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M.E. Rinker, Sr. Institute of Tax and Accountancy Department

If you’re a career-driven student interested in accounting, accounting information systems, or consulting, Stetson offers distinctive undergraduate and graduate experiences. Our programs meet CPA exam requirements and provide a seamless path into the Master of Accountancy.

Mission

The M. E. Rinker, Sr. Institute of Tax and Accountancy delivers a rigorous, supportive education that prepares students to become successful accounting professionals. Our programs emphasize teaching excellence, experiential learning, professional engagement, and technology integration.

AACSB Accredited Accounting

Stetson’s School of Business Administration is accredited by AACSB International—the premier standard of excellence in business education. Fewer than 190 institutions worldwide hold AACSB accreditation in accounting, recognizing programs for their quality, relevance, and continuous improvement.

Undergraduate

Undergraduate accounting majors must complete eight required major courses (including financial and managerial accounting, tax, data analytics, and accounting information systems), a non-credit, pass/fail colloquium, as well as one major elective class.

 Graduate

Master of accountancy students must complete 30 credits - a minimum of 18 of which are in graduate-level accounting courses in financial accounting, financial accounting theory, tax, governmental/not-for-profit accounting and auditing.

Our faculty has extensive real-world experience, and they are outstanding classroom teachers. They are easily accessible and will serve as your program advisors.

Over the past 20 years, members of the Institute's accounting faculty have been selected as SOBA Professor of the Year five times, Teacher of the Year twice, Service Provider of the Year ten times, Researcher of the Year twice and Innovator of the Year once. One faculty member received the JD/MBA program's Golden Apple teaching award.

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Carol Callaway Dee

Department Chair
PhD, ME Rinker, Sr., Distinguished Professor

Meet Professor Callaway Dee

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Marianne Blair

CPA, Professor of Accounting

Meet Professor Blair

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Oleksandr Kondrachuk

PhD, Assistant Professor of Accounting

Meet Professor Kondrachuk

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Aaron McCullough

PhD, Assistant Professor of Accounting

Meet Professor McCullough

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Monica Mendoza

PhD, Associate Professor of Practice in Accounting
Associate Dean

Meet Professor Mendoza

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Erin Nickell

PhD, Associate Professor of Accounting
Director of the Master of Accountancy Program

Meet Professor Nickell

The Stetson University Accounting Hall of Fame was established to honor those retired accounting alumni, faculty and benefactors who have demonstrated significant career accomplishments, contributions to the Stetson accounting program and/or contributions to the accounting profession. The Hall of Fame was conceived by Stetson's accounting faculty, with the support of the Accounting Board of Advisers and Stetson University's administration. 

The faculty, with input from the Accounting Board of Advisers and members of the Hall, carefully consider many worthy candidates. An inaugural class of nine was inducted in 2016. As many as two individuals will be inducted into the Hall each subsequent year. Each current member of the Hall has the opportunity to participate in the nomination and election of new inductees. Members of the Accounting Hall of Fame are recognized and perpetually honored through the inclusion of their name on a plaque that will reside in the M. E. Rinker, Sr. Institute of Tax and Accountancy in the Lynn Business Center.

Inductees

Membership

  • Maureen Breakiron-Evans
  • David Beights
  • Vincent C. Brenner
  • Bernadette Britz-Parker
  • Joe Cooper
  • Richard Copeland
  • William Cross
  • Paul Dascher
  • Nestor de Armas
  • Donna Duggar De Peyster
  • William Ferrara
  • Patrick Knipe
  • Lance Loria
  • Joseph Master
  • M.E. Rinker, Sr.
  • George Shierling
  • Judson Stryker

Student Opportunities

Beta Alpha Psi is an international Honors Society for financial information students. The purposes of Beta Alpha Psi are to:

  • recognize outstanding academic achievements in the fields of accounting, finance and information systems
  • promote the study and practice of professional fields related to these disciplines
  • provide opportunities for self-development and association among members and practicing financial professionals
  • encourage a sense of ethical, social and public responsibilities

A number of our students complete one or more internships during their time at Stetson. In fact, internships are highly recommended. Internships may be part-time or full-time, paid or unpaid, and taken during the academic year or the summer. Academic credit can be earned for internships meeting certain requirements. In recent years, our students have interned with "Big 4" and local accounting firms, corporations and governmental entities such as:

  • County of Volusia
  • Brown & Brown
  • Deloitte
  • Disney
  • Ernst & Young (EY)
  • International Speedway Corporation
  • KPMG
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
  • Siemens
  • TopBuild
  • FBI

Internships Employer Resources

If you enter our accounting program, you may be eligible for scholarships from a variety of sources in addition to the financial aid offered through the University. Outstanding students may receive awards and partial scholarships for their academic achievements, funded by the Stetson University Endowment, the Stetson Business School Foundation and the FICPA, among others.

