Black History Month is a time for us to celebrate Black Americans' exceptional contributions and achievements throughout our history, including Black Americans that have been trailblazers in the accounting profession. We want to recognize two trailblazers: John W Cromwell Jr. and Mary Washington Wylie, the first black Americans to earn CPA.

John W Cromwell, Jr became the first black American to earn the designation of CPA in 1921. He graduated from Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth in 1906, specializing in mathematics and astronomy, winning the Thayer Prize in Mathematics, and graduating as the best student in science in his class. A year later, he completed his master's degree there. The most significant barrier for blacks in becoming a CPA was the experience requirement. To become a CPA, you had to work for a CPA, and Most firms would not hire black people claiming that their clients would not tolerate a person of color being involved in their financial affairs. He was not allowed to sit for the CPA exam in Washington, D.C., Virginia, or Maryland. It took fifteen years before he became a CPA. In 1921, New Hampshire passed legislation enabling candidates to obtain their CPA license without an experience requirement. Cromwell traveled to New Hampshire to take the exam after fifteen years passed, following Cromwell's graduation before becoming a CPA. After becoming a CPA, practicing accountancy in the District of Columbia. He worked almost exclusively within the black community, serving lawyers, churches, restaurants, and funeral homes. In 1930, he became controller of Howard University. By the early 1960s, John Cromwell was still the only black CPA in the District of Columbia - some 40 years after earning his license.

Mary T. Washington Wylie was the first female African-American certified public accountant (CPA) in the nation in 1943 and the 13th Black American in accounting overall. She worked as the Assistant to Arthur J. Wilson, the country’s second African American CPA, at Binga State Bank of Chicago, one of the country’s largest African American-owned banks. Wilson encouraged her to pursue a Business degree at Northwestern University and obtain the experience needed to become a CPA. In 1939 she opened her accounting firm, mostly serving small black-owned companies. She was credited for giving numerous aspiring African American accountants the chance to meet the experience requirement for becoming CPAs. Today, her firm is known as the Chicago firm of Washington, Pittman & McKeever, LLC, and one of the largest black CPA firms in the country. It is now combining forces with Mitchell Titus, carrying on her legacy.

Students, do you need help with your accounting courses?

BAP has launched a weekly lab for accounting students for tutoring/advising support. If you need help with assignments, questions about courses, and experiences in the program, join a lab session!! Current Juniors and Seniors in the program will help you!

Sessions are on Fridays from 12 - 1 PM  

Want to be a tutor/advisor for the weekly BAP Tutoring/Advising Lab? 

Are you a BAP candidate/member in need of more community service hours? Sign up to be a tutor/advisor and provide support to other students in the program. The commitment is 1 hour per week, on Fridays from 12 - 1 PM on zoom. We are asking at least one of you to sign up per session.

Please note, to be inducted as a member and then qualify as a BAP Alumni you must fulfill 32 hours for the academic year 2020-2021, reporting final hours is due May 31^st, 2021. This includes: 

• 12 professional hours (which can be gained by attending BAP meetings/conferences/events);
• 12 Community Services hours (tutoring session, VITA, upcoming spring volunteer events)
• 8 additional hours of either professional or community service.

Once you have filled out the RSVP forms (students/tutors), click the link below to join the Zoom session on February 5th from 12 - 1 PM.

• Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the elderly population to quarantine due to their vulnerabilities to the virus. The sustaining presence of friends and family has been told to distance thus leaving our older generation lonely and vulnerable to deteriorating mental health and acuity. As such, Neighborly is requesting individuals to write letters to lift spirits.
• Participation: Club members will receive 0.5 community service hours for each letter sent.
• To participate, please follow these steps:
  • See the 7 writing guidelines here (sample letters on "See" tab) 
  • Make sure to sign your letter with your name (can exclude last name), chapter name (Beta Alpha Psi - Mu Psi Chapter), and school name (University of Washington).
  • Email a picture of your completed letters to BAP reporter Mariya at mariyali@uw.edu to obtain community service hour credit for participation.
  • You can put all your letters in 1 mail. Mail your completed letters to: Neighborly 3425 Bannerman Road Suite 105-420 Tallahassee, FL 3231

• 1/15 CPA Info Session (Wiley, Becker, Roger, IMA)
• 1/29 Moss Adams (Diversity and Inclusion)
• 2/12 Institute of Internal Auditors (Microsoft) 

CPA Discount

Wiley is offering a special 50% discount on review courses specifically for University of Washington students. Feel free to purchase your discounted review course from 👉 here 

Wiley promises you’ll pass your CPA Exam with Wiley on the first try:

1. The program never expires until you pass the Exam (lifetime access)
2. Wiley has the biggest test bank in the industry
3. Wiley pass rate is 9 out of 10 

Feel free to share this discount link with your classmates, friends, and alumni. This discount will be available until April 30, 2021.

Please reach out to Carla.Ng@wiley.com if you have any questions.  Good luck with your Exam studies!