2016 SOA Connection

FALL 2016 EDITION

NEWS FROM THE AUBURN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY

SOA CONNECTION

SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY 1986-2016:

30 Years of Excellence ALSO INSIDE: Outstanding Alumnus Van Henley, SOA Launches Annual CPE Event . . . and more!

School of Accountancy

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

1

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE history. We will have well over 500 majors in the 2016-17 academic year. We’ll need that energy!

Another constant over many years of change is our alumni. In six short months as director, I have witnessed so many fresh examples of alumni giving back—through time on campus, through advice and words of encouragement, and in financial resources— always in the spirit of making the SOA the best it can be. Our students see it too. For them, it is a powerful illustration of the Auburn Family, and what it means to give back to future generations. I hope we never miss an opportunity to say “thank you.”

Dear Alumni and Friends, It is my great pleasure to greet you as Director of the School of Accountancy in the Harbert College of Business. This time last year, I could not have imagined that I would be doing so. One year can bring significant change and opportunity.

When I joined the faculty in 2000, just before the first fall semester, I knew that I was in a special place. The energy within the SOA was tangible and contagious.

That year, we launched our distance learning Master of Accountancy program to students all over the country (via VHS tapes, I might add). We began restructuring the spring curriculum to give students a more meaningful internship experience.

We brought new technology and teaching methods to the classroom. Sixteen years later, that energy is still contagious! Fueling that energy—a constant amidst change—is the faculty’s desire to educate and develop Auburn students into outstanding young accounting professionals. In the year of our 30th birthday, we enrolled the largest number of accounting majors in SOA 2

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

As we reminisce over thirty years of growth and accomplishment as a School of Accountancy, I hope you share my excitement about the future of the SOA. This issue of the SOA Connection highlights many examples of alumni, student and faculty excellence. Our mission of advancing the field of accounting and preparing tomorrow’s accounting leaders comes to life!

Please contact me any time you have questions or comments. My door is always open to you.

School of Accountancy

TABLE OF CONTENTS Director’s Message

2

SOA 30th Anniversary

3

2016 Outstanding Alumnus

6

Advisory Council

8

Faculty 10 Beta Alpha Psi

14

2016 Accounting Internships

18

Auburn Accounting Online

22

On-Campus MAcc

26

Scholarships and Awards

30

Alumni 34

War Eagle!

Dr. Jennifer Mueller-Phillips, Director School of Accountancy

Annual Giving

37

In Memoriam

43

The SOA Connection is a publication of Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business (HCOB) produced and distributed to alumni and friends of the School of Accountancy.

MANAGING EDITOR Colby Lakas, Assistant Director Accounting Graduate Programs PHOTOGRAPHY T2 Photography www. t2photography.com LAYOUT DESIGN AND PRINTING Davis Direct, Inc. Montgomery, AL

CONTRIBUTORS Andee Hodo, Assistant Director Online Accounting Programs Amy Murphy, Director Accounting Graduate Programs Allie Dyleski, Coordinator of Student Services Catherine Wilson and John Canada MAcc Class of ‘16 Drs. Jonathan Stanley and Travis Holt SOA Faculty Members Joe McAdory, Editor HCOB Communications and Marketing Troy Johnson, Director HCOB Communications and Marketing

SOA 30TH ANNIVERSARY

AUBURN’S SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY

30 Years of Excellence

1967 – School of Business is established – and eventually, the Department of Accounting and Finance – and housed in Thach and Tichenor Halls.

1978 – Beta Alpha Psi Epsilon Omicron chapter is chartered.d

Dr. Wayne Alderman

Christy (Lee) Whitaker, the first Master of Accountancy graduate, celebrates the MAcc’s 30th birthday at an SOA tailgate in 2014.

1987 – Dr. Bob Rouse is hired from Clemson as SOA Director.

1984 – Master of Accountancy Program is launched.

1986 – School of Accountancy is formed as a result of the national push to recognize the professional nature of such programs. Dr. Bob Rogow is the first director, effective in January. Dr. Wayne Alderman becomes the interim director in May.

1989 – Dr. Wayne Alderman becomes SOA Director.

1990 – Dr. Wayne Alderman is named Associate Dean for the college and Dr. Rick Tabor becomes SOA Director.

1992 – Lowder Hall opens in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the College of Business.

1994 – Ms. Amy Murphy joins the SOA as Director of Graduate Programs.

1993 – Dr. Wayne Alderman is named Dean of the College of Business.

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

3

Professionals from PwC and KPMG await student visitors at their Meet the Firms booths.

1995 – Dr. Ron Clark is hired as SOA Director from the University of Georgia.

2011 – Dr. Norman Godwin is named Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Dr. DeWayne Searcy assumes role as SOA Director; Auburn University football team wins the 2010 National Championship.

2003 – Dr. Norman Godwin assumes the role of SOA Director.

2005 – Becker CPA review course is integrated into the MAcc spring semester schedule.

Dr. DeWayne Searcy

2013 – College of Business is renamed the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business after his $40M gift.

4

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

2009 – Master of Accountancy Program begins study abroad program and travels to Chile.

2016 – Dr. Jennifer Mueller-Phillips assumes role as SOA Director and the “Great Fire of Lowder Hall” occurs.

1997 – SOA earns separate accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the gold standard of accounting education in the academic community.

2000 – Auburn University converts from the quarter system to semesters; Master of Accountancy courses are offered via distance learning format (see program timeline on page 23); Dr. Rick Tabor is re-appointed as SOA Director.

1996 – First “Meet the Firms” career fair is hosted at the Auburn Alumni Center.

2001 – “Busy Season” spring internship becomes a part of the accounting curriculum.

Spring 2017 – Groundbreaking for a second business building; target opening summer 2018 (made possible through another generous gift from Raymond J. Harbert).

Fall 2016 TheConnection SOA Connection Fall 2016 The SOA 5

5

OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS

Van Henley ’80 2016 Outstanding Alumnus Lives by The Creed Van Henley didn’t want to be a tax accountant. The young Auburn graduate from Milton, Fla., had his sights set on auditing soon after accepting a position with a Big 8 firm in 1980.

“My supervisors told me, ‘Your first assignment is to work in tax for six weeks,’” Henley recalled. “I was like, ‘Why me? I don’t like tax. Why would you do that?’ But they said, ‘We need you to go there.’”

School of Accountancy’s Outstanding Alumnus for 2016. Henley’s contributions to the industry and university are abundant. Not only is he treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Auburn Alumni Association, but Henley served on the School of Accountancy’s Advisory Council for more than 20 years; led the Dallas-Fort Worth ‘It Begins at Auburn’ campaign; and is a member of the 1856 Society, Foy Society, and Harbert College of Business Shareholders’ Club.

Van’s acceptance speech moved the audience with messages of his faith and love for Auburn.

“Every time I drive back into Auburn, I get special feelings about the University,” said Henley.

Growing up near Pensacola, Fla., Henley’s parents suggested he become a dentist. But he told his mother he didn’t like chemistry,

So he did – and it was a good thing. “I started to find tax pretty interesting,” said Henley. “I learned that a lot of it is like putting a jigsaw puzzle together, fixing problems. I started to enjoy it.”

Henley soon returned to his audit assignments at the firm’s Birmingham office, but wasn’t enthused any longer. He’d become hooked on taxes. “As luck would have it, a couple of weeks later, a memo came from the corner office saying ‘We need a couple of people to transfer into tax from audit,’” he explained. “So I went running down the hall and said, ‘Put me in!’ Thirtyseven years later, I’m still doing tax.”

Henley, is now a senior tax partner at EY in Dallas, Texas, and is the Auburn University 6

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

Always the dedicated Auburn football fans, Van and his family have traveled to both of Auburn’s recent national championship appearances.

and instead found a passion for debits and credits.

“I loved the way it all made sense,” said Henley, who found his life’s calling in a high school bookkeeping class his junior year. “There was symmetry to it. There was only one accounting class in my high school, but there was a group of us who enjoyed it so much we talked our teacher (Roberta Temple) into adding a second year into the curriculum. After taking two years of accounting in high school, I knew what to major in when I came to Auburn.”

Two years of material in high school helped early on at Auburn, but he could take that knowledge only so far.

