Danny Pannese of Sacred Heart University Honored with CTCPA’s ‘Educator of Excellence’ Award

Danny Pannese, Associate Professor (Accounting and Information Systems) at Sacred Heart University, will be honored with the Connecticut Society of CPA’s Educator of Excellence Award (the “Eddy”) at the CTCPA Recognition Reception on June 10.

Multiple nominations clinched the honor, with current and former students singing his praises as a teacher, mentor, and inspiration. Here are just a few excerpts from these heartfelt essays:

“What makes Professor Pannese truly deserving of the Educator Excellence Award is the way he champions the accounting profession. He is an outspoken advocate for students pursuing the CPA license, regularly inviting industry professionals to speak with us and sharing his own experiences to help us envision a future in accounting. He inspired many – including myself – to enter the field of tax and embrace the wide-ranging opportunities that exist within it.”
“Professor Pannese is a truly exceptional educator. His ability to simplify intricate tax concepts and present them in a clear, relatable manner makes his classes not only informative but also deeply engaging. He brings a wealth of real-world experience to the classroom and fosters an environment where curiosity is encouraged, and excellence is expected. Beyond his teaching, Professor Pannese is deeply committed to supporting students outside the classroom. He plays an active role in helping students navigate the CPA pipeline – from advising on course selection to offering guidance on exam preparation and career paths.”

In addition to decades of teaching both undergraduate and graduate-level accounting courses, Danny is also Of Council at The Innovative CPA Group, on the editorial board of the Value Examiner (the national publication of the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts), on the board of directors of the Connecticut chapter of the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA), and frequently contributes articles and research to national publications. He’s written both tax and audit questions for the CPA Exam and acquired a number of credentials demonstrating his vast expertise, including CPA, Masters of Science in Taxation (MST), Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), Certified Specialist in Estate Planning (CSEP), and Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV).

Danny has been a member of the CTCPA for 44 years, volunteering his time and knowledge to multiple committees including Federal Tax; Educators; Trust, Estate, and Gift Taxation; and more.