From Lorain County Community College …
Students in Claudia Lubaski’s accounting courses at Lorain County Community College quickly find out that she is not a stereotypical number cruncher.
“I portray today’s accountant as a fun loving and dynamic individual instead of the person with the green visor and plastic pocket protector,” Lubaski said.
Her unique approach to accounting education earned her the prestigious title of 2012 Outstanding Ohio Two-Year Accounting Educator from the Ohio Society of CPAs. Lubaski is the first recipient of the award, which encompasses 23 community colleges and 24 regional and branch campuses across Ohio.
“I am humbled and privileged to have won this honor and represent LCCC’s business division’s accounting department,” Lubaski said. “It is great being a part of the LCCC team.”
Lubaski, who started her own educational journey at LCCC earning an associate of applied business degree in 1991, began teaching accounting courses at LCCC as an adjunct professor in 2001. In 2007 she became a full-time assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in March of 2012.
Lubaski is always on the lookout for ways to showcase diverse accounting careers to her students. Members of the FBI’s forensic accounting group have been guests in her forensic accounting class, allowing students to see real-life applications of their coursework.
She also connected classroom learning with the outside world through collaboration with LCCC’s engineering technologies division and a local company. Working with the other partners, students in Lubaski’s cost accounting class developed a cost analysis plan regarding solar power for the company.
Her unique approaches to education are effective, with at least 70 percent of her students completing her courses with a grade of 75 percent or higher. However, seeing students simply pass her class is not enough. She strives to see each student complete a degree and works with LCCC and the Completion by Design and Achieving the Dream initiatives.
“It’s my goal that each of my students will earn a degree that will lead them to employment,” she said.
To draw prospective students to the accounting field, Lubaski developed the “Recruit, Motivate, Retain and Succeed” program, which has awarded an LCCC Foundation grant for the two consecutive years. The program showcases accounting careers to high school students through an accounting career day at LCCC.
“The day included a panel of accounting alumni and young accounting professionals who inspired the students with examples of new and exciting careers within the accounting profession,” she said.
“Claudia teaches very rigorous courses, her students love her expertise, enthusiasm, and dedication to herself and to her discipline,” said Robert Young, dean of LCCC’s business division.
Lubaski continues to diversify her experiences and recently co-authored a book “The Path from Idea to Business Blueprint.” Lubaski shared her knowledge to pen the book’s section on pre-start-up, start-up and operational accounting for entrepreneurs. The book will soon be published by Cengage Publishing.