Kelly Root

Kelly Root serves as a Lecturer at the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, University of New Hampshire, where she has taught since 2019. A certified public accountant (CPA), she integrates real-world expertise into CPA exam preparation courses, fostering highly engaging classrooms with 96% of fall 2023 students affirming her effectiveness in challenging learners. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes effort-driven outcomes and creates supportive environments where students actively participate without fear of mistakes.

Root's professional focus spans accounting education, taxation systems, and career development, leveraging her CPA credentials to connect theoretical concepts with industry practice. She routinely invites professionals into her classroom to bridge academic and workplace expectations, cultivating practical skills essential for accounting careers while prioritizing student confidence through participatory learning.

She received the 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award from the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, recognizing her exceptional instructional impact.

Root significantly extends her influence through co-curricular leadership: founding UNH's Beta Alpha Psi chapter in 2020 to provide networking and professional growth opportunities, and advising the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program where students deliver free tax services to New Hampshire's Seacoast region underprivileged communities.