George Plesko

George Plesko is a Professor of Accounting and Department Head at the University of Connecticut's School of Business, previously serving as Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research. His career spans academia, government policy, and professional leadership with appointments at MIT Sloan, Northeastern University, U.S. Department of Treasury, and Harvard University.

His educational background includes:

• B.A. in Economics from The George Washington University (1980)
• M.S. in Economics from University of Wisconsin – Madison (1982)
• Ph.D. in Economics from University of Wisconsin – Madison (1985) with major field Public Economics and minor fields in Economic Theory/Mathematical Economics and Industrial Organization

Plesko's research centers on corporate tax policy, organizational form, and financial-tax reporting interactions. As a leading expert in business taxation, his work bridges academic scholarship and real-world policy impact through Congressional testimony, IRS advisory roles, and collaborations with the Congressional Budget Office. His research methodology integrates economic theory with empirical tax analysis.

His distinguished awards include:

• American Accounting Association/Deloitte Wildman Medal (2005) for research advancing public accountancy
• Ray M. Sommerfeld Outstanding Tax Educator Award (2022)
• American Taxation Association Outstanding Service Award (2025)
• University Distinguished Faculty Research Award for Community-Engaged Scholarship (2025)

Plesko mentors students across all levels while driving curriculum innovation, having developed accounting minors and the Personal Brand Entrepreneurship program focusing on NIL income financial planning. His professional service includes presidency of the American Taxation Association, board membership at the National Tax Association, and advisory roles for federal tax policy development.