UNC Pembroke accounting professor Dr. Dena Breece has been elected to the North Carolina Association of CPAs Board of Directors, bringing decades of experience in accounting education, public service and professional leadership to the statewide organization.

Breece, chair of the Department of Accounting, Finance and Information Technology Management in the Thomas College of Business and Economics, said the opportunity is both an honor and a meaningful responsibility.

“As a first-generation, non-traditional student, this service is especially significant to me,” Breece said in a press release. “It represents not only a personal achievement, but also the ability to contribute to a profession that has provided enormous opportunities for growth and impact.”

Dr. W. Stewart Thomas, dean of the Thomas College of Business and Economics, said Breece's election reflects the respect she has earned across the accounting profession and the impact of her work at UNCP.

“Dr. Breece is an exceptional educator, scholar and leader whose dedication to student success and professional excellence has strengthened both our accounting programs and the careers of countless graduates,” Thomas said in a press release. “Her appointment ensures that UNC Pembroke and the Thomas College of Business and Economics will have a voice in important statewide discussions regarding the future of the accounting profession.”

The NCACPA works to enhance the accounting profession and the communities it serves through advocacy, connections, education and resources. In this role, Breece hopes to contribute to conversations surrounding the future of accounting education, workforce development and pathways into the profession.

Breece has taught accounting in higher education for more than 20 years and has held leadership roles in state and local government, including serving as a finance manager and assistant state auditor.

She earned a PhD in business administration with a concentration in accounting and finance, a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Breece earned her CPA license in 2003 and the Chartered Global Management Accountant designation in 2013.

A member of NCACPA since 2008, Breece has served on several committees and task forces, including the Accounting Education Committee, now the Education Resource Group, the inaugural Student Outreach Advancement and Recruitment Committee, the Accounting Educator Exchange planning task force and the Educator Joint Task Force between NCACPA and the NC State Board of CPA Examiners.

Through this new leadership role, Breece hopes to expand opportunities for students, including networking, internships and service-learning partnerships.