If you are in the accounting field, you’ve probably considered taking the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. But chances are that you’re wondering if it’s worth it given its difficulty. With the expectations for business being higher than ever, professionals are required to deliver lasting results while earning and keeping the trust of multiple stakeholders every day.  Read more

“Wake up when everyone else is sleeping – it’ll help you get ahead,” says Yvonne Castellanos, a mother, business owner, Bilingual Communications Specialist, and soon to be CPA. Yvonne Castellanos received a BA in Mass Communications from CU Denver in 2011. Since then, she has worked for Commerce City as a Bilingual Communications Specialist, co-founded a growing upholstery business with her husband, and is now pursuing a master’s degree in accounting.  Read more

Hans Mortimer is excited to begin a new career as a public accountant after graduating from the MS Accounting program at CU Denver in the spring of 2020, just one year after enrolling in the program. Hans’ path to an accounting degree was not straightforward, but his passion for continued growth and learning drew him back to school to study accounting. Hans originally studied biology and K-12 education as an undergraduate at the University of California – Berkeley, where he studied Vitamin A metabolism as a student researcher in the Napoli lab.  Read more

Alumnus Patrick Lytle has always loved accounting, even since high school. “I took an accounting class in high school and really enjoyed it. The teacher was great, made it interesting, and I found myself working ahead in the book because I liked it so much,” he said. Pat received his undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Kansas. After graduation, he moved back to Denver and got a full-time position at Deloitte as a public accountant.  Read more

Monica Smith overcame many obstacles to establish herself in the US after moving here from her home country of Colombia. Transitioning her career path from the field of industrial engineering into the field of accounting, was the biggest challenge she was facing after her move. CU Denver smoothed that transition by giving her the education and connections to navigate the business world.  Read more

Most people have said they want to change careers at least once in their life. Actually having the guts to quit and go down unchartered territory is another story. One CU Denver student did just that. After 10 years as a math teacher, Kristine Napier was ready for a change. A master’s degree would give her both the skills and connections to jumpstart her new career. Napier applied and was accepted into CU Denver’s MS in Accounting program.  Read more