Rafi Efrat

Professor Rafi Efrat holds the Bookstein Chair in Taxation at California State University, Northridge's Accounting & Information Systems department since joining in 1999. A CSUN alumnus (B.S. Accounting Magna Cum Laude, 1989), he further earned J.D. from USC (1992), J.S.M. (1998) and J.S.D. (2002) from Stanford Law School after five years as in-house counsel for a Los Angeles financial institution.

• Stanford University - J.S.D (2002)
• Stanford University - J.S.M (1998)
• University of Southern California - J.D (1992)
• California State University, Northridge - B.S. (1989)

His research examines how tax law influences human behavior and how societal forces shape tax legislation evolution, driven by "the possibility of discovering something new and adding to the body of knowledge." As an educator, he emphasizes critical thinking development and provides "specific and constructive feedback" during grading. Professor Efrat also serves as Faculty Affiliate at CSUN's Institute for Community Health and Wellbeing.

Selected Honors:

• Preeminent Scholarly Publication Award (2004)
• Distinguished Teaching Award & University Research Fellow (2013)
• Outstanding Educator Award, California Society of CPAs (2014)

With practical experience as a Certified Public Accountant in Illinois and Stanford Law Fellow, he bridges academic theory with real-world application. His teaching philosophy centers on empowering students to "think critically and grow intellectually," reflecting his belief in education's transformative potential for driven, resilient learners.