Christie L. Comunale, Ph.D., CPA
Faculty Advisor
christie.comunale@stonybrook.edu
Christie L. Comunale, Ph.D., CPA is a Professor of Practice at Stony Brook University. Dr. Comunale joined Stony Brook University in 2013 after serving 14 years in LIU –Post’s School of Professional Accountancy where she held the rank of Professor of Accounting. Dr. Comunale is a licensed CPA in New York State with audit experience at Coopers & Lybrand in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Comunale earned her Ph.D. in accounting from the University of South Florida, and her MBA and BS in accounting from Loyola University Maryland.
Dr. Comunale is an award-winning researcher in the areas of auditor and taxpayer judgment and decision-making and the efficiency and effectiveness of the audit process. Dr. Comunale has presented her research at numerous American Accounting Association meetings and has published in competitive peer-reviewed journals.
Dr. Comunale primarily teaches undergraduate Financial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting I and II, and graduate Advanced Accounting. She has received numerous teaching awards including Stony Brook University’s College of Business Outstanding MBA Instructor Award and Long Island University’s David Newton Award for excellent teaching.
Upon joining Stony Brook University, Dr. Comunale founded Stony Brook University’s Accounting Society and served as its advisor for 9 years. Since gaining AACSB accreditation in 2021, the College of Business is eligible to petition for a Beta Alpha Psi Chapter. Dr. Comunale is currently leading this effort and serves as faculty advisor to Stony Brook University’s petitioning chapter.
Aashika Jeswani
President
aashika.jeswani@stonybrook.edu
Hi, My name is Aashika Jeswani, and I am the Chapter President. I’m in the Business Honors Program with a minor in Accounting and a specialization in Finance. I aspired for this position to positively influence my peers and elevate the professional development opportunities within our chapter. My career aspiration is to work at a financial firm in New York, where I aim to leverage my skills and knowledge to contribute significantly to the industry. My advice to current students is to seize every opportunity to learn and grow. Your time at the University is precious; make the most of it by engaging with your community, seeking mentorship, and never being afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Together, let’s make this year one of growth, learning, and success.
Maria Manolas
Vice President
My name is Maria Manolas, and I am the Vice President. I am majoring in Business Management with a specialization in Finance, as well as minoring in Accounting and Real estate and Insurance. I wanted this position because it is an incredible opportunity for me to support other students in this chapter that want to grow their careers. I believe we all have a lot to learn and add to this chapter and I am excited to contribute to that. I hope to get my CPA license and work at a large accounting firm. A piece of advice I have is to always try new things and to push yourself out of your comfort zone because you never know where the smallest things might lead.
Maria Muntaha
Chief Financial Officer
My name is Maria Muntaha and I am honored to introduce myself as your Chief Financial Officer. My journey to joining BAP stems from a deep-rooted desire to apply my skills in financial management to the new chapter of BAP. With a comprehensive background encompassing dual majors in Business Management and Economics, specializing in finance and operations, I’m eager to contribute to BAP’s success. My aspiration to pursue a master’s in Quantitative Finance underscores my commitment to continuous growth. I am excited to collaborate with each of you, leveraging our collective expertise to drive financial success and create lasting impact. My mantra, “Starting with a bare step is always better than procrastinating,” reflects my proactive approach to challenges. Together, let us seize this opportunity to inspire, innovate, and chart a course toward a brighter future.
Eileen Lin
Director of Reporting
My name is Eileen Lin, and I am the Director of Reporting. I am double majoring in Business Management and Economics with a minor in accounting and a specialization in finance. I pursued this position because it provides an opportunity to contribute significantly to the chapter by ensuring that our activities and achievements are accurately documented and reported. My career aspiration is to achieve my CPA license and work as a leader in the accounting field. My advice is to always be open to learning and adapting, staying curious and flexible will help you navigate and thrive in your career.
Rika Hayashi
Director of Communications and Information Systems
My name is Rika Hayashi, and I am the Director of Communication and Information Systems. My major is Business Management, specializing in accounting, and I belong to the Business Honors Program. I decided to join Beta Alpha Phi because the organization opens up valuable career opportunities for students in the fields of accounting and finance. I could build on my experience further into the BAP activities in this position. My career aspiration is to pursue a master’s degree in New York and work in the accounting field related to my home country, Japan. One piece of advice I could give is to treasure and not be afraid of opportunities and unique encounters and keep making efforts, even if they are small.