Joanne C. Orabone

Bio

Joanne C. Orabone is a Professor of Accounting and Management in the Department of Business and Professional Studies at the Community College of Rhode Island. In addition to teaching, Joanne also serves as the Advisor of Kappa Beta Delta, the International Honor Society for Business students, and served as a member of the National Board of Directors of Kappa Beta Delta from 2018-2025.

Joanne is chair of the committee for curriculum development and assessment for Managerial Accounting within the Business Department and serves on the financial accounting, management and marketing committees. From 2002-2023, she served as the Advisor for Collegiate DECA, an international organization that prepares students as emerging leaders and entrepreneurs. During this time, her CCRI chapter was the only chapter in the country to always earn the Presidential (top level) Passport Award for her student’s work in various DECA activities.

Joanne was awarded the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) Teaching Excellence Award for Region 1 in both 2016 and 2022. Joanne also received DECA’s Advisor of the year award in 2007, 2013, 2020 and 2023, and was named Phi Theta Kappa’s Faculty Member of the Year in 2005.

Joanne holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Bryant University where she majored in accounting, and a Master of Arts degree in Adult Education from the University of Rhode Island. Prior to teaching, Joanne held the position of Revenue Agent at the Internal Revenue Service,where she also earned graduate level coursework in taxation. In addition to her audit work, she was the lead instructor for newly hired Revenue Agents and served as the Federal Women’s Program Manager.

Joanne’s teaching philosophy includes passion, enthusiasm, engagement, relevance and relationship-building. She encourages active learning and uses her academic background and prior work experience as a Revenue Agent at the Internal Revenue Service to show students how to apply concepts and theories to real-world situations. When students see the relevance of their studies, they remain engaged in the course and are motivated to learn.

Joanne is a member of the Rhode Island Association of Accounting Professors, where she served as President from 2015-2024 and as Secretary from 2011-2015.