Christopher R. Cocozza

Christopher R. Cocozza serves as Dean of the Kathleen Waterbury and J.B. Reilly School of Business at DeSales University, where he has been a faculty member for over 20 years and previously held department chair/division head roles for 14 years. He teaches undergraduate courses in Federal Income Taxation, Regulation, and The Legal Environment of Business Law, alongside Advanced Law and Taxation in the MBA program.

His academic credentials include:

• BS in Accounting from Fordham University College of Business Administration
• J.D. from Fordham University School of Law
• LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law

Professor Cocozza's research centers on Taxation and Retirement Planning, evidenced by publications in America, The Pennsylvania CPA Journal, and The Journal of Financial Planning. He served as academic editor for the Becker CPA Review Regulation textbook for a decade, specializing in individual, corporate, and estate taxation content.

His program leadership has garnered significant recognition:

• IRS and Pennsylvania Commonwealth awards for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program
• Multiple innovation grants for technology integration in classroom instruction

As co-mentor of the Accounting and Finance Club and VITA Program, he has directed over 20 years of student activities including domestic business excursions to major U.S. cities and international study trips across Europe, Asia, and South America. The VITA Program alone completed 5,000+ tax returns for Lehigh Valley residents, generating $250,000+ in taxpayer savings while providing hands-on student experience featured in regional media outlets.

His industry background includes taxation roles at Deloitte, LLP and Lexis Publishing Group, complementing his academic work with practical expertise in regulatory compliance and financial planning.