“In my first Principles of Accounting class, I knew all of the material from high school,” he said. “In my second principles class, I got halfway through it and didn’t realize that we started new material. Dr. (Wayne) Alderman was teaching it, and he knew a little bit about my background. He

handed me the results of my second exam and my eyes got really big looking at them.

It was really bad. Dr. Alderman smiled and said, ‘We’re into new material now.’ I had to scramble to catch up. Thankfully, I made an ‘A’ in that class, but it was a lot of work.”

Henley believes a “strong work ethic” is developed within an Auburn education.

“Although I didn’t appreciate it at the time (but do now), the faculty expected you to work,” he said. “I wasn’t super smart. I had to work for it. I think most Auburn students leave here with a good work ethic.

That’s been my impression over the years.

I’ve hired a lot of them. We have 175 Auburn graduates in our firm, and they work hard.”

When selecting a major, Henley encourages prospective business students to consider accounting.

“With an accounting degree, you can do so many different things,” he added. “You

As a memento of the award, Van was gifted a chair engraved with the Auburn seal and his name. can go into public accounting. You can go into private industry. How many CEOs are former accountants/financial people?

Many. The FBI hires more accountants than any other major. I tell students, ‘I’ve never known an unemployed accountant who was willing to work.’”

Van and his wife, Suzanne, have three sons, Austin, Tyler, and Carson, three daughters-in-law, and seven grandchildren; most of whom were able to see him receive this award.

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

7

ADVISORY COUNCIL The SOA Advisory Council represents alumni and friends who give of their time and financial resources to support the School of Accountancy in countless ways.

Michelle Granberry, Partner

Ric Kimball, Principal

Lovoy, Summerville & Shelton, LLC Auburn, AL

KPMG, LLP Atlanta, GA

Douglas Grant, Partner

M. Lamar Barnett, Jr., VP, U.S. Internal Audit

PwC Birmingham, AL

Brad Kimbrough, EVP, Controller & Chief Accounting Officer

Aflac Worldwide Headquarters Columbus, GA

Art Guy, Partner

Steve Barranco, Member Warren Averett, LLC Montgomery, AL

Wesley Brown, Director L. Paul Kassouf & Co., PC Birmingham, AL

Steve Byrne, Partner Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC Atlanta, GA

EY Baltimore, MD

Richard King, Director of Charitable Giving

Jason Harpe, Partner

Alabama Power Company Birmingham, AL

Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC Birmingham, AL

Steve Harrison, Partner Deloitte, LLP Atlanta, GA

Gregory Henderson, President & CEO

Matthew Cessna, Associate Merchant The Home Depot Atlanta, GA

Southeast Alabama Gas District Andalusia, AL

Gregory Heston, Partner EY Atlanta, GA

Lee Corte, Senior Manager Deloitte, LLP McLean, VA

Regions Financial Corporation Birmingham, AL

Brent Hicks, Operations Risk Executive

Kurt Koons, Partner PwC Atlanta, GA

Benjamin Leaver, Asst. Controller Robins & Morton Birmingham, AL

Harrison Lewis, Senior Manager EY Chattanooga, TN

Jonathan Mayer, Senior Manager EY Atlanta, GA

Gray McDermott, Shareholder

Sara Cothran, Business Analyst

BB&T Winston-Salem, NC

Thompson Tractor Co. Birmingham, AL

Russell Hodge, Global Technician Controller

Chad Downey, VP & Treasurer

General Electric Company Larchmont, NY

Reagan Consulting Atlanta, GA

Dick Ingwersen, Member

Janet Mertz, Managing Director

Warren Averett, LLC Atlanta, GA

Pathstone Federal Street Atlanta, GA

Ryan Inlow, Partner

Justin Mitchell, Supervisor

Huntsville, AL

Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC Albany, GA

Warren Averett, LLC Montgomery, AL

Clinton Gilmore, Partner

Jordan Jones, Assistant Controller

Jerry Moore, Treasurer & Controller

Guardian Pharmacy, LLC Atlanta, GA

Amanda Foster, Partner PwC Atlanta, GA

Brad Garland, CPA

Robinson, Grimes & Company, PC Columbus, GA

8

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

Surgical Care Affiliates Birmingham, AL

Crow, Shields & Bailey, PC Mobile, AL

Brian McNeely, Partner

Altec Industries Birmingham, AL

NEW MEMBERS Darren Neuschwander, Managing Member Green, Neuschwander & Manning, LLC Robertsdale, AL

Dawn Patrick, Partner Cherry Bekaert LLP Atlanta, GA

Larry Quimby, Retired Partner PwC Athens, AL

Jay Robbins, Member Warren Averett, LLC Atlanta, GA

Lillian Serviss, Manager, Corporate Tax Synovus Columbus, GA

Ned Sheffield, President & Managing Principal

DAVID CHANDLER, Shareholder Aldridge, Borden & Company, P.C. David has over 23 years of experience, and specializes in tax planning and compliance for individuals, partnerships, LLCs, corporations and trusts. Prior to joining Aldridge, Borden in 2003, David spent 5½ years with EY and 5½ years with two publicly traded companies (JDN Realty Corporation in Atlanta, GA and Alfa Insurance Companies in Montgomery, AL). He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Alabama Society of CPAs, and the Georgia Society of CPAs. He is also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery and serves on the Board of Directors for the Alabama Federal Tax Clinic and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. He is an Auburn native and Auburn University graduate with a BSBA in Accounting (1991) and Master of Accountancy (1992). David and his wife, Anne, have three children; Katie, Rob, and Will.

Jackson Thornton Montgomery, AL

BRETT DUDNEY, Manager

Robin Short, Principal

Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP

Jackson Thornton Dothan, AL

Brett possesses more than seven years of audit and accounting experience with private equity portfolio companies, privately held, and publicly traded companies. Brett’s experience in the private equity space focuses on collaborating with clients on technical accounting and auditing matters including business acquisitions, transaction support, and complex equity structures.

He joined DHG in 2011 after spending three years with Warren Averett in Birmingham. He is a member of the AICPA and Alabama Society of CPAs. Brett earned his BSBA in Accounting and Master of Accountancy from Auburn in 2007 and 2008, respectively. He and his wife, Shannon (also an Auburn SOA graduate) have resided in Birmingham since graduating from Auburn.

Kim Spinello, Partner PwC Raleigh, NC

Brooke Walker, Manager Chick-fil-A, Inc. Atlanta, GA

Karen Wit, Senior Director of SEC Reporting Equifax Atlanta, GA

Jeff Wright, Managing Partner Draffin & Tucker LLP Albany, GA

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

9

FACULTY

SOA OUTSTANDING RESEARCHER Dr. Brian Vansant, Assistant Professor

Awards & Promotions

SOA OUTSTANDING TEACHER Dr. Duane Brandon, Professor

PROMOTED TO SENIOR LECTURER Mr. Bob Cochran

10

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

Dr. Jonathan Stanley

Research

Holt & Stanley Research Audit Materiality for KPMG Drs. Travis Holt and Jonathan Stanley (along with Dr. Todd DeZoort from the University of Alabama) recently presented their paper “A Comparative Analysis of Investor and Auditor Materiality Judgments” at KPMG’s national office in Montvale, NJ. The paper is from their study developed as part of the KPMG Grant Program on selected auditing topics that are particularly responsive to professional practice issues.

The firms view these as top priorities.

While there is a significant body of academic research on the topic of materiality, it remains a challenging concept for auditors to implement and for stakeholders to understand. Dr. Holt explains, “The challenges inherent in making audit materiality judgments are compounded by the fact that materiality is typically defined from an investor’s perspective rather than from an auditor’s perspective. Despite this investor

orientation, little is known about how investors actually assess materiality and how their assessments compare to auditors’.”

The authors conducted a study using groups of both nonprofessional and professional investors, as well as experienced audit partners and managers. Their findings indicate several interesting differences in materiality judgments among the groups. For example, when assessing the fairness of a company’s financial reports, both investor groups appear to focus less on the dollar magnitude of potential misstatements and whether the company is publicly traded, and more on the nature of the accounting area involved in the misstatement than auditors.

Nonprofessional investors also appear to have lower materiality thresholds than professional investors and auditors. Dr. Stanley notes, “Our ultimate goal for the paper is to enhance auditor understanding and implementation of materiality concepts in practice.”

