Two community members were welcomed last week into the Stetson University Accounting Hall of Fame in recognition of their significant career accomplishments and contributions to the accounting program. Maureen Breakiron-Evans ‘76, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Clearwater, Florida, and Vince Brenner, Ph.D., of Port Orange, Florida, join nine previous honorees. 

Breakiron-Evans’ nomination reads, “In a career environment dominated by men, Maureen’s focus and excellence enabled her to become a partner in the ‘Big 8’ firm of Arthur Andersen and then move to executive level roles at VISA, Transamerica Corp, CIGNA Corp and Towers Perrin.”

Breakiron-Evans, a member of the Stetson University Board of Trustees since 2013, is a CPA and earned her accounting degree from Stetson University and master’s degrees from Harvard Business School and Stanford University.

The nomination went on to explain that, “Maureen’s many professional accomplishments, her long-time passion for Stetson, as well as her outstanding character and integrity make her an outstanding candidate for induction in the M.E. Rinker, Sr. Institute of Tax and Accounting Hall of Fame.”

Vince Brenner, Ph.D., CPA, was a former professor of accounting at Stetson University who recently retired after 19 years teaching financial accounting at the undergraduate and graduate level. He previously taught at Virginia Tech and Louisiana State University. He also served on the American Institute of CPA’s Board of Examiners where he worked to ensure the quality and integrity of the Uniform CPA Examination.

 Brenner’s nomination referenced the impact his teaching has had, noting his national recognition as an exemplary accounting professor in both Florida and Louisiana.

“Both Vince and Maureen leave a legacy of a lifetime of exemplary work in the accounting profession,” said Valrie Chambers, Ph.D., associate professor of taxation and accounting, and interim chair of the M.E. Rinker, Sr. Institute for Tax and Accountancy. “That work has contributed to a strong foundation upon which the M.E. Rinker, Sr. Institute of Tax and Accountancy can rise to prepare new students to meet the oncoming challenges of the accounting profession.”

The faculty, with input from the Accounting Board of Advisers and members of the Hall, considered worthy candidates. Each current member of the Hall has the opportunity to participate in the nomination and election of new inductees.

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 or contributions to the accounting profession. 

Breakiron-Evans and Brenner will be recognized and perpetually honored through the inclusion of their names on a plaque that resides in the M. E. Rinker, Sr. Institute of Tax and Accountancy in the Lynn Business Center.

The mission of the M. E. Rinker, Sr. Institute of Tax and Accountancy is to offer an intellectually challenging undergraduate and graduate education that will facilitate the development of Stetson students as successful accounting professionals. For more information, visit Stetson University online.

-Marie Dinklage