Illinois CPA Society honors Oakton professor with 2012 Outstanding Educator Award
The Illinois CPA Society recently honored Leslie Van Wolvelear, CPA, with its 2012 Outstanding Educator Award. The award recognizes Illinois educators at a community college, college, or university who excel in their leadership and teaching, and who have made continuous and outstanding contributions to accounting education in the state.
Van Wolvelear began her teaching career in 1996 while also working in industry. She joined Oakton Community College in 2000 and began teaching full-time in 2008. Van Wolvelear is currently the student advisor for the accounting department. She also coordinates the department assessment program and serves as an online learning consultant for the entire Oakton faculty.
Those who nominated Van Wolvelear speak to her reputation as a great team player and consistent ability to produce excellent results both in the classroom and to the benefit of colleagues. Students also express the value of her methods, including utilizing technology and an open communication style to keep them involved and invested in the course.
Van Wolvelear, a resident of Palatine, received a BS in Accounting from the University of Illinois-Chicago, followed by a Masters in Accounting from Roosevelt University and a Masters of Online Teaching from the University of Illinois-Springfield. She is a certified public accountant and a member of the AICPA and Illinois CPA Society, and a member of the Illinois Board of Examiners Educator Advisory Task Force working on the new educational requirements for the CPA Exam.
About the Illinois CPA Society
The Illinois CPA Society, founded in 1903, is the fourth largest state CPA Society in the nation, with more than 24,000 members. It is the premier professional organization that represents CPAs in Illinois. During its over 100 years of existence, the Society has advanced the highest ethical and financial standards of the profession, and has been a leader in educating the public on financial issues.