Dr. Travis Holt

In addition to their presentation of the study at KPMG, Dr. Holt recently returned from Singapore where he presented the paper to academic researchers, practitioners, and regulators at the 2016 International Symposium on Audit Research.

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

11

FACULTY

Honors

Long Awarded Fulbright Scholarship James Long and Named SOA Director of International Programs Dr. James Long hopes to absorb new teaching methodologies and enhance his ability to present technical material to students from diverse, international backgrounds.

As a Fulbright Scholar, he’ll get his chance.

Long, an associate professor and newly-named director of international programs in the School of Accountancy, recently earned a Fulbright Scholarship and will teach financial valuation as a visiting scholar at Corvinus University in Budapest, Hungary, in the spring of 2017.

This gives Long the opportunity to collaborate with international faculty, offer his expertise to the Hungarian business community, gain a better

understanding of accounting issues and trends overseas, and bring back fresh ideas that can be implemented in the classrooms of the Harbert College.

“I will be interested in seeing what their presentation strategies are,” said Long, who hopes to get involved in a series of teaching-related workshops in Hungary. “From my perspective, it will be interesting to see how they set up the classroom, how they present material. Is it pure lecture? Is it a lot more interactive? I’m excited to get their take on the best way to approach business education and also share our ideas with them.”

Long is the Harbert College of Business’s third Fulbright recipient

since 2010, but the first from the School of Accountancy. Fulbright Scholarships offer research, study, and teaching opportunities worldwide – and have enabled thousands of educators across the globe to exchange ideas in and out of classrooms since 1946.

Long, who came to Auburn in 2009 after earning a Ph.D. at Virginia Tech, says the program will allow him to establish a stronger foundation for his future endeavors related to international educational exchanges.

Also a 2002 graduate of the Auburn Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program, Long cited part of the Harbert College of Business’s mission statement, which states that the

Dr. Long’s Travel Memories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1

2

James accompanied the MAcc Class of 2015 to Peru, where they visited Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

12

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

James took a weekend trip to Portugal while he led a study abroad in Spain in the summer of 2016.

3

While scouting locations for a 2016 study abroad in Spain, James had an opportunity to watch a Real Madrid football (soccer) match.

4

college is “committed to preparing students to compete in the global economy.” “One way in which the faculty can facilitate students’ understanding of and preparation to compete in the global economy is to bring their own experiences into the classroom,” he said.

Hungary drew Long’s interest as its economy has evolved from communism, to a mix of communism and capitalism, to capitalism. “It will be very interesting to exchange economic perspectives since they have experienced three different economic regimes over the last 30 years,” he said. “I am really intrigued about how they see the world and do business.”

Long noted that many Corvinus University students “will be very interested in working abroad, or working for American companies,”

2

Dr. Long’s travels are highlighted in orange on the map; he aspires to cover more global ground in his new SOA role.

3

5

1

and hopes that he can help facilitate opportunities for them to study and work in the U.S. But Long isn’t going just to teach and learn about new classroom perspectives. He is also interested in finding colleagues to collaborate with on new research projects at Corvinus’s financial research laboratory, and getting involved in the local business community, which includes PwC, among other U.S. companies.

“I’d like to get involved with those organizations, go to some of their

events, and see what the hot issues are in practice,” he said.

Long also plans to be active in Corvinus’ American Corners Program, which organizes American-themed events for Hungarians who are interested in learning more about U.S. culture.

“I’m going to get the opportunity to give some lectures there,” he added.

“I thought I would introduce them to college football. They’re all going to be saying ‘War Eagle’ before I’m done.”

.....................................................................

4

James led an Auburn MBA Program study abroad trip to Germany in the spring of 2015, during which they had an opportunity to tour the remains of the Berlin Wall.

5

The MAcc Class of 2016 traveled with faculty members to Bogota, Colombia where they took in the city from atop Monserrate.

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

13

BETA ALPHA PSI

BETA ALPHA PSI SPONSORS The Epsilon Omicron chapter

Chick-Fil-A, Inc.

Moore Stephens Tiller LLC

of Beta Alpha Psi is comprised

CohnReznick, LLP

of wonderful members and

Deloitte, LLP

Pearce, Bevill, Leesburg, Moore, PC

candidates, but would not be

Dent Moses, LLP

successful without the support of

Dougherty, McKinnon & Luby, LLC

our group of employer sponsors.

A listing follows of these firms and companies who allow our students to have access to so many internship and full-time opportunities. Thank you!

Draffin & Tucker, LLP EY Frazier & Deeter, LLC Georgia-Pacific LLC Grant Thornton, LLP Hall, Albright, Garrison & Associates

PwC Robert Half* Robinson, Grimes & Company, PC Rรถdl & Partner Roger CPA Review* RSM, LLP Smith & Howard, PC Smith, Dukes & Buckalew, LLP Southwire Company, LLC*

Abbott, Livings, Smith & Higgins, PC

Hartmann, Blackmon & Kilgore, PC*

Aflac, Inc.

HLB Gross Collins, PC*

Tidwell Group

Aldridge, Borden & Company, PC

Jackson Thornton

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

Anglin Reichmann Snellgrove & Armstrong PC* Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith, PC

Becker CPA Review

LBMC*

Machen McChesney

Bennett Thrasher, PC Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC

The SOA Connection

L. Paul Kassouf & Company, PC

Lovoy, Summerville & Shelton, LLC

BDO*

14

KPMG, LLP

Fall 2016

Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC Moore Colson

Surgical Care Affiliates

Warren Averett, LLC Wilkins Miller, LLC Windham Brannon * Indicates new sponsor since last SOA Connection Issue

Epsilon Omicron YEAR IN REVIEW

Our chapter has experienced great innovation in the past year, including the implementation of the Financial Accounting Stars Banquet, which seeks to recruit high talent Principles of Financial Accounting students into the accounting major. We hosted a record-breaking crowd at Meet the Firms in the Auburn Arena, and also held a niche event for smaller employers to meet with accounting students, the Local and Regional Firm Meet & Greet. Every year yields more amazing opportunities to grow and improve our chapter.

BAP Officers (From Left): Row 1: Dorothy Dickmann, Brooke Culbreth; Row 2: Anna Weeks, Becca Glosemeyer; Row 3: Blake Chapman, Mason Maughan, Brendan Mallory

Both of the 2015-16 Meet the Firms events were hosted at the Auburn Arena, and drew a crowd of over 500 professional and student attendees.

BAP Members joined SOA faculty in hosting the inaugural Financial Accounting Stars Banquet, a recruiting event for talented students enrolled in the principles course. The event, hosted at The Hotel at Auburn University, was a seated dinner with presentations from BAP members about the merits of an accounting degree.

The Local and Regional Firm Meet & Greet was held in the Auburn Arena’s Scholarship Terrace in April 2016 and offered a smaller venue for students to interact with employers who represented offices throughout the Southeast.

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

15

BETA ALPHA PSI

AWARDS

OUTSTANDING TEACHER: DR. JEFF JONES Dorothy Dickmann, BAP VP of Service, presents Dr. Jones with his award at the spring ceremony.

OUTSTANDING OFFICERS: JOHN ILLGES AND REBEKKA WHITFIELD – Colby Lakas, BAP Faculty Advisor, presents the award to John and Rebekka at the SOA spring ceremony.

AMY B. MURPHY SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS: Elizabeth Kelly, Kathryn Kelly, Mark Bartholomew and Naomi Yusafi

Elizabeth and Mark pose with Faculty Advisor, Colby Lakas, as she holds the Amy B. Murphy Service Award. Recipients were recognized as a result of their service contributions in excess of the requirements for members and candidates.

Murphy Service Award recipients Kathryn Kelly (pictured in photo on left) and Naomi Yusafi (pictured in photo on right) receive their awards from BAP officer Anna Weeks and Colby Lakas.

16

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT – Information Systems Student Finds Networking and Business Opportunities via BAP Membership Jason McKinley might be the owner and CEO of a private business, but that’s not why the senior in information systems management already has a leg up on the competition. He holds advantages because he’s also seeking a degree in accounting and he’s deeply involved in Beta Alpha Psi. The dual-degree student from metro-Atlanta understands that information technology professionals do not always have strong accounting backgrounds, nor are accountants always blessed with IT skills.

