Professor Debra Johnson honored with prestigious 2026 Outstanding Accounting Educator Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 18, 2026
Media Contact: Aya Aoki; Public Relations and Communications
NORWALK, Calif. – August 18, 2026 – Cerritos College Accounting Professor Debra Johnson received the 2026 Outstanding
Accounting Educator Award from the California Society of Certified Public Accountants
(CalCPA) in July.
The CalCPA Outstanding Accounting Educator Award honors contributions to accounting education through sustained excellence in teaching and research. Professor Johnson's achievement is especially noteworthy because only one educator is selected each year, and this is the second time a community college faculty member has received the award.
Professor Johnson began her teaching career in 1989 at Cerritos College, where she noticed a significant proportion of first-generation college students with minimal computer skills. Because many of her students had limited household access to technology, she aimed to equip them with essential computer skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel, which she used as a CPA. Recognizing the lack of Excel-focused accounting courses, she developed a spreadsheet accounting course and navigated academic approval, scheduling, and student recruitment.
Initially, her course struggled to meet minimum enrollment, but today it is one of the most popular courses, with two sections offered each semester. Market demand for Excel and other technology skills in accounting has transformed what was once an elective into a necessity, preparing her students for academic and career success. While more community colleges now offer similar courses, Debra Johnson was a true pioneer in integrating technology into the accounting curriculum at the community college level.
“We are proud of Professor Johnson for this well-deserved recognition. Throughout
her career, Professor Johnson has inspired and mentored hundreds of students, fostering
lasting relationships that encourage them to return and reconnect. She has empowered
many to achieve remarkable socioeconomic mobility and will continue to elevate more
students,” said Cerritos College Dean of Business Education Sam Agdasi.
About Cerritos College: Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers nearly 300 degrees and certificates in nine divisions. Annually, more than 5,000 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently averages 21,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.
-END-