Accounting Mentoring

Mentoring is an opportunity for an experienced member of the NJCU School of Business faculty to provide professional guidance to a student. If you want to talk to one of our faculty members from the Department of Accounting and start a conversation, simply review the faculty and their mentoring preferences below to find a good match for your specific goals, questions, and circumstances.

Please reach out to that faculty member directly to set up an initial appointment. Keep in mind that mentoring is a long-term relationship between students and faculty.

Student Academic Criteria

  1. Declared Accounting Major – no IM (Intended Major)
  2. Must be registered for at least one class at the School of Business
  3. Must use EAB or NJCU Email – no personal emails allowed

Please include the following when reaching out

  • What are your short term and long term objectives?
  • What are you looking for in a mentor relationship?
  • If employed – where are you working?
  • Do you have an internship through NJCU?
  • Are you interested in obtaining professional certification in Accounting (e.g., CPA, CMA)?

Mentors

Nava Cohen joined the NJCU School of Business as an Assistant Professor of Accounting in September 2018. She received her Ph.D. in Accounting at ESSEC Business School in France in 2018. She teaches at both undergraduate and graduate levels (Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, and Contemporary Accounting Issues). Her research lies in the areas of corporate social responsibility, business ethics, and financial reporting.

Office Hours
Subject to change each semester, please contact me via ncohen@njcu.edu.

Mentoring preferences
I enjoy mentoring students regarding academic programs, careers paths, or industry information. I help student to gain confidence and knowledge to make informed professional decisions. I also enjoy mentoring students on business research and more specifically supervising students for the Business Student Research Showcase held at NJCU every semester.

Michael ONeill

Michael O’Neill joined New Jersey University’s School of Business as an Assistant Professor of Accounting in Fall 2018. Prior to joining the faculty at NJCU, Professor O’Neill had several years of university teaching experience as an adjunct accounting instructor at two major local universities. Before joining academia, Professor O’Neill, as Vice President of Internal Audit for a major global media/entertainment company, helped build and lead a best-in-class worldwide internal audit function. During Professor O’Neill’s 22-year tenure at the media/entertainment company, Mike partnered with senior management and solved real-world operational issues, managed risk, and also identified numerous cost savings and revenue enhancement opportunities. Earlier, as Division Controller for a major retailer Mike oversaw accounting and financial operations for department and specialty store lines. His global experience spans the consumer entertainment, media/advertising, manufacturing, online, and retail sectors. Assistant Professor O’Neill has a BS in Business with honors and an MBA in Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). Assistant Professor O’Neill was also a member of the University Honors Program at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Office Hours
Varies by semester.

Mentoring Preference
Students interested in becoming Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and working in public accounting or working in an accounting related function for public companies in industry.  Also, students interested in developing leadership skills through participation in the accounting club and learning networking skills to build a personal and professional network to enhance their personal lives and professional careers.

Lijun Ruan headshot

Lijun Ruan is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the NJCU School of Business. She joined the NJCU School of Business in 2019 after receiving her Ph.D. in Accounting from the University of Houston. She earned her M.S. in Finance from Tulane University in 2013. She has research interests in auditing and financial accounting issues.

Office Hours
Mon 11:00 AM -12:30 PM
Wed 11:00 AM -12:30 PM; 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
[Subject to change each semester]

Preference
Students with interest in theoretical auditing research.

Dr. Yang joined NJCU in 2018. She obtained her Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2013 and she is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She teaches Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Advanced Accounting, Professional Auditing, and International Accounting at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Her primary research interests include judgment and decision making in accounting, auditing, and business ethics.

Office Hours 
Subject to change each semester, please contact me via lyang@njcu.edu.

Mentoring Preference
Happy to connect with students on a wide range of topics, including academic advisement, career advancement, and CPA exam preparations.

Mingshan Zhang headshot

Dr. Zhang joined NJCU School of Business since 2015. Prior to joining NJCU, she has worked for Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Kean University. She received her Ph.D. in Accounting from University of California at Los Angeles and Master in Economics from University of Pennsylvania. Her research interests include Business Valuation and Asset Pricing, Capital Market Research in Accounting, Stock Repurchases, Institutions.

Office Hours
Mon/Wed 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (subject to change each semester) mzhang@njcu.edu

Expertise & Mentoring Preference
Capital market research in accounting; Financial statement analysis.