It’s not a secret that I am a huge fan of Temple Law School’s tax program. Yes, I’m biased because it’s my alma mater. But I can back it up with real world experiences (yes, plural). In fact, having worked closely with a number of tax professionals over the years, both as colleagues and in the realm of hiring and firing, I’ll be so bold as to say that I think the tax law program at Temple is one of the most underrated in the country (I won’t be so gauche as to name the most overrated…)
I was inspired at Temple by amazing professors such as Alice Abreu and Nancy Knauer. But what makes Temple so great is that the program isn’t just about academics, it’s about real life. It’s the kind of place where your Harvard educated Grad Tax Director doesn’t lock herself away from students and alums with a pile of books but instead says hello, shares a cup of coffee and reveals how funny and warm and human she actually is. In fact, it is faculty exactly like Kathy Mandelbaum who makes you proud to say that you’re a Temple Law alum (JD and LLM, thank you very much).
I am especially pleased to feature Kathy Mandelbaum as my Getting to Know You Tuesday guest this week. Now, onto the interview…
1. Where are you now?
In my office, on the day before graduation.
2. What’s your official title and what does it mean?
I’m the Director of Temple Law School’s Graduate Tax program and an Associate Professor of Law. As Director of the Tax Program, I am responsible for all aspects of the program’s curriculum. I hire and supervise faculty, participate in the selection of students and course offerings, provide career assistance and all the other “stuff” involved in running both the LL.M. Program and our Certificate Programs in Estate Planning and Employee Benefits. As Associate Professor at the law school, I teach two or three courses a year in the Graduate Tax Program, including, most recently, Estate and Gift Taxation, Estate Planning, and Tax Policy.
3. What books are on your nightstand?
I am a book addict, and actually have dozens of books stacked on, under and around my bed table. I am now reading Anne Tyler’s “Digging to America”.
4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?
High School English teacher.
5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?
I subscribe to the Ritz Theater’s Saturday “pre-screening” series, and recently saw “Crazy Love”, an absolutely heartbreaking, funny, fascinating documentary about a very unusual marriage.
6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest?
I am most interested in the transfer taxation (or lack thereof) of human capital. I am also interested in the logic (or, again, lack thereof) behind the definition of unrelated business income for exempt organizations.
7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?
“Max out your 401(k) contributions”
8. Coffee or tea?
Coffee – Nizza from La Columbe – with a little bit of milk.
9. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).
Showing my age: James Taylor, Carole King, Chicago, and lots and lots of opera and classical music.
10. What would I be surprised to know about you?
I’m addicted to knitting.
11. What college did you attend (in what subject)?
I was an economics concentrator at Harvard University.
12. If you had the opportunity to make one change in the tax code tomorrow – an extra credit, a disallowed deduction, whatever – what would it be?
I have a daughter who just started college: enhanced education credits and/or deductions for higher education! And, seriously, the same answer – the Code currently includes a number of uncoordinated provisions concerning higher education which are in enormous need of revision, consolidation and expansion.
13. What’s the best thing on TV right now?
A three-way tie: “Friday Night Lights”, “The Office” and anything on “Masterpiece Theatre”.
14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT?
The AMT…..well, at least from a selfish point of view, I hope so: the repeal of the estate tax would cause me to have to prepare a lot of new courses. More seriously, though, the repeal of the AMT is likely to garner greater support than repeal of the estate tax since it affects so many more taxpayers.
15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?
See answer to question 12 above!
16. Biggest tax newsmaker: KPMG, Jenkens Gilchrist or Richard Hatch?
Richard Hatch.
17. And, other than taxgirl, what’s your favorite tax-related web site?
I’m addicted to the TaxProf blog. (editor’s note: who isn’t?)
Another big fan of Temple Law here. When working the merger of two hospitals at a major law firm in Philadelphia with a partner and a newly-minted associate from Yale, I was the only one of the three who’d studied corporate tax. Thank you, Professor Abreu!
Another big fan of Temple Law here. When working the merger of two hospitals at a major law firm in Philadelphia with a partner and a newly-minted associate from Yale, I was the only one of the three who’d studied corporate tax. Thank you, Professor Abreu!
Another big fan of Temple Law here. When working the merger of two hospitals at a major law firm in Philadelphia with a partner and a newly-minted associate from Yale, I was the only one of the three who’d studied corporate tax. Thank you, Professor Abreu!
Another big fan of Temple Law here. When working the merger of two hospitals at a major law firm in Philadelphia with a partner and a newly-minted associate from Yale, I was the only one of the three who’d studied corporate tax. Thank you, Professor Abreu!
Another big fan of Temple Law here. When working the merger of two hospitals at a major law firm in Philadelphia with a partner and a newly-minted associate from Yale, I was the only one of the three who’d studied corporate tax. Thank you, Professor Abreu!
Another big fan of Temple Law here. When working the merger of two hospitals at a major law firm in Philadelphia with a partner and a newly-minted associate from Yale, I was the only one of the three who’d studied corporate tax. Thank you, Professor Abreu!
Another big fan of Temple Law here. When working the merger of two hospitals at a major law firm in Philadelphia with a partner and a newly-minted associate from Yale, I was the only one of the three who’d studied corporate tax. Thank you, Professor Abreu!
Another big fan of Temple Law here. When working the merger of two hospitals at a major law firm in Philadelphia with a partner and a newly-minted associate from Yale, I was the only one of the three who’d studied corporate tax. Thank you, Professor Abreu!
Another big fan of Temple Law here. When working the merger of two hospitals at a major law firm in Philadelphia with a partner and a newly-minted associate from Yale, I was the only one of the three who’d studied corporate tax. Thank you, Professor Abreu!
Another big fan of Temple Law here. When working the merger of two hospitals at a major law firm in Philadelphia with a partner and a newly-minted associate from Yale, I was the only one of the three who’d studied corporate tax. Thank you, Professor Abreu!
Another big fan of Temple Law here. When working the merger of two hospitals at a major law firm in Philadelphia with a partner and a newly-minted associate from Yale, I was the only one of the three who’d studied corporate tax. Thank you, Professor Abreu!
Another big fan of Temple Law here. When working the merger of two hospitals at a major law firm in Philadelphia with a partner and a newly-minted associate from Yale, I was the only one of the three who’d studied corporate tax. Thank you, Professor Abreu!
Another big fan of Temple Law here. When working the merger of two hospitals at a major law firm in Philadelphia with a partner and a newly-minted associate from Yale, I was the only one of the three who’d studied corporate tax. Thank you, Professor Abreu!
Another big fan of Temple Law here. When working the merger of two hospitals at a major law firm in Philadelphia with a partner and a newly-minted associate from Yale, I was the only one of the three who’d studied corporate tax. Thank you, Professor Abreu!