Deborah A Doonan
Associate Professor College of Hospitality & Business Business Providence
Biography and Expertise
Deborah Doonan has been involved with education her entire life — literally, as she is the daughter of an educator.
Doonan’s life interests have allowed her to pursue different forms of teaching prior to joining Johnson & Wales University. She played sports and then became a coach; she was a student and then became a tutor. Doonan studied accounting and fell in love with the subject — especially taxation — and knew she had found what she was meant to teach at the collegiate level.
After a handful of years in public accounting, Doonan was fortunate to achieve her lifelong dream when she was hired to teach accounting and taxes at JWU.
Education
Master of Science in Taxation (MST)
Bryant University
BS
Providence College
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Rhode Island Board of Accountancy
2025 Intake/Interview and Quality Review Exam (Basic Level)
Internal Revenue Service, VITA Program
2024 Intake/Interview and Quality Review Exam (Advanced Level) and Site Coordinator
Internal Revenue Service, VITA Program
2023 Intake/Interview and Quality Review Exam (Advanced Level)
Internal Revenue Service, VITA Program
2022 Intake/Interview and Quality Review Exam (Advanced Level)
Internal Revenue Service, VITA Program
Friend of Athletics
Johnson & Wales University
Outstanding Service Award
Johnson & Wales University
Professional Development Award
Johnson & Wales University
Outstanding Service Award
Johnson & Wales University
Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities
Bryant University
Why you could get a larger refund this tax season (TV)
WJAR, NBC 10
February 24, 2026
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fturnto10.com%2Fi-team%2Fconsumer-advocate%2Fwhy-you-could-get-a-larger-refund-this-tax-season-changes-standard-deduction-credit-big-beautiful-bill-withholding-table-feb-24-2026&data=05%7C02%7CDeborah.Doonan%40jwu.edu%7Cb8d8bca856f1497a09e008de7a034fbc%7C4a469c1def0d40c6be1a5f603a10cc06%7C1%7C0%7C639082351797058233%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bPQ9cb9MwO%2FKqBHtl8SJYSaWNHTFXXY%2B%2Fjej2WHooQM%3D&reserved=0
What is Zero-Based Budgeting? (Internet)
WalletHub.com
February 9, 2026
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What changes filers can expect this tax season (TV)
WPRI, CBS 12
February 9, 2026
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wpri.com%2Fmoney%2Fwhat-changes-filers-can-expect-this-tax-season%2F&data=05%7C02%7CDeborah.Doonan%40jwu.edu%7Caf3580dcacdd44a2998208de68d83a36%7C4a469c1def0d40c6be1a5f603a10cc06%7C1%7C0%7C639063475051701432%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=BYrhLc%2Bx7qPcGtc4%2Fzziubqk1%2FBP8tHly6jpBYjIeIw%3D&reserved=0
What Is a Budget? (Internet)
WalletHub.com
February 5, 2025
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Could Trump’s hiring freeze at IRS impact your return? (TV)
WJAR, NBC 10
January 28, 2025
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fturnto10.com%2Fi-team%2Fconsumer-advocate%2Fcould-trumps-hiring-freeze-at-irs-impact-your-return-taxes-government-agencies-delays-direct-file-taxpayers-program-january-28-2025&data=05%7C02%7CDeborah.Doonan%40jwu.edu%7C672282fb15e64c6cdcf308dd40a7ccf9%7C4a469c1def0d40c6be1a5f603a10cc06%7C1%7C0%7C638737811614056276%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=QGcq7hUuqDq0qQ7K4gRcOE29O8jnEEzgDMEkw3yYvz4%3D&reserved=0
IRS announces January 27 as the start of the 2025 tax season (TV)
WPRI, CBS 12
January 28, 2025
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wpri.com%2Fmoney%2Firs-announces-january-27-as-the-start-of-the-2025-tax-season%2F&data=05%7C02%7CDeborah.Doonan%40jwu.edu%7C672282fb15e64c6cdcf308dd40a7ccf9%7C4a469c1def0d40c6be1a5f603a10cc06%7C1%7C0%7C638737811614075934%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=cCZwgR%2FTe4Y1p2ScP8XLbNfhvmzz7WLFhGw3mkxWRyg%3D&reserved=0
Not Published (Newspaper)
Providence Journal
September 23, 2024
Eliminating taxes on tips? Accounting expert weighs presidential proposals (TV)
WJAR, NBC 10
September 23, 2024
https://turnto10.com/i-team/consumer-advocate/eliminating-taxes-on-tips-accounting-expert-weighs-presidential-proposals-service-industry-income-benefit-social-security-september-23-2024#:~:text=Eliminating%20taxes%20on%20tips%3F%20Accounting%20expert%20weighs%20presidential%20proposals
With expanded child tax credit bill in limbo, should you wait to file? (TV)
WJAR, NBC 10
February 1, 2024
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fturnto10.com%2Fi-team%2Fconsumer-advocate%2Fwith-expanded-child-tax-credit-bill-in-limbo-should-wait-file-decision-returns-money-inflation-refund-law-taxpayers-february-1-2024&data=05%7C02%7CDeborah.Doonan%40jwu.edu%7Cdc4bc396c82e4e82ed5e08dc242b998d%7C4a469c1def0d40c6be1a5f603a10cc06%7C1%7C0%7C638425016866370387%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=TXr5V2WfDijuSxBcmqdBWqbzuWv2lo521CcQR5FrXZ4%3D&reserved=0
Consumer Alert: You might receive a smaller tax refund this year (Internet)
WJAR, NBC 10
January 23, 2023
https://turnto10.com/i-team/consumer-advocate/federal-tax-filing-season-irs-internal-revenue-service-smaller-refunds-forms-identity-theft-deductions-staffing-covid-19-pandemic-initiatives-january-23-2023
JWU Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (TV)
WJAR, NBC 10 Call Center
April 13, 2018
http://mms.tveyes.com/MediaCenterPlayer.aspx?u=aHR0cDovL21lZGlhY2VudGVyLnR2ZXllcy5jb20vZG93bmxvYWRnYXRld2F5LmFzcHg%2FVXNlcklEPTQzMTcxJk1ESUQ9OTY2ODIwNyZNRFNlZWQ9MjIxMCZUeXBlPU1lZGlh
Rhode Island Association of Accounting Professors
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants