John Kaschak ’98 Returns to Campus with a Purpose

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For nearly 25 years after graduating from Bloomsburg, John Kaschak's busy career and family life kept him from returning to campus for more than a quick photo in front of Carver during fair week. That all changed last year when Kaschak accepted the position of Deputy Secretary for Comptroller Operations with the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget.

His new role included oversight of 400 accountants responsible for the state's financial reporting. Many of those accountants, Kaschak learned, were fellow Bloomsburg grads. He also learned that his alma mater had an office-wide reputation for producing career-ready accountants. So in the fall of 2024 he traveled back to campus to recruit for his team at the Accounting and Finance Career Connections Expo.

"I could not believe how much the campus had changed [but] could not help but feel like I was home again," recalled Kaschak. "I loved meeting with and talking to the students [and] enjoyed meeting new faculty."

Kaschak was not only impressed with campus improvements, but also by the students and their level of preparation which he took as evidence that the university continues to provide the high quality education he knew as a student.

"The students were engaged and asked great questions," said Kaschak. "I was also very impressed with the number of students that were already participating in internships by their sophomore year."

During his visit, Kaschak was invited to speak to several accounting classes and the Accounting Association about governmental accounting and careers in the public sector. He found that sharing his experiences with Bloomsburg students very rewarding.

"It meant a lot to not only be able to share my work and career experiences with the students, but to also share how Bloomsburg prepared me for those experiences," said Kaschak. "I am already looking forward to participating in future events."

For Kaschak, returning to Bloomsburg to guide the next generation of accountants is not only a way of giving back but also a reminder of the strong foundation his alma mater gave him. He encourages fellow Huskies to give their professional wisdom to students, regardless of the amount of time or the type of contribution.

"As an alumnus, you cannot help but feel a shared connection with the students," he explained. "The experience is a lot more personally rewarding than I ever expected it to be. Whatever amount of time you have available, the experience is still incredibly rewarding."

Categories:

• Accounting
• Alumni
• Career Expo
• Professional U

Tags:

• Alumni
• Career Expo
• Careers
• Volunteer