“The accounting aspect provides a greater understanding of business,” said McKinley, who owns Arc Technologies Group, a full-service information technology consulting firm. “As a consultant, it will give me a lot of credibility when speaking to a client, especially once I have my CPA license. The dual degree also gives me a slightly different paradigm to my IT peers. I get to see both sides of a system, and understand them.”

McKinley, who has accepted a summer 2018 full-time position at Deloitte, said a professor advised him to “bridge that gap,” and he could be “very marketable.” Membership within Beta Alpha Psi helps, too.

“Beta Alpha Psi provides the best opportunity to network with potential employers – everything from the Big Four to local firms and corporate employers,” said McKinley, who noted that Beta Alpha Psi is one of his technology clients. “You can get constant exposure to company cultures of every size, and the people who work for them. This means you will be better informed about your options, and your ‘options’ will be better informed about you.”

He is President and IT Coordinator of Auburn University’s Chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success, Managing Director for Technology Solutions for the Financial Management Association National Honor Society, and Founding Member of Sustained Dialogue at Auburn University.

McKinley plans to earn both undergraduate degrees in 2017 and a Master of Accountancy degree in 2018.

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

17

2016 INTERNSHIPS Auburn University is the only school that currently offers two “busy season” internship timing options supporting both audit and tax deadlines. Senior accounting majors can complete their degree by taking two courses on a “mini-term,” or 5 week schedule, during the semester of their internship. Audit interns begin these courses in mid-March following their internship, while tax students have a split miniterm that allows them to intern from February to April 15th.

We would like to thank the following employers for hiring Auburn accounting interns in 2016.

While working in RSM’s Anchorage office, Christen McKeague explored her breathtaking surroundings on weekends.

Anglin Reichmann Snellgrove & Armstrong PC Hunstville, AL Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith LLC Birmingham, AL Bennett Thrasher LLC Atlanta, GA Brantley Boucher & Farr LLP Opelika, AL

Frazier & Deeter, LLC Atlanta, GA Nashville, TN

Carr, Riggs & Ingram LLC Montgomery, AL Nashville, TN

Georgia-Pacific LLC Atlanta, GA

Chick-fil-A, Inc. Atlanta, GA

Grant Thornton LLP Atlanta, GA

CliftonLarsonAllen LLP Winter Haven, FL

Himmelwright, Huguley & Boles Auburn, AL

CohnReznick LLP Atlanta, GA Deloitte LLP Atlanta, GA Birmingham, AL Houston, TX Dent Moses, LLP Birmingham, AL DiPiazza LaRocca Heeter & Co. Birmingham, AL Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP Birmingham, AL

Gib Thrash did a site visit in Mexico City during his Nestlé internal audit internship and had an opportunity to visit the Teotihuacán pyramids.

18

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

EY Atlanta, GA Birmingham, AL Cincinnati, OH Dallas, TX Denver, CO Nashville, TN Melbourne, Australia

The Home Depot Atlanta, GA Jackson Thornton Wetumpka, AL Koch Industries, Inc. Atlanta, GA KPMG LLP Atlanta, GA Houston, TX Lovoy, Summerville & Shelton, LLC Auburn, AL

Machen McChesney Auburn, AL Mauldin & Jenkins Atlanta, GA MDA Professional Group, PC Huntsville, AL Moore Colson Marietta, GA NestlĂŠ St. Louis, MO Pearce, Bevill, Leesburg, Moore, PC Birmingham, AL Protective Life Corporation Birmingham, AL Puryear Hamilton Hausman & Wood Nashville, TN PwC Atlanta, GA Birmingham, AL Dallas, TX Houston, TX McLean, VA Nashville, TN New York, NY RSM Anchorage, AK Birmingham, AL Tidwell Group Atlanta, GA Birmingham, AL Austin, TX Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Atlanta, GA Warren Averett, LLC Atlanta, GA Anniston, AL Birmingham, AL Fort Walton Beach, FL Tampa, FL

s Blake Chapman had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica during his EY summer internship.

During the trip, Blake visited a client and participated in training events (e.g. learning how to handle toucans).

Blake Callaway was selected for EY’s prestigious Global Student Experience program and completed an internship in Melbourne, Australia. He had many goals for his experience, one of which was to hold a koala.

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

19

2016 INTERNSHIPS

INTERN SPOTLIGHT: Lizzie Keown Would You Like Waffle Fries with that Internship?

H

ow did Lizzie Keown spend her summer? She prepared profit and loss statements for multiple Chickfil-A locations, built relationships and learned “a whole new perspective for the corporate accounting world.”

Keown, a senior in Auburn’s School of Accountancy, is certain that she wants to pursue a career in corporate accounting after completing her restaurant financial reporting internship (RFR) at the booming fast food giant.

“This internship has given me a great experience in the corporate world and helped me grasp what the private sector is like,” said Keown, who plans to graduate this spring. Keown said RFR team members are the “direct communicators to the operators at each Chick-fil-A restaurant location.”

“I really enjoyed helping with these [profit-loss statements] because I was able to see so much about the daily operations of each restaurant location.

I also worked on some budgeting projects and another project involving the re-classing of retirement funds for operators and the restaurant team members.”

She said her time at Chick-fil-A taught her how to build stronger business relationships.

“With each meeting I scheduled, I felt more and more prepared to build relationships and learn about the person I was meeting with, and I quickly realized how significant these one-onone discussions can be.”

A statue of Truett Cathy, the Chickfil-A founder, keeps Lizzie company on a bench at the corporate headquarters.

20

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

Before earning the Chick-fil-A internship, Keown was informed that she must pass a basic accounting test that she said “more than 90 percent of the applicants fail.”

Take Mor Pickturz: Lizzie poses with one of her bovine colleagues.

“After I received the phone call that I passed the assessment, I knew that I was already reaping the benefits of Auburn’s School of Accountancy,” she said. “Once I started my internship and realized how many basic accounting skills I would be applying in my work, I knew I was more prepared for my assignments this summer because those are the skills that the SOA professors really focus on teaching.”

“The SOA professors also helped me feel very prepared for the level of professionalism that was expected of me as an intern. I felt well-equipped to network and develop relationships while maintaining a level of professionalism with all of my colleagues.”

Keown, who once wanted to be an elementary school teacher, encourages all students to have internships before graduation because internships provide opportunities for students to see how classroom principles are applied in the real world.

“It is also a good way to ease into an office position without the full responsibilities of a full-time employee,” she added. “I was expected to do a lot of entry-level accountant work, but I had a lot more flexibility. Interns also gain professional development and networking skills that will be very useful in their future careers. It is a great way to figure out if the types of jobs students are pursuing will be a good fit for them, or if they need to explore other options within their career paths.” ​ Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

21

AUBURN ACCOUNTING ONLINE

ONLINE MAcc 2016 OUTSTANDING STUDENT: HEATHER COCHRAN Pictured right, Heather is a Partner with RFH, an accounting firm in Lexington, Kentucky.

ONLINE MAcc 2016 OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARD: DR. JAMES LONG Dr. Long poses with Amy Murphy at the MAcc Leadership Summit Welcome Social after receiving his award, a framed piece of Auburn art.

22

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

AUBURN ACCOUNTING ONLINE HISTORY

T

he online accounting programs offered by the School of Accountancy experienced record growth for the 2015-2016 academic year. With a 54% increase in enrollment from fall 2014 to fall 2015, it is clear that students are excited about the opportunity to become CPA exam eligible and enhance their career opportunities, all while earning a credential from Auburn University.

With ages ranging from 21-61 and job titles ranging from Staff Accountant to Chief Financial Officer, the online students enrolled in an accounting program represent a diverse group of individuals from 45 different states.

“In deciding where to continue my education, I looked for a program that balanced academic rigor and prestige, cost, and flexibility,” said David Dufek, an online Bachelor of Science in Accountancy student.

“As an executive, I appreciate the program design, which will allow me to succeed despite frequent travel and shifting demands in my career.

As a scholar, I look forward to the rigor, where the material presented is consistent with that received by traditional, on-campus students.”

In addition to the four online programs currently offered – Accounting Bridge, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, Graduate Certificate in Accountancy, and Master of Accountancy – the School of Accountancy expects to begin offering a new program in 2017.

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

23

AUBURN ACCOUNTING ONLINE The Undergraduate Certificate in Accountancy will allow students with non-accounting degrees to pursue the accounting coursework required to sit for the CPA Exam.

Andee Hodo, Assistant Director of Online Programs, says, “Since the Bachelor of Science in Accountancy is only limited to students who have a business degree from an AACSB-accredited institution, the

new Undergraduate Certificate in Accountancy will allow us to reach a broader group of students who are looking to become CPA exam eligible. We are excited about the addition of this program and look forward to welcoming more students to the Auburn University family.�

Since the inception of the MAcc in 2000, the online accounting programs offered by the School of

Online MAcc students during the MAcc Leadership Summit in April 2016

24

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

Accountancy have been recognized for their innovation and quality in distance education. U.S. News and World Report ranked the Master of Accountancy #7 in the country among the Best Online Graduate Business Programs for 2016.

To learn more about the online programs offered by the School of Accountancy, visit harbert.auburn. edu/acct.

35 A verage A ge

158

Institutions Represented

Auburn Accounting Online Student Overview

States Represented

45

11 A verage Y ears Work Experience

Positions Held:

49 %

51%

Staff Accountant Financial Analyst Accounting Supervisor Chief Financial Officer Internal Auditor General Manager Controller Assistant Branch Manager Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

25

ON-CAMPUS MAcc PROGRAM

This Way to CPA! Contributed by John Canada, MAcc Class of ’16 As an undergraduate, the infamous CPA Exam seemed so far in the future; I couldn’t believe how fast it arrived. Before I knew it, I was signing up for Becker’s online course, ordering textbooks and preparing my brain for what I had heard was the most demanding, time consuming and challenging term for an Auburn accounting student.

The rumors were true. It turned out to be the most grueling semester of my time at Auburn.

When the Becker course started on January 4th, I was immediately overwhelmed by the four hour lectures, endless homework problems and intense task-based simulations. The first week was definitely the hardest of the semester. It didn’t take me long to realize just how much work was required to ensure success on the CPA Exam.

TOP CPA EXAM SCORERS: (from left to right) KENDALL TRUPP (AUD and BEC), KATIE MAUGEL (FAR and REG), AND JOHN CANADA (FAR).

Colby Lakas (far left) congratulates the students who had the highest scores in their class on each section of the CPA exam.

26

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

However, as time passed, the schedule started to sink in and the days became more manageable.

By February, I was knocking out lectures and homework problems like it was my job (which it was).

I think taking the first part and getting your score back gives you a better idea of how much work needs to be put into studying. By the time we took the last section, the whole semester had flown by at warp speed.

I will say that there is no better way to take the CPA Exam than the way the Auburn MAcc

Program does it. I have friends who are taking the Exam on their own or while working a full time job, and it is very hard for them to get motivated and work efficiently.

In the MAcc Program, you have a 50+ person support team going through the exact same course as you. The compact schedule enables you to stay on top of your studies and knock out the tests in a matter of months. Some people take years to pass this exam, but Auburn enables you to (hopefully) pass expeditiously and move on with a successful career.

On-Campus Class of 2016

Auburn University AUBURN UNIVERSITY Master of Accountancy Program Master of Accountancy Program – Class of 2016 Class of 2016 CPA Exam Pass Rates CPA Exam Pass Rates Exam Section

Auburn MAcc Program *

National Percent Passing Average **

First-Time Candidates

Repeat and First-Time Candidates

Financial (FAR)

92%

45%

Audit (AUD)

79%

45%

Regulation (REG)

83%

50%

Business (BEC)

90%

56%

Source:Students’ Students’Official Official Exam Reports onattempt. first attempt. **Source: CPACPA Exam ScoreScore Reports on first ** Source: The TheNational National Percent Passing rates Quarters of were 2016obtained were obtained the National Association of ** Source: Percent Passing rates for for the the 1st 1st andand 2nd2nd Quarters of 2016 from thefrom National Association of State Boards Accountancy (NASBA). (NASBA).

The AuburnThe MAcc students sat for FAR andsat AUD the first quarter of 2016, andquarter they satof for2016, REG and StateofBoards of Accountancy Auburn MAcc students for during FAR and AUD during the first and BEC during the second quarter. they sat for REG and BEC during the second quarter.

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

27

ON-CAMPUS MAcc PROGRAM

STUDENT & TEACHING AWARDS

Class of 2016 Travels to Contributed by Catherine Wilson, MAcc Class of ‘16

ON-CAMPUS MAcc 2016 OUTSTANDING PROFESSOR: DR. TINA LORAAS. Dr. Loraas was presented with a piece of Auburn artwork to commemorate the award.

ON-CAMPUS MAcc 2016 OUTSTANDING STUDENT: CATHERINE PARISEAU. Catherine is an audit associate with PwC in Nashville, Tenn.

28

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

In December of 2015, the on-campus MAcc students and four accounting faculty members traveled abroad to Panama City, Panama, and Bogotá, Colombia. The week-long study abroad exposed the students to Central and South American economics, international accounting methods, and the local food and culture.

Along with tours of the historic downtown neighborhood “La Candelaria,” the Presidential Palace, and the breathtaking view from Monserrate Mountain, the students loved enjoying the local empanadas and celebrating the professional Colombian soccer team “Santa Fe” during their time in Bogotá. The group also had the pleasure of visiting a Colombian floriculture known as Grupo Chia, as well as learning the history of the coffee culture inspired

by Juan Valdez. Thanks to the MAcc students’ collective efforts in fundraising prior to the trip, the Auburn MAcc program was honored to present a $2,500 financial donation to Dividendo por Colombia (the Suba branch of the Gerardo Paredes primary school). In addition to providing funds for the advancement of a youth learning program, the students spent time painting classrooms, giving gifts, and playing with children at the school.

In Panama, the students boarded a catamaran set for the Pearl Islands where they were able to snorkel, relax on the beach, and enjoy fun time with friends. The manager of Corporate Finance from KPMG gave the students a presentation of their audit and taxation services out of the Panama City office. The final day of the study abroad was spent learning the history of the Panama Canal, a 48-mile waterway that connects

Colombia and Panama the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The students toured the Colon Free Trade Zone, and observed the “lock” mechanics of the Panama Canal that make it one of the most amazing wonders of our modern world.

In addition to the knowledge obtained about how Colombia and Panama conduct business, the study abroad was beneficial to the MAcc Program in other ways. The trip cultivated strong camaraderie and lifelong friendships among the students and faculty, and left Auburn with a strong class of 2016 and a proud new group of alumni.

Below: The MAcc students enjoyed leisure time as they cruised to the Pearl Islands off the coast of Panama.

group of MAcc students stands in front of the famed Panama A Canal. Included in the photo is “Flat Matt,” a photo of a classmate who could not travel with the group.

Acc student Brad Cooper presents a check for the funds raised M on behalf of Dividendo por Colombia, an NGO benefiting school-aged children.

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

29

SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS AWARDS: Alabama Society of CPAs Accounting Achievement Award Chris Porter Auburn University President’s Award and W. James Sanford, Jr. Foundation Award Sagar Leva

Bennett Thrasher, PC Accounting Scholarship Callie Yuan R. Bernard Blankenship Scholarship in Accountancy Blake Chapman Greg Burgess Memorial Scholarship in Accountancy Lorin Smith

Federation of Schools of Accountancy Student Achievement Award Hank DeSanti

SCHOLARSHIPS: Aflac, Inc. Accounting Scholarship Abby Brasell Amy Guglielmi

CohnReznick, LLP Accounting Scholarship Ashley Allen Deloitte, LLP Accounting Scholarship Victoria Hoft Mason Maughan Draffin & Tucker, LLP Accounting Scholarship Matthew McKinley

Aldridge, Borden & Company, PC Accounting Scholarship Kaleb Hall ASCPA Education Foundation Scholarship Andrea Luckie The SOA Connection

Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith, PC Accounting Scholarship Sarah Patrick Jere L. and Sara B. Beasley Endowed Scholarship Trenton Singletary

Becker CPA Review Course Award Laurel Brown Mark Cooley Evan Cox Emily Espy Lauren Fletcher Bethany Hovater Taylor Langston Amy Shaw Catherine Smith

