Mrs. Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, CPA, CGMA visited the SAU School of Business, Management and Technology to lead a workshop and share her path to becoming an accountant with students majoring in accounting. As the first African-American and first female chairman of the American Institute of CPA’s (AICPA) Board of Directors, and as Global Accounting Strategy Director for the Financial and Professional Services Industries for Oracle America, she provided students with a glimpse into the hard work and dedication it takes to achieve your goals. She bared it all, letting the students know she didn’t pass the CPA exam on her first attempt. “Failure was not an option for me, though,” she said. She would eventually fulfill her dream of becoming an accountant at the age of 29.   

When asked how it felt to be the first woman and person of color to achieve the AICPA Chairman position, she said, “It feels wonderful!”  She also shared that she understands with so much success achieved, she has a responsibility to reach out to the next generation of ethnically-diverse students in accounting.  “This is why I came to Saint Aug. I had to come here. It was important to me to come here,” she professed.    

“I appreciate Mrs. Ellison-Taylor coming to share her wisdom with our students,” said Dr. Natalie Baucum, Interim Chair of Accounting, Business Administration and Sport Management.  “I can tell from their questions they asked that they enjoyed her being here.  Her enthusiasm for accounting really showed through.  I almost wanted to go back and sign up for accounting!”  

Ellison-Taylor, a Baltimore, Maryland native, came to Saint-Augustine’s upon the request of the university’s Chief Financial Officer, Walter Davenport. The event was organized by Mrs. Evangeline Brodie, the lead accounting professor in the School of Business, Management and Technology. 

Click below to get a recap of the event as captured on the University’s Facebook page. Click here to stay up to date on events from the School of Business, Management & Technology.