Fernando Parra, PhD, CISA

Dr. Fernando Parra is an Associate Professor of Accountancy at Fresno State and a dedicated advocate for small businesses in California's Central Valley. With over 20 years of experience, he is an expert in providing accounting and enterprise information system solutions to businesses in diverse sectors. He is passionate about fostering economic development in the region and actively engages students in experiential learning projects that benefit local entrepreneurs. Among the community boards he serves, he champions the New Business Community Law Clinic, which provides critical legal assistance to small business owners in California's Central Valley powered by U.C. Berkeley Law students, helping them navigate business formation, compliance, and other usual startup legal matters, as well as, The Institute for Family Business at Fresno State. He is a recipient of the Craig School of Business Faculty Service Award (2023) and the Provost’s Award for Faculty Service (2024).

Dr. Parra's commitment to community extends to his teaching, where he emphasizes experiential learning and service-learning opportunities. He believes in providing students with a holistic career development approach that aligns with current professional standards. His research interests include pedagogy, enterprise information systems, and the impact of digital transformation on businesses. He has presented his work at conferences such as the American Accounting Association (AAA), the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS), and the American Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), and his research has been published in various academic journals. His academic background includes a Ph. D. in International Business from The University of Texas at El Paso with a specialization in Information Systems and Accounting. He is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor.