2025 Accounting Educators Workshop

Beverly Alwell, LSU at Alexandria

Dr. Beverly Alwell has excelled in diverse fields, leaving an indelible mark in each domain. After owning a successful hair salon for fourteen years, she embarked on a remarkable career in the Credit Union industry, rapidly ascending the ranks. Alongside her managerial roles, she mentored and trained new credit union managers and hosted training sessions for the Louisiana Credit League for Non-Profits. With a commitment to personal growth, she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and an MBA in Accounting. Recently, she achieved a significant milestone by completing her Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) from Liberty University in Accounting. Dr. Alwell’s multifaceted journey and dedication to education make her a true inspiration in her field.

Lisa Benefield, State Board of CPAs of Louisiana

Lisa Benefield is the Executive Director of the State Board of CPAs of Louisiana. She has been employed by the Board since 2011, first as an Investigator, then as Deputy Director in 2016 and finally as Executive Director since April of 2021. Prior to working for the CPA Board, Ms. Benefield worked as an associate attorney for the Law Firm of Oats & Hudson from 2007-2011 and served as Law Clerk to Judge Lloyd J. Medley, Jr. (Retired) from 2004-2007 at Civil District Court in New Orleans, Louisiana. She graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana) in Lafayette, LA with a BA in Political Science, from the University of New Orleans with an MA in Political Science and from Loyola University College of Law with a JD in Civil Law. She is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the New Orleans Bar Association and currently serves on NASBA’s Executive Directors’ Committee.  If not working, she’s either jogging or hanging out with her husband, two children and their Giant Schnauzer, Atticus.  

Ronald Gitz II, Executive Director/CEO, Society of Louisiana CPAs

Ron Gitz, CPA, CGMA, serves as CEO of the Society of Louisiana CPAs (LCPA), a non-profit membership association representing more than 7000 CPAs and future CPAs. Prior to joining LCPA in 2012, Ron had a diverse career working both in public practice and industry. He owned and operated several businesses, including a successful CPA practice.  

At the national level, Ron currently serves on the Board of Trustees for AICPA’s Benevolent Fund which helps members through temporary periods of financial difficulties. He also serves on the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy’s State Society Relations Committee, the Accountancy Stakeholders Working Group, and is Vice Chair of AICPA’s Interchange Planning Executive Committee. Ron is Past President of the CPA Society Executives Association and remains very active in the organization.

On the state level, Ron serves on the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry’s Taxation & Finance Council and is a member of the Committee of 100, and RESET. Ron also is a member of Louisiana State University’s Accounting Advisory Board. He leads LCPA’s Advocacy Team which works year-round to help create a more favorable economic environment for CPAs and the businesses and individuals they serve.

He holds both the CPA and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designations.

Ron enjoys being outdoors and cooking competitively. He lives in Covington with his wife, Jennifer. Together they have three children, Audrey, Mary Grace, and Harrison.

Cathy Gray, Tulane Freeman School of Business

Cathy Gray spent the first 18 years of her career as a CPA in Nashville, where she gained experience in public accounting, insurance regulation and business management in the city’s flourishing music and entertainment industry. She comes to the Freeman School from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, where she served as a lecturer of accounting and finance. Dr. Gray holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Patterson School of Accountancy at the University of Mississippi and a PhD in Business Analytics from the University of South Alabama.

Candice Roche Boucree, Assistant Professor, Southeastern Louisiana University

Candice Boucree is Assistant Professor, SELU Department of Accounting and Finance

Christine Smith, Senior Professor of Practice Acctg, Tulane Freeman School of Business

Christine Smith is a Senior Professor of Practice of Accounting at Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business. Since 2008, she has taught numerous courses across the undergraduate curriculum including Financial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting I, Intermediate Accounting II, Managerial Accounting and Auditing. In addition, Christine is the Assistant Director of the Joint BSM-MACCT and MACCT programs for the Freeman School. 

Christine worked numerous years on audit and litigation support engagements for Ernst & Young and Legier & Materne, apac, serving clients in many industries including healthcare, manufacturing, gaming and insurance. She left the public accounting arena to serve as Financial Accounting Manager for an international manufacturer headquartered in the Greater New Orleans area. 

Christine earned a B.A. From Tulane’s Newcomb College, a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of New Orleans. She is a licensed CPA in the state of Louisiana.

Jan Taylor, AICPA

Jan Taylor-Morris, Ph.D., CPA, CGMA is the Senior Director of Academic Initiatives for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Jeremy Thibodeaux, Partner - A&A Services, Ericksen Krentel, L.L.P.

Jeremy Thibodeaux is a partner in Ericksen Krentel's Accounting and Audit Services Section, where he oversees the quality and timeliness of services to many of the firm's audit clients with a focus on nonprofits. During his career, Jeremy has performed audits dealing with a variety of entities in industries such as governmental, construction, retail, hospitality, tourism and professional services. He also has extensive experience in auditing governmental and nonprofit entities in accordance with the Uniform Guidance.

Laura Wiley, Asst Dept Chair/Distinguished Instr, LSU Department of Accounting

Laura Wiley is the Assistant Department Chair and senior instructor in the Department of Accounting at the E. J. Ourso College of Business, Louisiana State University (LSU).  For over 20 years she has taught financial accounting and auditing courses at LSU.   Laura is active in the Society of Louisiana CPAs (LCPA) and has served as the chair of the Accounting Education Issues committee since 2014.  She received the LCPA’s Distinguished Achievement in Education award in 2015.  Over her career she has also been a presenter at numerous CPE events and published in the Journal of Accounting Education.  Most recently she has co-authored an auditing textbook titled Auditing: A Practical Approach with Data Analytics, published by John Wiley Publishing.  Prior to coming to LSU, she was an auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Atlanta, GA.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from The University of Alabama, her master’s degree in accounting from LSU, and her doctorate in human resource education and workforce development from LSU.