Cindy Burrows knows what it is like to be a traditional and a non–traditional student at the University of New Hampshire. Close to a Community Development degree in 1978, she left school and started a family. Two years later she studied mechanical drafting at Stratham Vocational Technical College. In 1984 she returned to UNH and completed the first two years of engineering studies before having her second child. In 1995 she went back to Stratham Vocational Technical College to learn computer–aided mechanical design. In 2000 she entered UNH–Manchester and this time graduated in May ‘07 with a B.S. from the Mechanical Engineering Technology program. Her article grew out of a far more technical report done for an economics course as well as her outrage at the corporate misconduct she found.
As a single mother, she worked fulltime as a mechanical designer while taking night classes, and at the same time totally rehabbed a 100–year old two–family apartment building—a feat she, her children and grandchildren are proud of. Shortly before graduation she began work at DEKA in Research and Development as a Quality System Test Engineer. “That means,” she explained, “that I look for ways to test devices to ensure they function properly for people. Sometimes that might mean trying to break them.” A native of Walpole, New Hampshire, Cindy now lives in downtown Manchester.
Cindy was inspired by an assignment in the course, “Economics of Business Activities,” taught by John R. Tommasi, lecturer in economics. Mr. Tommasi’s special area of research is macro–economic effects on the stock market; however, he teaches a wide range of courses. Since 1998 he has taught business, economics, finance, accounting, statistics and criminal justice at the University of New Hampshire and at other New England colleges. He has first–hand knowledge of the last subject as he is also a part–time patrol officer at Hampton Beach.
Read Cindy Burrows’ research article So, What About SOX? Market Response to Government Regulation >>
