If you have never taken a class with Dr. Alli Esther, you are missing out. You can usually find her in Holland Hall, teaching economics or business classes, decked out in a cute floral outfit, complete with matching shoes. From what you can see from the outside, you would not suspect anything different than anything out of the ordinary, but soon you will find out she is St. Olaf’s very own Ms. Frizzle, just full of surprises.
This semester, I have an 8 a.m. accounting class with her, and to be honest, on the first day, I can’t say I was too excited. I walked in half-asleep and expected all the stereotypes of an accounting class. About 15 minutes in, I realized that I was in for a lot more than I expected.
Esther told us about her job before she became a professor, working as a private investigator (PI) in New Orleans. She talked all about her time owning her own PI business, from chasing criminals to dancing out in the streets. Esther only shifted career paths when most of her job as a PI became online work, and she didn’t get to chase anyone on foot anymore. She considered a job in the FBI as a forensic accountant to continue her work following the money trail and catching criminals. Instead, she found a love of teaching and a place here at St. Olaf, which we are very grateful for!
Whether you are into business and economics or not, I recommend taking a class with Alli Esther. After one class, we had covered topics from the basic principles of accounting to the importance of wearing bulletproof fabric and using safety pins to keep your clothes together so you don’t have to worry about dancing them all off. Even if it is an 8 a.m. accounting class, you will be welcomed by an interesting and engaging professor who will have you captivated within minutes.
