Dr. Eric Rapley joined the Colorado State University College of Business faculty in the Fall 2016 semester.

Rapley completed his undergraduate studies at Kansas State University. He went on to work as an auditor for a public accounting firm, and as a controller for a private company. After working in business for 12 years, he ultimately decided to pursue what had been a long-time, unconscious goal. “My dad was a professor,” he says, “so I always felt I would come back and do that as well.”

To make it happen, he went back to school to further his training — and ultimately earned his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in accounting from Oklahoma State University.

Now, he’s leveraging his CPA and private sector backgrounds to teach undergraduate auditing classes. As Rapley notes, “My work experience definitely helps in the classroom. I have both perspectives — of being an auditor, and being audited.”

Dr. Rapley most recently taught at the University of North Texas. But he and his wife wanted to be in Colorado, to enjoy the mountains and the climate. Their three children — ages 4, 6, and 8 — have similarly-aged cousins here in Fort Collins as well, so the family can spend quality time with relatives.

“The biggest reason that I wanted to be here was that I appreciate CSU’s balanced focus on excellence in the classroom and faculty research,” he says. A few months into his work here, he says he values the level of engagement that his students bring to the classroom as well. “I taught an intermediate accounting class at the University of North Texas, so this is different,” he says. “It’s fun teaching seniors, and knowing that they’re going to be able to go out and use what they’re learning right away.”

When he’s not in the classroom, you may find Dr. Rapley on his bike; he loves his two-wheeled commute to work on the beautiful CSU campus.