Influential Women Spotlights Gail Moore, JD, CPA: Associate Dean, College Of Business & Technology, Lander University

GREENWOOD, SC, UNITED STATES, August 27, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Combining More Than 20 Years of Higher Education Experience With Legal and Accounting Expertise to Prepare Students for Meaningful Careers

Greenwood, South Carolina — Gail Moore, JD, CPA, is the Associate Dean of the College of Business and Technology at Lander University, where she has served in her current leadership role for just over two years. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education and a professional background as both a Certified Public Accountant and licensed attorney in South Carolina, she brings a distinctive combination of academic, legal, accounting, and professional experience to her work.

Before entering academia, Gail spent approximately a decade in private practice as a tax attorney, advising corporate and individual clients on complex tax, accounting, and business matters. Her experience in both law and accounting has remained closely connected to her academic career, informing the courses she teaches and helping her provide students with practical perspectives on the professional world.

From Tax Law to Higher Education
Gail began her academic career as an adjunct professor, teaching accounting and tax courses while continuing to practice professionally. Her passion for teaching and student development eventually led to a full-time faculty appointment as a Professor of Accounting, where she has spent the majority of her academic career.

For more than two decades, she has consistently taught income tax, business law, and accounting, areas that align closely with her professional credentials and experience. By incorporating real-world knowledge into the classroom, Gail helps students connect academic concepts with practical applications and better understand how their education can translate into professional opportunities.

Approximately 10 years ago, Gail expanded her impact by becoming the Internship Director. She considers this role central to her mission of preparing students for career success. Through her work with internships, she emphasizes career readiness, professional development, and experiential learning.

For Gail, internships provide students with an opportunity to understand how professional environments operate and begin translating academic knowledge into applied skills. She focuses on helping students recognize the value of gaining experience, developing professional habits, and preparing for the expectations they will encounter after graduation.

Leading While Remaining Connected to the Classroom
As Associate Dean of the College of Business and Technology, Gail oversees a broad range of academic and operational responsibilities. Her work includes supporting students with academic progress, graduation requirements, and internship placements while also addressing faculty needs, course scheduling, and instructional support.

Balancing these responsibilities requires organization, adaptability, and clear communication. Gail works to ensure that students receive the guidance they need to remain on track while supporting faculty and helping maintain program quality and consistency.

Despite the demands of her leadership position, Gail intentionally remains active in the classroom. She describes herself as a teaching dean and considers maintaining that connection with students an important part of her role.

Teaching remains one of the aspects of her career that she values most. She loves being in the classroom and interacting with students, particularly when they reach the point where a difficult concept becomes clear. For Gail, seeing that moment of understanding is one of the most rewarding parts of education.

When she stepped into the Associate Dean position, one of her priorities was ensuring that she could continue teaching. Remaining connected to students allows her to stay closely engaged with their experiences while also bringing that perspective into her leadership responsibilities.

Her professional focus centers on building meaningful career pathways for students, strengthening experiential learning opportunities, and ensuring academic programs remain closely aligned with workforce expectations. At the same time, she is committed to creating an environment where both students and faculty can thrive.

A Career Built on Passion and Professional Experience
Gail attributes her success to her 20-year career in higher education and the progression from adjunct professor to Associate Dean. Her professional foundation as a South Carolina CPA and lawyer, along with approximately 10 years of experience practicing tax law, has also been instrumental in shaping her career.

Her ability to bring together accounting, law, taxation, and education has allowed her to develop an academic career that closely reflects her professional background. She has consistently taught subjects that connect directly to her expertise, allowing students to learn from someone with experience beyond the classroom.

One of the achievements Gail is especially proud of is receiving the Distinguished Professor Award. The recognition was particularly meaningful because she was nominated by students. For Gail, the acknowledgment reflects the importance she places on teaching and the relationships she develops with students.

Her commitment to remaining in the classroom is rooted in her genuine love of teaching. She intends to continue teaching alongside her leadership responsibilities because she believes direct engagement with students is essential to effective academic leadership.

Building a Career That Brings Meaning
The best career advice Gail has received is that it is possible to build a successful career in a field she genuinely loves, one that brings her joy and allows her to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

That perspective has remained a consistent part of her professional journey. As she progressed from adjunct professor to Professor of Accounting and ultimately to Associate Dean, she continued to prioritize the part of her work that gives her the greatest sense of purpose: teaching and helping students develop.

Gail believes that professional success does not require someone to lose their connection to the work they enjoy. Instead, she has demonstrated that it is possible to grow into leadership while remaining connected to the classroom and to the people being served.

Her continued commitment to teaching alongside her administrative responsibilities reflects that philosophy. She intends to remain engaged with students and maintain an understanding of the direct learning experience even as her leadership responsibilities continue to evolve.

Encouraging Women to Pursue Fulfillment and Balance
Gail encourages young women entering her industry to believe that they can build a successful and fulfilling career in a field they love while also creating a meaningful personal life, including family if that is part of their goals.

She believes it is absolutely possible to grow professionally, contribute at a high level, and maintain balance and purpose beyond the workplace. Her own experience has shown her the value of finding fulfillment through multiple areas of life.

Gail has found meaning not only in her professional career and in mentoring students, but also in mentoring her own children at home. She sees guidance and support as important in every aspect of life, whether she is working with students preparing for their careers or helping her children navigate their own paths.

Throughout her career, she has also received recognition, including the Distinguished Professor and Young Faculty Teacher Award. She views these honors as reflections of dedication and the impact that comes from investing in others.

Navigating the Responsibilities of Academic Leadership
One of the biggest challenges Gail faces in her current position is balancing the wide range of responsibilities associated with supporting both students and faculty while maintaining her own teaching commitments.

Over the past two years, she has worked closely with students to address academic progress and graduation requirements while also overseeing faculty needs, scheduling, and overall program support. Each area requires consistent attention, making organization, adaptability, and communication essential to her role.

At the same time, Gail sees these responsibilities as opportunities to make a meaningful difference. Whether helping students stay on track toward graduation, supporting faculty in delivering high-quality instruction, or continuously improving processes that enhance the academic experience, she remains focused on serving the needs of the college community.

Her approach to leadership is grounded in the understanding that effective academic administration is ultimately about supporting people. Students need guidance and opportunities to succeed, while faculty need the resources and support necessary to provide strong instruction.

Service, Commitment, and Balance
Service, commitment, and balance are the values most important to Gail in both her professional and personal life. She is deeply passionate about contributing to her professional organizations, including SCAPA, AAA, and NACE. Through these organizations, she values collaboration and continuous learning, using professional engagement to remain connected to best practices in her field.

Her commitment to service also extends into her local community, where she values opportunities to volunteer and give back to others in meaningful ways.

At home, being a mother of five has reinforced the importance of presence, resilience, and support. Whether she is being a soccer mom on the sidelines or providing guidance to her children as they pursue their college journeys, she remains committed to being present and supportive.

Across every area of her life, Gail strives to show up fully, support others, and lead with purpose. Her career reflects a consistent commitment to education, service, and meaningful relationships, while her continued presence in the classroom demonstrates that leadership and teaching can work together.

As Associate Dean of the College of Business and Technology at Lander University, Gail Moore continues to bring her combined experience in law, accounting, teaching, and academic leadership to the work of preparing students for their futures. Through her dedication to experiential learning, professional development, and direct student engagement, she remains focused on helping the next generation build the knowledge, confidence, and practical experience needed to succeed.

Learn More about Gail Moore:

Through her Influential Women profile: http://influentialwomen.com/connect/Gail-Moore

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