Through the Internal Revenue Service's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, Stetson students are trained to become IRS-certified tax preparation agents who help prepare and file tax returns for families with an income limit up to $54,000, persons with disabilities and limited English-speaking taxpayers.

The student volunteers complete a two-day intensive training alongside our accounting professors. Once they complete the training, they become IRS Certified where they are then able to help identify taxpayer's eligibility for the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit), Child Tax Credit and other federally sponsored credits and help them file accurate tax returns.

Students gain invaluable educational opportunities to learn about the challenges facing low-income families while honing their finance and accounting skills.

In 2026, Stetson's VITA program celebrated over $2,000,000 in tax returns generated for the community and over 2,000 total returns filed. 

Interested in participating?

Complete the VITA Interest Form to let us know you would like to participate and receive information about training and next steps.

About VITA

Free Tax Preparation at Stetson University
Stetson University’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free basic federal income tax preparation for eligible community members. Our IRS-certified volunteers help you prepare and electronically file your return, identify tax credits and deductions you qualify for, and understand your completed return.
Every return receives a quality review before filing. There are no preparation or electronic filing fees.
Who We Serve
VITA serves people with low to moderate incomes under $67,000 household income, people with disabilities, and taxpayers with limited English proficiency. Eligibility depends on your income, tax situation, and the services available at our site. Contact us before your visit if you’re unsure whether we can prepare your return.
What We Do
We help with many common tax situations, including:
  • Wages and salaries
  • Social Security benefits and retirement income
  • Interest and dividends
  • Unemployment compensation
  • Education credits, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the Child Tax Credit
  • Child and dependent care credits
  • Health Insurance Marketplace coverage
  • Certain simple self-employment returns, depending on volunteer certification and program requirements
Some returns fall outside VITA’s scope, including those involving rental property income, farm income, or businesses with losses, depreciation, or home office deductions. We’ll review your situation to determine whether we can help.
What to Bring to Your Appointment
Bring all documents that apply to your situation:
  • Government Issued Photo identification for you and your spouse, if filing jointly.
  • Social Security cards or ITIN documentation for everyone listed on the return, including dependents.
  • Birth dates for you, your spouse, and dependents.
  • All income documents, including Forms W-2 and 1099 for employment, retirement, Social Security, unemployment, investments, or other income.
  • Last year’s tax return, if available.
  • Bank routing and account numbers if you want direct deposit.
  • Form 1095-A if you purchased health insurance through the Marketplace.
  • Childcare expenses and provider information, including the provider’s tax identification number.
  • Education documents, such as Form 1098-T, tuition records, and student loan interest statements.
  • IRS correspondence and your Identity Protection PIN, if you received one.
If you’re married and filing jointly, both spouses generally must be present to sign the electronic filing forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the service really free?
Yes. Eligible taxpayers receive tax preparation, quality review, and electronic filing at no cost.
Who prepares my return?
Trained volunteers who have passed IRS tax law certification exams will complete your return and at Stetson this is highly trained students. Another certified volunteer reviews your return before it is filed.
Can you prepare my return if I’m retired?
Yes. VITA can handle many returns involving Social Security benefits, pensions, and retirement distributions, subject to eligibility and program scope.
Can you help if I’m self-employed?
Possibly. Certain simple self-employment returns qualify. Contact us before your visit so we can determine whether your business activity falls within our services.
What happens during my visit?
We’ll review your identification and tax documents, ask questions about your tax situation, and prepare your return. After a quality review, we’ll explain the return and ask you to review and sign it before filing.
What if I’m missing a document?
We may need to pause preparation until you have all documents and find another appointment date. Bringing all required documents, preferably printed, helps avoid a second appointment.
Can I receive my refund by direct deposit?
Yes. Bring accurate routing and account numbers for an account in your name, your spouse’s name, or both names.
How do I find another VITA location?
Use the IRS VITA Site Locator to find nearby sites and check their availability.

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