Denise Hanes Downey
Villanova School of Business
“My career is defined by a deep passion for student learning, demonstrated by a track record of transforming curricula to ensure relevance, rigor, and engagement. I strive to go beyond the classroom by integrating global experiences, emerging technologies, and authentic professional interactions into my courses—providing students with skills and perspectives that prepare them for success in a rapidly evolving profession. What distinguishes my work is the integration of teaching, research, and professional engagement to enrich the student experience. I want my students to leave the classroom not only with strong technical knowledge but also with the mindset, confidence, and global perspective to thrive as future leaders in the profession.” – Self nomination
Denise Hanes Downey, 42, is the KPMG Endowed Professor of Accounting at the Villanova School of Business, where she is recognized for her innovative teaching, impactful research, and deep engagement with the profession.
Her teaching innovations have earned multiple national and institutional honors, including: Innovation in Auditing and Assurance Education Award (American Accounting Association, 2019 & 2024); Issues in Accounting Education Best Paper Award (AAA, 2023); and the AICPA Effective Learning Strategies Award – Honorable Mention (2021)
Downey’s research examines auditing and assurance. Her recent work has appeared in The Accounting Review, Accounting, Organizations and Society, and Contemporary Accounting Research. She currently ranks 26th internationally for audit research over the past six years (BYU Rankings), and within the top 20 globally for both qualitative and experimental audit research. Beyond her publications, she serves on several editorial review boards, has authored invited literature reviews and book chapters, and serves as an external expert on doctoral committees in the U.S. and Europe.
A hallmark of Downey’s career is her commitment to ensuring that academic insights translate into professional relevance. She has held two prestigious national fellowships: as KPMG National Faculty Fellow (2023–2025), where she advised the firm’s national office on integrating academic research into practice; and as Senior Economic Research Fellow at the PCAOB (2017–2018), where her analyses of regulatory data directly informed standard setting and other regulatory activities. She also served on the AICPA’s CPA Exam team (2020–2023).
BACKGROUND
At current institution since what year? 2013
Education: BS Villanova University; MA Villanova University; PhD Bentley University
List of Undergraduate courses you teach: Auditing; Advanced Auditing; Financial Accounting; International Accounting
TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR
I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when … I was practicing as a CPA and found myself browsing classes to take for fun. I’ve always been curious and desire to be a lifelong learner.
What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? My research primarily focuses on the intersection of internationalization and financial statement auditing. Currently I am researching the impact that involving other auditors from locations outside the U.S. has on audit outcomes and economics. I also have several projects considering the impact of offshoring and centralization on aspects of the audit as well as how audit team dynamics vary based on features within each arrangement. I think my most exciting discovery is the nuances of how international rotations make global audits work.
If I weren’t a business school professor, I’d be … a kindergarten teacher, at both the beginning and the end of a child’s formal education you are in a unique position to give them the tools and instill the passion in them to be lifelong learners. Or, a director of internal audit, as truly digging into controls that allow a company to function globally and visiting those sites sounds like a fun challenge.
What do you think makes you stand out as a professor? I strive to be a professor that never teaches the same class twice, meaning I am always adapting. I think we have a duty to adapt to the individuals in front of us in class and their needs. I pride myself on adapting my curriculum and materials to appropriately challenge students, but also ensure that everyone is being brought along in our learning journey.
One word that describes my first time teaching: Long.
Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a business school professor: I equate being a business school professor to owning your own business. You work for an organization, but you maintain your own brand. You have an external reputation, based largely on research and service, and an internal reputation, based largely on teaching and service. No one tells you what to research, and to an extent, what to teach. The downside of owning your own business is it’s hard to shut your work off, it’s always on your mind.
Professor I most admire and why: I most admire one of my PhD advisors, Jean Bedard. I have never seen anyone work harder to mentor students and junior faculty. Jean has a true intellectual curiosity that has kept her engaged in research years after retirement. She is very methodical, no corners are ever cut, and she is a wonderful example of the fruits of hard work and diligence.
TEACHING BUSINESS SCHOOL STUDENTS
What do you enjoy most about teaching business students? That the nature of business education forces you to stay current. I imagine in other disciplines it is not as essential to constantly challenge yourself to adapt the curriculum. However, given our direct tie to practice I don’t feel we are afforded the luxury of ever waiting to consider how the next trend is affecting our students, our curricula, and of course being studied in our research. It makes it an exciting field to be a faculty member.
What is most challenging? PhD programs are generally focused on producing high quality researchers. I think a lot of the administrative and teaching challenges that come up are things you learn on the fly and need to demonstrate humility with. For me the most challenging part of teaching has been the significant increase in student needs since COVID and figuring out how to engage university partners to make sure students are best served.
In one word, describe your favorite type of student: Curious.
In one word, describe your least favorite type of student: Apathetic.
When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as … Fair. The assignments and exams in my class are not easy, but they are not busy work. The assignments are either taken from or applied to the real world, and the exams strive to prepare students for what lies ahead (either upper-level courses or for our graduating students, licensing exams). Overall, I think students find my course structure to be balanced and the grading similarly so.
LIFE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
What are your hobbies? My children keep me very busy outside of work, but I do always make time to run. Being a former collegiate athlete, exercise has always been a big part of who I am and that obviously looks different during different phases of life. Currently, it’s making sure I get to run several times a week.
How will you spend your summer? With my children at the beach.
Favorite place(s) to vacation: I really enjoy traveling and anywhere near the water feels like a vacation to me. One spot that stands out is Costa Rica. I had a wonderful vacation there and even “learned” to surf.
Favorite book(s): I osculate between self-improvement books and historical fiction. I really enjoy Adam Grant as a writer and used his early academic work in my dissertation. If I had to pick a favorite—which I define as something I would read again—I think it might be 15 Lies Women Are Told at Work…and the Truth We Need to Succeed. I found it very helpful in navigating this chapter of my life and thinking through some of the challenges many women in business encounter.
What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much? I don’t have a lot of time for TV, but sometimes I just need something on in the background which usually turns into binge watching the show. I just finished The Summer I Turned Pretty and started Boston Blue. I think I enjoy them both because they are exciting. The Summer I Turned Pretty reminds us of how exciting it was to go off to college and figure out a little bit more about yourself. Boston Blue just brings me back to Blue Bloods, which was once filmed in a house up the block from me in New York City!
What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why? I have a wide range of musical taste, from country to Top 40 to religious hymns (I played the violin in our church choir for many years). I think the one that always makes me feel right at home is Irish music (also called trad music). It’s hard not to tap your foot, sing along, and imagine being in a pub when that comes on, making it a nice break from whatever has your mind reeling on a given day.
THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS
If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this … agility. I think it is absolutely critical for business curricula and faculty to become more comfortable with change. The pace at which information is available to students today demands we put our skill building expertise front and center in the curricula, and constantly challenge ourselves to develop courses and modules featuring application of the most current business topics and technologies.
In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at … providing students with an opportunity to see the business prior to committing to a job or select a discipline/sub-discipline. I think students often select their employer very early in their academic career, via externships that flow into internships and then full-time job offers. I would like students to be able to explore a bit more, not to necessarily change their choice but to appreciate the broad landscape of accounting and business roles that exist. It is important no matter what path you choose to have a sufficiently developed understanding of other contributors to the capital markets and their operations.
I’m grateful for … this life. It’s been pretty amazing and so many people have contributed to me making it this far. I don’t take for granted this privilege, and also the privilege to work at an Augustinian Catholic university whose mission resonates deeply with me.
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