Assistant Professor of Accounting Heather Thomas was surprised and humbled when she received the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence. As an accounting professor, Thomas works to support her students and feels honored to receive this recognition.

“It was very emotional,” she said. “I enjoy working with students and building a connection, so it was very meaningful to me.”

Before teaching at Montco, Thomas gained first-hand experience in the accounting field. She earned her CPA license as an auditor for Deloitte & Touche, traveled internationally as an internal auditor for a major pharmaceutical company and was a financial analyst and in-division reporting for the pharmaceutical company. She took some time off to focus on her family, but held on to her desire to teach part-time.

Thomas began working at Montco in January 2011, after teaching some time at other colleges in the area. Over the years, she has taught a wide range of courses, but her primary classes lately are Financial Accounting and Managerial Accounting. Thomas understands that people often think of accounting as a “dry subject,” but her focus is making tangible lessons that students can understand.

“It’s about using the skills they learn in class,” she said. “All businesses have accounting departments, and with that background, you can go into different fields.”

Thomas’ goal in her class is to keep accounting real for the students. She discusses situations that students can directly relate to, such as putting gas in a car as an example of a business transaction, to contextualize accounting concepts. She also encourages students to bring their own experiences to the lessons.

“I ask students to answer questions in their own words, not use textbook definitions,” she said. “Sometimes it’s helpful for students to hear other students’ definitions. I try to make class as interactive as possible to make students feel comfortable to participate and make the terminology understandable.”

Her dedication to her students’ success is one of the main reasons she received the Lindback Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence. Those who nominated Thomas praised her ability to work with students and demonstrate passion for the subject.

One nominator said, “She has a way of making students feel that they matter and she spends endless hours to meet them to explain problems step by step. I’ve never seen office hours that are so busy, and it isn’t just about the content. Students come to Professor Thomas to discuss future plans and options for majors. She is the true definition of a mentor.”

Students respect Thomas because of her drive and energy in the classroom.

“I was amazed when I saw how positively Professor Thomas interacted with the class with her friendly personality, sense of humor, and passion for teaching,” another student said.

While Thomas works to engage those in her class, she also is inspired by Montco students working toward their goals.

“I really admire a lot of our students,” she said. “They have a lot of grit and they balance a lot. I feel like I step up my game when I see them doing their best work in class.”

Outside of the classroom, Thomas continues to show her commitment to her students in the accounting major. She actively meets and interacts with students during office hours and works to provide opportunities for students to get involved in a potential career in accounting. As a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Thomas keeps students aware of potential job opportunities and networking events.

When Student Support Services Specialist Mary Ellen Glick brought the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program to Montco, Thomas supported the initiative by recruiting and coordinating volunteers to help their fellow students with preparing, reviewing and filing forms for the 2019 tax season. She worked with 17 students who applied what they learned in class, developed new skills and helped those who benefit from the program.

Thomas looks forward to her future in teaching and hopes to continue interacting with and encouraging students. Thomas is happy to provide these opportunities for Montco students to gain practical experience.

“I think we need to walk alongside them and help as much as we can,” she said.