In August 2011 Cindy began her new career journey as a full-time Assistant Accounting Professor at Shepherd University. She teaches accounting and business administration courses at the undergraduate and graduate level. In 2017, Cindy was promoted to Associate Accounting Professor and received tenure. In addition to teaching accounting courses, she is the chair of the accounting department.
Cindy has over 20 years experience in financial management. She began her career in June 1988 as an accountant for Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. After achieving the level of Senior Accountant, she became the Comptroller for Shenandoah University. In that capacity, she administered the financial management system with direct supervision over accounting, budgeting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and fixed asset inventory for seventeen years. In March 2007, Cindy accepted the position of Internal Auditor at American Public University System (APUS) in Charles Town, WV to lead the Sarbanes Oxley project for developing internal controls over financial reporting for the new public company. Then in April 2009, Cindy became the Controller of West Virginia University Hospitals – East to administer the financial management systems of two regional hospitals, two foundations, multiple joint ventures and physician practices.
Cindy received a B.S. degree with a major in Accounting and Economics from Shepherd University in 1984 and her Masters Degree in Business Administration from Shenandoah University in 1995. She is a summa cum laude graduate from the two institutions. She became a Certified Public Accountant in 1989. In May 2017, Cindy earned her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Advanced Accounting from Northcentral University, San Diego, CA. Her dissertation was titled “The Effects of the Presence of Fraud and Auditor Certification Considering Professional Skepticism on Fraud Risk Assessment Performance.”
She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Accounting Association, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. She is member of the Delta Mu Delta and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. She also serves as the Advisor to the Shepherd University Accounting Club and as a director on the Shepherd University Alumni Board. She is a licensed CPA in Virginia.