30

ASCPA/Kassouf & Company Endowed Scholarship Ford Galin

Fall 2016

EY / R. Travis Kirkpatrick Memorial Endowment Zach Blomeley Hank DeSanti Laverne Taylor Flanagan Accounting Scholarship Christen McKeague

Frazier & Deeter, LLC Accounting Scholarship Lauren Brecker Grant Thornton, LLP Accounting Scholarship Patrick Cooper Hall, Albright, Garrison & Associates, PC Accounting Scholarship Rick Perez Dick and Terry Ingwersen Accounting Scholarship Ellen Cates Dorothy Dickmann Jackson Thornton Accounting Scholarship Elizabeth Adams John P. Jones Endowed Scholarship in Accountancy Claire Brien Haley Evans Lauren Kolb Lindsay Matis Ben Taylor Flannery Wynn L. Paul Kassouf & Company, PC Endowed Scholarship Clarke Dowdy KPMG, LLP Accounting Scholarship Paige Johnson James Pinkleton Lovoy, Summerville & Shelton, LLC Accounting Scholarship Sarah Beth Stocks

Machen, McChesney & Chastain, LLP Accounting Scholarship Andrew Mitchell Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC Accounting Scholarship Michael Waldrum Philip Marshall McElroy Memorial Scholarship Stuart Jacobs Metcalf Davis Endowed Accounting Scholarship James Grabmayer C.G. Mills Endowment for Instructional Excellence in Accountancy Caroline Forbes Leslie Hayes Chris Porter William J. Nettles Endowed Memorial Scholarship Chris Smillie Pearce, Bevill, Leesburg, Moore, PC Accounting Scholarship Graham Vice Melba C. Peebles Accounting Scholarship Hannah Findley Ashley Whitted PwC Accounting Scholarship Mark Bartholomew Becca Glosemeyer Greg Swanner

RSM US, LLP Endowed Accounting Scholarship Chase Trigger Jerry Lewis Savage Memorial Accounting Scholarship David Monte School of Accountancy Faculty and Staff Scholarship Anna Donze James Haigh John Illges Zach Meyers Johnathan Sanders Ryan Wilson Smith & Howard, P.C. Accounting Scholarship Erin Johnson Doris Tanquary Memorial Accounting Scholarship Claire Schortmann Thomas W. and Patricia M. Tripp Endowed Accounting Scholarship Jack Mize Warren Averett, LLC Accounting Scholarship Clara Benitez Elizabeth Blessing Eric Byron Matthew Woody Elton & Janet Wolf Endowed Scholarship in Accounting Will Pankey

SOA Senior Awarded $10,000 PCAOB Scholarship Zach Blomeley didn’t come to Auburn with the intention of leaving with an accounting degree. Instead, the senior from Homewood had his sights set on political science with the intention of attending law school.

But that changed, and he couldn’t be happier.

“I knew from the personality traits and skills of mine that I would enjoy and excel at accounting,” he said. “The more I got into my upper-level coursework I knew it was the right decision.”

Blomeley’s switch to accounting has already paid off as he was awarded a $10,000 Public Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) scholarship for the 2016-17 academic year. The PCAOB Scholarship Program was created to satisfy the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which mandated that funds generated from the collection of monetary penalties imposed by the PCAOB, and must be used to fund a merit scholarship program for students in accredited accounting degree programs.

“Winning the PCAOB scholarship is such an incredible opportunity for me,” he said.

“Not only is it an amazing honor that I am humbled to receive, but it makes my education so much more achievable. This scholarship has opened doors for my graduate school education and has made those opportunities much more reachable.”

Blomeley, who said he plans to pursue an audit position within a public accounting firm or investigate forensic accounting, credited Auburn’s School of Accountancy for “preparing its students for the future.”

“Every interaction I’ve had with a faculty member from the School of Accountancy has benefited me with information and skills that I can directly apply in my career,” he said. “My professors not only teach me the subject matter, but make it come to life by teaching how it is applied and used in the real world. The education I am receiving goes so much deeper than just the words in a textbook, and I know that when my time at Auburn comes to an end I will be ready to enter the work force and find success in any accounting field in which I choose to work.”

Besides excelling in the classroom, Blomeley is involved in service work – namely working as a head camp counselor for Camp War Eagle over the summer.

“I have worked with potential students and new Auburn freshmen for two years now,” he added. “I would absolutely recommend Auburn’s School of Accountancy to any potential new student who is interested. I have had nothing but amazing experiences in this program -- both through the academic growth I have had in the classroom, and from the personal growth I have experienced through the relationships with my fellow students and incredible faculty.”

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

31

SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS

One of the Dick and Terry Ingwersen Accounting Scholarship recipients, Ellen Cates (center), with Dick and Terry Ingwersen.

R. Bernard Blankenship Scholarship in Accountancy recipient Blake Chapman with Mrs. Pat Compton (left) and Allison Singleton (right), wife and daughter of the late Mr. Blankenship.

Melba C. Peebles Accounting Scholarship recipients Ashley Whitted (left) and Hannah Findley (right) with Brooke Peebles Walker, daughter of the late Melba Peebles.

Warren Averett, LLC Accounting Scholarship recipients with Jay Robbins, Member.

Beta Alpha Psi members and award recipients enjoy the reception prior to the awards ceremony.

Bennett Thrasher, PC Accounting Scholarship recipient Callie Yuan with Scott Hazy, Partner.

32

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

Jackson Thornton Accounting Scholarship recipient Elizabeth Adams with Ben Wallace, Senior Manager.

Firm-Sponsored Graduate Assistantships: PwC Graduate Assistant Anna Donze – Birmingham Tax; Anna with Terry Sparks, PwC Partner

Alabama Society of CPAs Accounting Achievement Award recipient Chris Porter with Jeannine Birmingham, ASCPA President and CEO.

EY Graduate Assistants Caroline Forbes – Atlanta Audit and Chris Porter – Birmingham Audit; Caroline (left) and Chris (right) with Jimmy Palik, EY Senior Manager t

Frazier & Deeter, LLC Accounting Scholarship recipient Lauren Brecker (on left) with Roxann Gund, University Recruiter.

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

33

ALUMNI

Inaugural A&A Summit a Success; Focus Turns to Fraud “This was probably the most interesting CPE I’ve ever attended,” “Extremely interesting and relevant,” “Best A&A I have experienced.”

These positive comments are just a few of many that participants provided about the School of Accountancy’s inaugural Accounting & Auditing Summit: Committing Fraud. The event, hosted on April 29, 2016, at The Hotel at Auburn University’s Dixon Conference Center, was held in conjunction with the annual MAcc Leadership Summit and featured three individuals who used personal stories and other case studies to show attendees how they committed fraud, why they committed fraud, and the ramifications of their actions.

34

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

Graduating on-campus and distance students joined practicing CPAs to learn how fraudulent behavior destroys not only personal and professional lives, but also entire companies.

Driven by the School of Accountancy’s mission, “to advance the field of accounting and prepare tomorrow’s accounting leaders,” the annual Accounting & Auditing Summit seeks to bring together Master of Accountancy students with CPAs to deliver first-class, relevant continuing education.

Plans for the 2017 Accounting and Auditing Summit: Reporting Fraud are already under way and will feature whistleblowers who will share their personal stories to address the importance of recognizing and reporting fraud.

Named Persons of Year in 2002 by TIME magazine, Cynthia Cooper and Sherron Watkins were both responsible for blowing the whistle on corruption and fraud in their respective organizations. Cynthia Cooper was Vice President of Internal Audit at WorldCom when she and her team unearthed $3.8 billion in accounting fraud and reported it to the board of directors. WorldCom filed for bankruptcy shortly thereafter.

Sherron Watkins was serving as the Vice President of Corporate Development at Enron when she notified the CEO of the accounting irregularities she thought would cause the company to collapse. It was only a short time later than Enron filed for bankruptcy. Cooper and Watkins will share their personal experiences on discovering and reporting fraud in two

April 28, 2017 | Marriott at Grand National The second annual School of Accountancy Accounting & Auditing Summit: Reporting Fraud will feature stories of identifying and reporting fraud.

Attendees will hear the courageous stories of two of TIME magazine’s Persons of the Year and learn more about their personal experiences with fraud.

