Teaching the 'language of business': Chevonne Alston
By Laura Pohl, Contributing Writer
Accounting isn’t just for accounting majors. That’s the philosophy of Dr. Chevonne Alston, an associate professor in the College of Business (COB) at Governors State University (GovState). She was granted tenure in 2025.
“Being a lifelong learner and the opportunity to share how accounting is in the world all around us inspires my teaching. I love demonstrating how accounting is helpful in different majors,” Alston said. “And I hope that students leave my class knowing that accounting is the language of business!”
Alston joined GovState as a professor in 2018, and was also a research assistant and adjunct instructor prior to that position. She earned her doctorate in accountancy from the University of Mississippi. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and an MBA in Accounting from Florida A & M University.
Accounting is useful for everyone
Alston believes that understanding Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) analysis and budgeting is important in a wide range of applications outside of business settings. Students can benefit by applying these skills in their campus leadership, for example.
“Every club and organization can benefit from applying the CVP model to their events and operations,” she said. “CVP analysis helps with identifying how many tickets (or products) need to be sold in order to make money. This is important for non-profit organizations because CVP analysis helps find the point at which an event is raising funds.”
She’s also a proponent of budgeting for both individuals and organizations, which encourages informed decision-making and planning. “Budgeting was previously seen as an overwhelming and arduous process,” Alston said. “However, it has become easier using an Excel budgeting template.”
Discussion boards are tools for learning
Alston uses “Accounting in the News” discussion boards to engage her students. “I have a discussion board for each group of chapters that my students are tested on,” she said. “I encourage them to locate a popular press news article that touches on a particular topic or concept that I discussed in class, so the topics resonate with them beyond the text book.”
GovState family connections
“I have been so fortunate to thrive in a wonderfully supportive community at GovState,” she said. “Over the years, I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to connect with different colleagues. I was thankful to have my daughter close by, attending the fantastic Pre-K program at the Family Development Center (FDC). Both of my parents received master’s degrees from GovState and my husband is a GovState graduate, as well.”
After Alston’s father passed, memorials were directed to the Illinois CPA Society's Mary T. Washington Wylie Internship Preparation Program that connects underrepresented minority accounting students with key resources and opportunities. “During this difficult loss, it made my heart smile to contribute to a program that is so impactful for minority accounting students,” Alston said. “It definitely warmed my heart that my University supported me in this endeavor.”
Interested in applying to the Accounting program at GovState? Click here to learn more.