Instructor's Bio

Dear Students:

This is my letter of introduction. It is a model for you to use if you choose to you write your own letter of introduction. Your letter will not be graded. The purpose of the letter is to help me know something about you. Knowing something about you will enable me to better serve you.

Accounting is an information / communications system. Business transactions occur first. Then these transactions are recorded using the accounting rules. The recorded transactions are then summarized and communicate to the decision maker. That is all there is to it! Remember the accounting saying, "If it is hard and difficult, then you are wrong." Keep in mind that accounting is simple, easy, and fun.

If you have already taken Introduction to Business and/or Business Math you will have a leg-up (advantage) in this course. Students who have taken these courses do better in class.

In 1969 I graduated from Cal Poly - SLO, and started my accounting career by working for Price Waterhouse (now Price Waterhouse-Coopers). Four years later I passed the CPA examination. My accounting work experience encompasses public, private (service and manufacturing segments), and not-for-profit.

I returned to Cal Poly in 1982 by obtaining a part-time accounting instructor's position. Slowly I managed to turn my part-time status into a full-time, non-tenure position. During this time, 1986, I went back to school and obtained my Master's Degree. Because I did not have a Doctorate I was unable to obtain a tenure position at Cal Poly. In fact you cannot obtain any tenure position at a California State University (CSU) without a Doctorate. So in 1988 the Harper family left SLO and moved to the Bay Area.
In 1989 I enrolled in Golden Gate University for my Doctorate. Living in the Bay Area, while obtaining my Doctorate, allowed me to teach at Santa Clara University and San Jose State University

It was the famous California budget crisis of 1992 that made me leave San Jose State University for De Anza College. Recently I received tenure at De Anza College. Until recently I was an active member in the Cal Society of CPA's, and serve on the Commission on Accounting Education. Furthermore, I am a co-author of the California Core Competency Model for the First Course in Accounting. This document serves as model for teaching accounting at all community colleges and CSU's

I have served on the American Accounting Association's (AAA) Accounting Education Advisory Committee (AEAC). The AEAC is a standing committee of the AAA and is responsible for accounting educations issues.

North San Jose is where I reside with my wife, Bette and one cats, Ms. Kitty. Our daughter was recently married to Darren Sabedra, a San Jose Mercury News sports journalist. They live in Fremont City. I am looking forward to be your accounting instructor this quarter

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