Sharyn Fisk, an assistant professor of accounting, has been appointed to lead the Internal Revenue Service's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). She will take a leave of absence from Cal Poly Pomona and assume her new role early next year.

"This is a critical position for the nation's tax community," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "Sharyn Fisk is extremely well respected both internally at the IRS and throughout the tax professional communities. She has a strong set of skills and experience in many different settings that will serve the IRS well in this role."

The OPR oversees practitioners, preparers and others who practice before the IRS to assure that they adhere to professional standards. The office works to increase awareness and understanding of Circular 230, the regulations governing practice before the IRS. It also investigates and enforces cases related to Circ. 230.

Fisk, who is a certified tax law specialist with the California State Bar, has represented individuals, businesses and corporate taxpayers before the IRS, the Department of Justice Tax Division, federal and state courts, and state taxing authorities. She recently concluded a term as a member of the IRS Advisory Council.

She is a past chair of the taxation section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and previously chaired a task force on behalf of the Standards of Tax Practice Committee for the ABA Taxation Section. She is also a former chair of the Tax Policy, Practice and Legislation Committee.

In addition to teaching, she was the director of Cal Poly Pomona's Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, which trains students to offer tax preparation assistance to low income taxpayers.