Faculty and ResearchExpert Guide

Education

• Master of Science in Taxation
  Florida International University, Miami, Florida
• Bachelor of Business Administration
  Florida International University, Miami, Florida

Professional Activities

Teresita L Brunken is a Florida International University (FIU) two-time graduate with a BBA in Accounting, an MST degree as well as a Florida licensed Certified Public Accountant. After a 25-year career in both public accounting and industry, she joined FIU in 2007. During her time in public accounting she was promoted from staff to senior in less than a year, a firm record at the time. After working in public accounting for over two years she was recruited to join a locally headquartered privately-held pharmaceutical company which specialized in dermatology. She remained with the company for 23 years. During her tenure with Stiefel she held a number of titles of increasing responsibilities, duties and functions. Most notable among these were the financial lead on the implementation of company-wide enterprise resource planning system, while serving as Assistant Treasurer. This vast experience which interfaced with all aspects of the company, led to the promotion to Chief Financial Officer of the US Division of the company. Her last role with the company was as Global VP of Tax and Treasury during which she executed the modification and expansion of effective US company strategies to a broader global audience.

Since leaving the corporate sector, Ms. Brunken has been involved at FIU in some capacity. She volunteered the summer of 2007 to mentor a student group at a case competition. This team advanced to the national level of the competition and this rewarding close interaction with a group of undergraduate students began the academic portion of her career.  That fall semester starting as an OPS, she lead several special projects to improve the student experience within the School of Accounting. These included the establishment of an accounting learning lab, streamlining the registration process for the accounting entrance exam, creating a test bank of entrance exam question, as well as automating the notifications and most importantly the creation of the Passport to Success. The Passport to Success is a separate assignment that all accounting students must complete during their first semester as juniors. It involves the creation of a resume, writing answers to commonly asked interview questions, mock interviews and attending a student organization meeting. This was developed in response to employer feedback solicited toward improving our students’ opportunity for employment. These initiatives have been incredibly successful and have been in use since.

As administrative director of the school of accounting, she continued to manage the student services for the undergraduate programs, as well as reviewing admission to the graduate of accounting programs. This included working with faculty and advisory boards on curriculum, scheduling and other administrative matters. During all of this tenure, she was usually teaching 1-2 courses per semester as a participating adjunct as well as serving as faculty advisor to ALPFA, the club she had mentored as a volunteer starting in 2007.

For the last five years, Tessie has been teaching as a Clinical instructor in the School of Accounting. Her area of teaching has been focused on taxation.

Courses Taught

• Accounting for Decisions
• Financial Accounting III
• Income Tax Accounting
• Management Accounting
• Seminar In Taxation
• Small Business Accounting and Consulting
• Small Business Accounting Staff
• Special Topics in Accounting
• Taxation of Corporations and Partnerships
• Taxation of Corporations II
• V/A Tax Strategies