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Villanova, Pa., December 1, 2025 – Denise Hanes Downey, PhD, ’05 VSB, associate chair, Accounting & Information Systems, and KPMG Endowed Professor in Accounting, was selected as one of , an honor that recognizes educators who bring innovation, depth and real-world relevance into the classroom. 

According to its website, Poets&Quants received 1,200 nominations and Dr. Downey was chosen for her “innovative teaching, impactful research, and deep engagement with the profession.” Since joining the Villanova School of Business in 2013, she has built her career around bridging theory to teaching, research and professional practice. As the KPMG Endowed Professor of Accounting, she is known for continually reshaping her courses to reflect emerging global issues, evolving audit practices and the skills students need in a rapidly changing profession. 

Her commitment to academic excellence has earned multiple national recognitions, including: 

• Innovation in Auditing and Assurance Education Award (American Accounting Association, 2019 & 2024)
• Issues in Accounting Education Best Paper Award (AAA, 2023)
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Effective Learning Strategies Award – Honorable Mention (2021)

A defining feature of Dr. Downey’s career is her dedication to ensuring that academic insights translate into practice. She has held prestigious fellowships, including with KPMG’s national office and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), where her expertise directly shaped firm strategy and regulatory analysis. She has also contributed to the ongoing development of the CPA Exam.

When asked what she thinks makes her stand out as an educator, she says, “I strive to be a professor that never teaches the same class twice, meaning I am always adapting my curriculum and materials to appropriately challenge students, but I also ensure that everyone is being brought along in our learning journey.” She further emphasized the need to stay current as business education evolves quickly, and she sees it as her responsibility to adapt her courses to new trends, technologies and professional expectations. 

At the core of her work is the goal of preparing students not only with strong technical knowledge but also with the confidence and perspective to thrive as global leaders in the profession.

The Villanova School of Business (VSB) undergraduate program is top-ranked among business schools in the nation. Its online graduate business programs are ranked #19, and its part-time MBA program is ranked #27 by U.S. News and World Report. VSB has been at the forefront of business education since it was founded in 1922. Serving over 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students, VSB is home to five Centers of Excellence – the Daniel M. DiLella Center for Real Estate, the Elenore and Robert F. Moran Sr. Center for Global Leadership, the Center for Business Analytics, the Center for Marketing & Consumer Insights and the Center for Church Management – with each designed to foster innovative, cross-disciplinary research and applied opportunities for students. VSB is known for academic rigor; creativity and innovation; hands-on and service learning opportunities; a firm grounding in ethics; and an applied education that prepares students to become outstanding leaders and global citizens within the ever-changing, complex, and fast-paced world of business. For more, visit business.villanova.edu.