10/28/2026
Jenna El-Khalili, assistant professor of accounting, shares a few of her favorite things, what inspired her transition from industry to academia, and her best advice for future CPAs. 📚
💒 Favorite spot on campus: The plaza outside Sacred Heart Chapel. It's such a beautiful place.
🎬 Favorite movie or book: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab. I read this book five years ago and am still haunted by it.
🍝 Favorite restaurant in LA: Fabio's. You can't go wrong with pasta and a sunset on the boardwalk.
📈 What inspired you to pivot from public accounting into shaping the next generation of accountants? I enjoyed mentoring and training new staff, and I found that academia offered the opportunity to combine my love of teaching with intellectual curiosity. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is helping students discover that accounting is more interesting and full of more opportunities than they expected.
🦁 Best advice you received as a CPA that you now pass along to your accounting students: Organization is the key to life! Being organized, managing your time, and asking thoughtful questions will take you far. You don't need all the answers, but you should know how to find them and stay willing to learn.