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Office Hours

T 01:00 PM-03:00 PM
W 02:00 PM-03:00 PM
R 01:00 PM-03:00 PM

Kayla Waters joined the Siena College faculty in the Fall of 2020. Prior to joining Siena full-time, Kayla practiced as a licensed CPA in tax accounting in both the public and private setting for over 15 years. The majority of Kayla's career was spent in private equity real estate investment, with a focus on inbound and outbound foreign investment taxation compliance and structuring, as well as US partnership compliance and institutional investor relations. More recently, Kayla focused on unrelated business income tax considerations for non-profit organizations.  Here at Siena University, Kayla teaches both undergraduate and graduate level courses in financial accounting and taxation of entities, and is a faculty co-advisor for Beta Alpha Psi, an Accounting, Finance and Data Analytics Honors Organzation.

Degree Program University
M.S. Taxation University at Albany, SUNY
B.S. Accounting University at Albany, SUNY

My Siena Experience

My Teaching Philosophy

My greatest joy as an educator is helping students meet their “aha” moment. With every lesson, every exercise, and every question posed, I try to orchestrate the connections that bring them one step closer to epiphany. If I particularly enjoy a topic, I’ve found that my enthusiasm becomes contagious and the students do as well. So I’m always trying to find ways to make even the most mundane, procedural, or frankly boring subjects come alive. It is those “aha” moments that become lasting impressions my students take with them long after the semester ends. Many of them may not go on to be accountants but they will remember how they felt when their teacher exuded passion for a topic and was able to wrap them up in the moment and help them truly understand.

My Favorite Courses to Teach

Financial Accounting ACCT200 - I love introducing debits and credits to students!

My Professional Experience

Year Title Organization
2024 - Now Teaching Assistant Professor Siena University (formerly Siena College)
2020 - 2023 Teaching Instructor of Accounting Siena University (formerly Siena College)
2019 - 2020 Adjunct Professor - Business, Criminal Law, and Justice Department Schenectady County Community College
2018 - 2020 Manager, Tax Department The Bonadio Group
2010 - 2018 Vice President Of Tax Westbrook Partners
2008 - 2010 Senior Tax Associate, Real Estate Tax Group Forvis Mazars LLP (FKA Weiser LLP)
2005 - 2008 Senior Tax Associate, Real Estate Tax Group PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
2003 - 2004 Intern, State and Local Tax Group General Electric

Articles & Book Reviews

  • Establishing a Common-Law Marriage-Weighing the Relevant Factors
    North East Journal Of Legal Studies, vol. 45
    2025

Awards & Distinctions

  •  Grant received to pursue "Bridging the Gap: Profit and Purpose in the Accounting Curriculum"
    Category: Teaching-Research
    Committee on Teaching and Faculty Development, 2025
  • Winner: Excellence in Teaching
    Category: Teaching
    Siena College, School of Business, 2023
  • Nomination: Excellence in Teaching
    Category: Teaching
    Siena College, School of Business, 2022

Presentations

  • The Debate Over Medical Aid in Dying
    May, 2024
    North East Academy of Legal Studies in Business Annual Conference, Hyde Park, New York
  • Is Common-Law Marriage Relevant in New York State?
    May, 2023
    North East Academy of Legal Studies in Business Annual Conference, Poughkeepsie, New York