When: April 28, 2017, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Where: Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel & Conference Center at Grand National, 3700 Robert Trent Jones Trail, Opelika, AL 36801 Registration Fee: $275 includes continental breakfast, lunch, and a refreshment break. Registrations received before March 1st are eligible for a $50 discount

Reporting in 2017

Speakers: • Cynthia Cooper, former Vice President of Internal Audit, WorldCom • Sherron Watkins, former Vice President of Corporate Development, Enron • Kevin Robinson, Associate Vice President Office of Audit, Compliance, & Privacy, Auburn University • Boyd Busby, Executive Director, Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy For more information, please visit www.harbert.auburn.edu/soacpe.

Sherron Watkins

Cynthia Cooper

of the largest accounting scandals in US history.

The event will be held on Friday, April 28, 2017, at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel & Conference Center at Grand National. Information about the event can be found at www.harbert. auburn.edu/soacpe as it becomes available. Please contact Andee Hodo at andee.hodo@auburn.edu to join the mailing list to receive future notifications about the annual event.

The SOA wishes to thank our 2016 A&A Summit sponsors for their support:

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

35

ALUMNI

Fall 2015 Tailgates:

The School of Accountancy hosted two tailgates during the 2015 football season for alumni & friends. It was great to reconnect with former classmates and meet their loved ones! Here, we highlight just a handful of our visitors that we enjoyed seeing on the Lowder Hall lawn. We can’t wait to do it all again this fall!

SOA Advisory Council member and adjunct faculty Larry Quimby (’75) enjoys the festivities with his wife (Margaret), daughter (Laura Hanks ’03) and son-in-law (Nathan).

Matt Young (’13) and Julia Stewart (’16) with Amy Murphy (’88).

SOA Faculty served proudly as hosts of the tailgates, which saw a total attendance of over 500 people between the two events.

Mother/daughter alumnae Ginny Scott (’87) and Rachel Patterson (’07) pose with husbands Steve Scott and Josh Patterson at the SOA tailgate.

Surgical Care Affiliates sponsored the Homecoming tailgate and brought an all-star crew to represent (from left): Nick Fees (’06), Blake Gardner (’09), Joni Little, Brett Johnson (‘07) and Phillip Prince (’04).

A group of tailgaters enjoy the awesome spread provided by Terra Cotta Café and fellowship with other School of Accountancy alumni.

Lane Sauser (’12) brought her husband Bill as her guest to the tailgate.

36

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

David Brandon (son of SOA faculty member, Duane Brandon) gives the inflatable rock wall and There is no shortage of activity under the giant white slide a big thumbs up! tent on Lowder Hall’s front lawn!

ANNUAL GIVING

Corporate

24,999-15,000

Megan Ziemak Lansden ‘04

Amanda Kate Murphy Foster ‘95

Jeffrey Richard Lund ‘88

14,999 - 10,000

Jeffrey Michael Foster ‘95

Holly Jeannene Mayfield ‘78

Gregory Lewis Heston ‘85

John Richard Mayfield ‘78

Mary Grace Heston

Rebecca Lewis Pepper ‘75

Jerri S. Minor

William F. Pepper ‘74

Thomas Joseph Minor ‘89

Berlin Jackson Robbins III ‘05

Warren Averett Companies, LLC

4,999 - 2,500 Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants BDO USA, LLP Jackson Thornton & Co. P.C. RSM US LLP Surgical Care Affiliates

2,499 - 1,000

DeWayne L. Searcy

14,999-10,000 Alaina Barnett Michael L. Barnett Jr. ‘01 Stephen Jett Byrne ‘77 Chad Charles Downey ‘94 Clinton Ellis Gilmore ‘84

Angela Shirley Short ‘96 John Robin Short ‘93 Kim Mixon Spinello ‘91 James David Walker ‘92 Lindy Adams Walker ‘92

Michael Gerard Howley ‘85

4,999-2,500

Aflac

Kimberly Galligan Key

R. David Byrum ‘76

Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith PC

E. William Koons III ‘77

Roberta Kessler Byrum ‘76

Bennett Thrasher, P.C.

Kurt Nathan Koons ‘02

Jeffrey Joseph Call ‘95

CohnReznick

Brian Eugene McNeely ‘00

Shannon B. Call

Draffin & Tucker

Caroline Van Benschoten McNeely ‘00

Benjamin Wilson Cobb ‘97

Frazier & Deeter, LLC

Jennifer Mueller-Phillips

Ronald Miller Cofield ‘80

Grant Thornton LLP

Erin Torstrick Prince ‘04

Bradley Laurence Garland ‘04

Machen McChesney, LLP

Phillip Reed Prince ‘04

Mollie Elizabeth Garland ‘04

Mauldin & Jenkins

Larry Burl Quimby ‘75

Amy Sloane Goode ‘04

Pearce Bevill Leesburg & Moore PC

Margaret Becker Quimby ‘76

Janet McDonald Huston ‘02

Smith & Howard, P.C.

Alumni and Friends 299,999-200,000 Jerre Oscar Pierson III ‘86

Clay Thomas Jones ‘96

9,999-5,000 Kenneth E. Baggett ‘77 Missy Baggett Michael Charles Beaty ‘01 Sally C. Beaty ‘01 Brian Thomas Casey ‘84

99,999-50,000 Richard C. Ingwersen ‘70 Teresa Weeks Ingwersen ‘69 James H. Long ‘01

49,999-25,000 Alicia M. Conn ‘84 Walton T. Conn, Jr. ‘85

Michael Lee Crump ‘00 Jennifer Baker Crump ‘99 Christy Blackburn Hodge ‘94 Russell Porter Hodge ‘91 Andrea Thompson Hodo ‘05 David William Hodo ‘05 Geoffrey T. Horst ‘86 Randall Brooks Johnston ‘80 David Gavin Lansden ‘07

Elisa Adams Jones ‘04 James Agee Kelly Jr. ‘84 Colby Harpool Lakas ‘04 Gregory Scott Lakas Harrison Pacheco Lewis III ‘06 Rachel Collins Lewis ‘09 Susan Rebecca Lumpkin ‘89 Carey David McClure ‘88 Glenn W. Mitchell III ‘93 Darren Lee Neuschwander ‘97 Anita Gentle Newcomb ‘76 James Emery Palik ‘01 Jack Jones Pease III ‘75 Lloyd Jackson Pease ‘75 Amanda Brooke Pope ‘06 Terry Lee Sparks Jr. ‘96 Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

