“There will always be hurdles, but you have to push through and be resilient. Nothing worth having comes easy.”
Monroe University entered Erinne’s life when she received a letter from the college. She recalls it feeling like a divine intervention. Erinne and her sister visited Monroe's Bronx campus, where she took a placement test and quickly enrolled. Shortly after, Erinne earned her Bachelor's Degree in Public Accounting with a minor in Forensic Accounting. She also achieved the necessary 150 credits for her CPA qualification.
One of the significant benefits Erinne found at Monroe was their partnership with Becker, which provided a discounted CPA review program. This program was instrumental in her journey to becoming a Certified Public Accountant through helping her build connections and have access to various professional opportunities.
She formed lasting relationships with her professors, some of whom she still keeps in touch with. One professor, Dr. Jacob Lamar, played a particularly influential role. Erinne shares that Dr. Lamar approached her after class one day and suggested she become an accounting tutor to help opened a new door. This was where Erinne discovered her passion for teaching.
Despite her success in corporate America as a Senior Tax Accountant, Erinne experienced a turning point when her mother passed away. This loss prompted deep reflection on what truly made her happy. She realized that money, while solving many problems, couldn’t bring fulfillment. This epiphany brought her back to Monroe, where she transitioned academia. Erinne now teaches full-time at Monroe, sharing her knowledge and experience to the next generation of accountants.
Her advice to current and future students is to be resilient and maintain a positive outlook. Reflecting on Monroe University's role, Erinne acknowledges the importance of their internship requirements, which provided her first exposure to tax accounting.
