APRIL 2025
ACCY Update
From the Department Head
Dear Colleagues and Friends, When I was honored as the Irwin Jecha Distinguished Professor in Accountancy last fall, I had a lot of people to thank: my family, my friends, my colleagues, my mentors, former students, and the donor who established the professorship. As I stood before an auditorium full of people to receive my medallion, I was moved by the physical presence of so many who helped me achieve this personal and professional milestone. As we take pride in the innovation and progress led by our department – as well we should – we must also never forget that people have always been the force sustaining the forward motion of our institution. Our students commit themselves to scholarly pursuits in hopes of bettering themselves and the world around them. Our faculty members log countless hours of research and professional development to bring new, relevant knowledge to our learners. Our staff members connect our teaching and learning communities with critical resources, often while navigating complex and evolving standards of practice. And our alumni support nearly
“We strive for excellence in our research, our curriculum, and our service to learners because what we do here can make the world better.
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every aspect of this cycle through volunteerism, mentorship, and funding. It can be hard to recognize an institution by the individuals who serve it – or by the individuals they serve. But that’s what we are: humans serving other humans. We insist on excellence in all that we do, not so that we can etch our name onto a plaque, a statue, or a medal. We strive for excellence in our research, our curriculum, and our service to learners because what we do here can make the world better. No matter how highly we rank among our peers or how many awards we can boast, the evidence of our excellence exists in the stories and experiences of people whose lives have been changed by the opportunities they received from our department. It’s my great pleasure to present just a few of those stories to you.
Michael Donohoe Head of the Department of Accountancy Irwin Jecha Distinguished Professor in Accountancy
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