Peter J. Tobin College of
Business (TCB).
Dr. Dorata sees the University’s diverse student population as one
of its many assets, and uses it as a learning tool in the
classroom. “When I split the class into groups for assignments, I
intentionally put them into situations where they may not feel
entirely comfortable,” said the native of Queens, NY. “They’re
learning people skills without even being aware of it.”
Connecting with Students
A self-described “hands-on” instructor, Dr. Dorata uses her
distinctive teaching style to connect with students enrolled in the
University’s
Accounting and Taxation program. “A lot of what we teach in
accounting is driven by procedures and established theoretical
standards,” she said. Despite the rigid curriculum, she likes to
move around the room and engage her students. “I don’t do the
traditional ‘chalk-talk.’”
Dr. Dorata often uses the financial information lab for classes so
students can use the desktop PCs while working together. She has
also employed interactive personal response clickers in class,
something students enjoy. “By clicking in their answers and getting
instant feedback, everyone knows instantly if they understand the
material or not.”
Preparation for their Profession
Always seeking out novel ways to give her students valuable
professional experience, Dr. Dorata played an instrumental role in
introducing St. John’s students to the Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance (VITA) program in 2007. VITA provides free tax
preparation services for New Yorkers with limited means.
“VITA provides students with a great opportunity to follow the Vincentian
Heritage and apply what they learn in the classroom to a
real-world situation,” she said. The VITA program has recruited
more than 300 student volunteers and generated over $10 million in
tax refunds since its inception. “By working with clients from a
variety of socio-economic backgrounds,” she noted, “students
strengthen their communication skills, too.”
Dr. Dorata recently led a group of St. John’s students to their
first-ever appearance in KPMG’s International Case Competition in
Philadelphia, where they placed second in the regional round. “They
learned how to think on their feet, present a case and make a
strong argument for it,” she said. “Most of all, they gained
valuable exposure to potential employers.”
When students graduate from St. John’s and enter the job market,
Dr. Dorata takes comfort in knowing that she has prepared them to
succeed. “We give them so much professional experience as students
that they have an edge during the interview process,” she said.
“When potential employers ask them about a particular area, they
can say ‘I’ve done that already.’”