Huntington Resident Recipient of Excellence in Teaching Award

May 3, 2005 — Huntington resident Christie L. Comunale, Associate Professor of Accounting in the School of Professional Accountancy in the College of Management at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, was awarded the 2005 David Newton Award for Excellence in Teaching on April 5, 2005. The award is administered by Long Island University.

Dr. Comunale’s primary areas of research include the auditing process, the role of trust in auditing and electronic commerce, the impact of technology on consumer behavior and the effects of widely publicized accounting scandals on accounting education. She is a certified public accountant (CPA) and holds a Ph.D. in accounting from the University of South Florida. She also earned an M.B.A. in general business and a B.S. in accounting from Loyola College.

Dr. Comunale was instrumental in founding Long Island University’s Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, a National Honor Society for students majoring in accounting, finance and information systems. Since 1999, she has served as faculty advisor to Beta Alpha Psi and the School of Professional Accountancy’s Accounting Society. In 2004, Dr. Comunale was awarded the Beta Gamma Sigma Professor of the Year Award. In the same year, the College of Management honored her with its Recognition Award for Excellence in Service.

Dr. Comunale is a prolific writer and presenter of research in the field of accounting. At the 2004 Annual College Teaching and Learning Conference, her paper, "Professional Ethical Crises: Effects on Students Preparing to Enter the Profession," won "Best in Session," a prestigious honor bestowed by her peers. Her articles on accounting, most particularly auditing, have appeared in Advances in Accounting, Behavioral Research, Internal Auditing, and Journal of Educational Technology, among others.

A campus-based Newton Awards Committee chooses award recipients based on nominations provided by academic departments or divisions. Presentation, attitude, expectations of students, professional development and knowledge are the criteria used by the committee to determine teaching excellence. Newton was executive vice-president of Long Island University from 1975 to 1987. The University offered the first Newton award in 1988.

The award is endowed by former Long Island University trustee Abraham Krasnoff.