Dr. Zielinski Awarded Teaching Scholar Fellowship

Dr. Katheryn Zielinski was selected as one of the recipients of a Summer 2023 Minnesota State University, Mankato Teaching Scholar Fellowship. This fellowship program provides support to faculty to enhance their teaching through unique and innovative course preparations and innovation. Professor Zielinski will use this fellowship to develop a new pedagogical approach to increase equity and performance in her introductory accounting courses.

Firm Visits

On April 7th, a group of 25 students and two faculty attended our Spring 2023 Visit the Firms Event. This event targets students performing well in introductory accounting classes and may have an interest in pursuing accounting as a major at Minnesota State University, Mankato. The students boarded a coach bus at 8:30 A.M. and embarked on a day-long journey to visit two firms in the Metro Area—Copeland Buhl and KPMG. Both visits had a similar structure. The students were able to:

• Learn about the firms.

• Participate in fun activities for prizes (Golden Ticket Game/Kahoot).

• Ask questions of panels made up of firm employees ranging from intern to partner.

• Tour the firm's offices.

• Enjoy a meal and interact with firm employees.

• Depart with swag and a better understanding of the accounting profession.

I have found my students to be compassionate and thoughtful people. My student’s enthusiasm provides me reassurance that the world will become a better place with their leadership.

After an outstanding 20-year career at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Professor Vicki Luoma is retiring. Prior to joining Minnesota State, Mankato, Professor Luoma was a practicing attorney for 30 years, teaching throughout her entire professional career. As she approached retirement at the end of the spring 2023 semester, we asked Professor Luoma to share some of her best experiences throughout her time teaching and what she is looking forward to in the future.

What are you most looking forward to in retirement?

I am going to resume traveling. When I was in elementary school, I decided I wanted to see the entire world—this has continued to be my goal ever since. I have been to all seven continents and 105 countries. I have about 90 to go! My first post-retirement trip that I have planned for this summer is to go to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.

What is one piece of advice you would give to prospective students?

You should always set high personal and academic standards for yourself and live up to them. Do not ever give up on yourself or your goals even if you fail at anything in life. Use any failure as a learning experience and keep going. If you haven’t failed at anything, then you haven’t taken risks.

What has it meant to be a part of the COB and the Accounting & Business Law Department?

It has been an honor to be a part of the faculty in the Accounting and Business Law Department. The College of Business faculty and staff are tremendous because we all share the common goal of putting the success of our students first.

What is your favorite class to teach and why?

I love law and find it a very fun subject to teach. At Minnesota State, Mankato, I have especially enjoyed teaching contract law because it is a subject that will impact all my students their entire lives. As students enter their professional careers, they will be engaging in contracts almost on a weekly basis. It is important for students to have a foundational knowledge base and know when to consult experts because contracts are not as simple as they may seem.

How did students influence your work?

My main area of research, publication and presentations is electronic digital law. I picked this subject because the digital world is the world my students live in now and it will continue to be relevant to them in their future. I will continue to research this area in my retirement.