Sharon Lassar
Few leaders leave an imprint as deep and lasting as Sharon Lassar. As we honor her extraordinary 15-year tenure with the School of Accountancy (SoA), we reflect on a legacy defined by innovation, student and faculty advancement, industry partnership, and national impact. Lassar’s vision reshaped the School of Accountancy into a model of excellence, admired across the country.
Drawing on her background as a distinguished tax professor, Lassar brought an extraordinary eye for detail to every aspect of the program. Her influence is felt in every corner of the School of Accountancy, from its competitive curriculum, to its global reach, to its faculty culture, its alumni engagement, and its industry connectivity. She has elevated the school’s reputation and built a foundation that will support the next generation of accounting leaders.
Transforming the Academic Core
From the start of her tenure, Lassar prioritized academic excellence and the intentional growth of the department. With the exception of Professor KED Davisson, every current faculty member was hired under her leadership—a testament to her talent for identifying strong educators and researchers.
Whether evaluating curriculum, reviewing accreditation materials, or refining departmental processes, her precision and thoroughness elevated the school’s standards and ensured its long-term strength.
She built a balanced faculty model that bolstered both research productivity and the quality of classroom teaching. A champion of modernizing the curriculum, she emphasized technology integration, relevant professional skills and innovations in accounting pedagogy. Her focus ensured that DU students graduate prepared for a profession that is rapidly evolving in a digital and global business environment.
Strengthening Accreditation and Long-Term Infrastructure
Lassar established a durable, admired infrastructure for AACSB accreditation, one that peer institutions now look to as a model of excellence. The systems, assessment processes and culture she built ensure the SoA’s continued success long beyond her tenure.
Driving Policy Change from Day One
Lassar’s impact was immediate. During her first week on the job, she worked with the Colorado State Board of Accountancy to adjust the state’s 45-credit-hour education requirement—which aligned with the traditional semester system rather than DU’s quarter system—to a 40-hour graduate program (10 classes).
This change made DU’s program more competitive, reduced barriers for students, and brought DU in line with national standards while maintaining academic rigor.
Expanding Global Reach Through STEM Designation
Under Lassar’s leadership, the SoA created a STEM-designated Master of Science in Accounting, Technology and Analytics, opening doors to a broad, international applicant pool and significantly increasing three-year Optional Practical Training (OPT) opportunities for graduates.
The MSATA degree positions diverse, globally minded leaders to lead an increasingly complex, multinational industry. DU and Daniels are now a destination for emerging global talent, with strong connections to accounting firms and employers seeking a workforce fluent in international business.
Reinvigorating Alumni Engagement and Market Connectivity
Lassar understood that a strong alumni network is an essential pillar of a strong school. She prioritized rebuilding alumni relationships across Colorado and throughout the country. She traveled extensively to meet graduates, listen to their experiences and reconnect them to the School of Accountancy.
Under her leadership, the SoA offered:
- Regional alumni gatherings across multiple U.S. cities
- Annual winter mixers and popular hockey meetups
- Events with national accounting experts and thought leaders
- Renewed ties that deepened DU’s market connectivity—strengthening relationships with firms, industry partners and employers who look to DU for future talent
Her work revitalized the alumni community and expanded opportunities for students to connect with professionals across the field.
Building Scholarship Opportunities Through Industry Partnership
Lassar worked closely with national and local accounting firms to establish new, named scholarships—broadening student access while building deeper, mutually beneficial relationships with the firms themselves.
These scholarships support talented students and help employers engage early with a strong pipeline of DU’s emerging accountants. It is a model of partnership that elevates both student success and industry workforce development.
Achieving National Leadership in Technical Internships
A hallmark of Lassar’s tenure is the School of Accountancy’s remarkable success in placing graduates into the highly competitive FASB and GASB postgraduate technical assistantships—positions that shape the future of accounting standards nationwide.
Because of her focus and faculty commitment, DU now has one of the highest annual placement rates in the country, an extraordinary accomplishment given the size of the program relative to peer institutions.
Investing in Student Leadership Development
Through her support of undergraduate and graduate teaching assistantships, Lassar created pathways for students to develop leadership, communication, mentorship and managerial skills that position them for long-term success in the workplace.
Many alumni cite these opportunities as foundational experiences that shaped their confidence and early career trajectory.
Honoring Sharon Lassar’s Legacy
Sharon Lassar’s contributions to the School of Accountancy are profound, far-reaching and enduring. She elevated academic excellence, reconnected alumni, strengthened industry partnerships, expanded global reach and elevated the school to national prominence.
To honor her extraordinary impact, we invite you to support the newly renamed Sharon Lassar Endowed Scholarship, a lasting tribute to her leadership and her commitment to developing the next generation of accounting professionals.
We hope you will join us in celebrating her legacy by making a gift in her honor.