37

ANNUAL GIVING Rosemary Stewart

Jim M. Tanquary ‘52

Kaitlyn M. Maugel ‘15

Therese R. Viscelli

Amanda Pridgen Thames ‘04

Arthur H. Metcalf II ‘69

Jennifer Kathryn Wakeford ‘94

James Nicholas Wade ‘03

Jean Hughes Metcalf ‘69

Brooke Peebles Walker ‘97

Volree Everson Wade ‘03

Rebecca Lynn Mock ‘15

William Forrest Walker ‘95

Mickey J. Watson ‘68

Megan M. Morgan ‘16

Albert Gary Westbrook ‘78

Melissa Huffman Willis ‘00

Taylor Morris ‘15

Andrew Robinson York ‘04

Jeffrey Scott Wright ‘90

Keri Leigh Morton ‘15 Patrick Duncan Noll ‘03 Catherine Parrish Pariseau ‘15

2,499-1,000

999-500

Sylvia Lynne Ayers ‘84

Elizabeth Hardin Adlich ‘15

Anthony Douglas Banks ‘08

Phillip M. Albright ‘12

Brian Patrick Beckham ‘05

Katherine N. Alford ‘15

Erin Cope Brown ‘06

Charles J. Almond ‘15

Jeffrey Owen Brown ‘06

Olivia Marie Arnold ‘15

Ernest L. Clark ‘74

Christopher Keith Belt ‘13

Benjamin P. Coffman ‘08

Laurel Brown ‘15

Kristina P. Coffman ‘09

Lauren Kaye Burk ‘08

Frederick Leonard Corte Jr. ‘03

Sarah C. Cage ‘14

Julie Creamer Gallina ‘98

John Clark Canada ‘15

Larry B. Gilley ‘70

Ryan Paul Carter ‘15

Iain Douglas Grant ‘93

Matthew D. Cessna ‘08

Mark Leslie Greeff ‘89

Daniel Plaxco Chandler ‘02

Arthur D. Guy ‘79

Charles Robert Coats ‘61

Laura Quimby Hanks ‘03

Robert H. Cochran ‘74

Jason Kyle Harpe ‘93

Sara Compton Cothran ‘04

Alexander James Holt ‘03

Kelsey Elizabeth Dalton ‘14

499-250

Rebekah Orso Holt ‘04

Alyssa C. Daniel ‘16

David Bradley Amundsen ‘91

Ryan Christopher Inlow ‘97

Matthew D. Davidson ‘15

Gabriella L. Bailin ‘12

Kevin Jerome Kelly ‘91

Katherine Paige Dean ‘15

Keith Mitchell Barfield ‘79

Eric Kimball ‘99

Ryan Christopher Detwiler ‘15

Steven Michael Barranco ‘89

Holley S. LaGrone ‘77

William Garrett Dyas Jr. ‘13

Daniel Meyer Bauman ‘14

Karl J. LaGrone

Emily E. Espy ‘15

John Blackburn Boles ‘97

Joseph Edward Manusakis ‘02

Mercedes L. Fox ‘15

Joseph Case Brannan ‘08

Jonathan Andrew Mayer ‘05

Laura Moore Gallagher ‘00

Janet Mertz Brantley ‘91

Edward Grayson McDermott ‘87

David Henry Gambrell Jr. ‘80

Jerry Alan Brewer ‘93

Amber Elizabeth McElduff ‘04

Amanda K. Gwin ‘15

Wesley Allen Brown ‘87

Andrew John McLelland

James Edward Hall ‘87

Vivian Jo Chateau

Justin Lee Mitchell ‘02

Cassidy Catherine Healy ‘15

Alfred E. Cheatham Jr. ‘90

Lesley Nichelle Netter-Snowden ‘03

Natalie Hodnett Hogue ‘84

Matthew Richardson Clegg ‘97

Elizabeth French Powell ‘84

Bethany Kay Hovater ‘08

Frank Charles Dolbow ‘83

Ned F. Sheffield ‘78

Austin Langston ‘15

Jennie Burton Duvall ‘05

Becky A. Smylie ‘13

Scott Edward MacArthur ‘83

James A. Gaffney ‘72

38

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

Madelyn Nicole Parsons ‘15 Katherine Berry Peters ‘09 Justin L. Poole ‘05 Lindsey N. Ripa ‘15 Angelina Nicole Schultz ‘06 Amy Margaret Shaw ‘15 Thomas Daniel Sherlock ‘95 Julia E. Stewart ‘16 George Keith Taylor ‘01 Elizabeth Stutts Thompson ‘04 Anthony McCain Torbert ‘90 Kendall Carolise Trupp ‘14 Kelly E. Warren ‘15 William Raymond Weeks ‘79 Robert P. West ‘74

Norman Harrison Godwin ‘91

Alton Duncan ‘14

Kelly M. Tomlin ‘14

Stephen C. Harrison ‘94

Lily Cy Edmonds ‘67

Brian Adam Vansant ‘95

Lawrence R. Heisler ‘69

Charles P. Edmonds III ‘65

Robert Edward Watson II ‘13

J. Gregory Henderson ‘83

Larry Farmer

Jessica Marie Weissinger ‘07

Kerry K. Inger

Paula Martin Farmer ‘80

Lauren Couch Werle ‘06

Charles Christopher Joseph ‘73

Terri Faulkner

Thompson Alexander Westerberg ‘12

Richard Steele King ‘84

Ana Beatriz Fernandez ‘89

Heather M. White ‘13

Alfred John Lucas ‘74

Evan Gentile ‘04

Carrie Elizabeth Wise ‘10

William P. McMullan Jr. ‘89

Elizabeth M. Gibson ‘80

Sara Nan Wyrosdick ‘04

Jerry Wayne Moore ‘76

Gary Kinion Gibson ‘78

Carol Lynn Yednak ‘88

Amy B. Murphy ‘88

Christopher Mitchell Grimm ‘13

Stephen Richard Ostenson ‘84

David Joseph Guthrie ‘11

Lewis W. Perkins III ‘94

David Wayne Hall ‘79

Stuart Scott ‘00

Grace Ann Hardison ‘12

Lillian Crawford Serviss ‘95

Samuel Allgood Heberton ‘10

Rachael Sparrow Stone ‘09

Lisa Nyert Heise ‘13

Catlin Drew Henry Tench ‘06

Dominique Brandale Holmes ‘12

Kevin Brian Thomas ‘06

Jefferson Prince Jones ‘91

Ricky Wayne Thomas ‘80

Erica Elizabeth Keyes ‘13

Karen Lynn Wit ‘01

Kevin McCalla Koons ‘06

Kellyn Melissa Wolber ‘11

Jonathan Tyler Lahti ‘13

M. Elton Wolf Jr. ‘72

Michael Roy Lee ‘11 Emily Christine Loefgren ‘13

249-100 Miriam A. Beckman ‘80 Kathy Ann Best ‘13 Edward Parker Bethea ‘89 Virginia Ward Binkley ‘09 John Brendhan Botkin ‘02 Marlene A. Brankovic ‘13 Courtney Koons Bui ‘07 Kendall Bliss Burleson ‘12 Denise Michele Buschman ‘87 Bart Jordan Carlisle ‘84 Courtney E. Clark ‘13 Jason Bradley Cooper ‘08 Jennifer Norheim Cornett Katie Crocombe Matt Clifford Crocombe ‘06 Alexandria F. Crumpton ‘13 Anna J. Davis ‘01 Elizabeth Grace Davis ‘12

Jonathon S. McDonald ‘13 John Mark Merrill Jr. ‘11 James Micheal Meyer ‘93 Richard Harrison Mills ‘14 Julie Ann Monell ‘13 Julie L. Muchoney ‘13 Marcalyn G. Price Richard Morris Price ‘76 Terry L. Price ‘76 Edward R. Richardson ‘62 Nell C. Richardson ‘83 Brittany L. Ross ‘12 Steven Tyler Seidband ‘14 Lauryn E. Slone ‘11 Elizabeth Norton Springer ‘06 William Zachary Springer ‘06 Jonathan D. Stanley Julia A. Steinhilber ‘13 Adam Wayne Swartz ‘88

99 and below Joseph Drew Adkins ‘10 Clark Nikolas Andrich ‘13 Jennifer L. Ault ‘15 Elizabeth R. Bell ‘10 Robert Evans Blythe ‘14 Stuart A. Bunch ‘15 Katherine Smith Calloway ‘01 Anthony David Caltabiano ‘10 Emily Cavaco ‘14 Erica Jorgensen Chestnutt ‘05 Joshua Gene Chestnutt ‘05 Lona D. Childers ‘96 Joshua W. Chiles ‘13 John Paul Corgill ‘12 Donna A. Cox Wayne Cox James Anthony Crist ‘85 Linda Kay Crist ‘85 Paul August Curtiss ‘14 Justin Thomas Davenport ‘13 Brittany Ann Deeds Nicholas Aaron Deeds ‘14 Rachel L. Entrekin ‘13 Timothy C. Garner ‘00 Elizabeth Claire Guempel ‘16 James Walton Hammond III ‘13 Pamela Isela Hammond ‘14 Carrie Marie Harbison ‘08 MacKenzy Summer Harper ‘12 Tammy Hale Hatfield Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

39

ANNUAL GIVING Travis P. Holt Sharon Stacey Jackson ‘78

New SOA Scholarship Endowments – 2012-2016

Amy Nicole Kast ‘13 Linda L. Lauderdale ‘87 Candace Brooke Lawrence ‘14 Maryssa D. Looney ‘15 Tina Wynne Loraas ‘96 Betty Moore Majors Melissa Diane Mapp ‘96 Karen Reynolds Mattison ‘11 Vance P. Mattison

• Ken and Missy Baggett Endowed Scholarship in Accounting

The SOA has a total of nine Spirit of Auburn Campaign scholarships for inbound freshman pursuing accounting. Three initial endowments were created in 2010/2011 (E. William Koons III and Family Scholarship, Larry and Margaret Quimby Endowed Scholarship, and Jerry Lewis Savage Memorial Endowed Scholarship) and have awarded scholarships since 2012.

• Greg Burgess Memorial Scholarship in Accountancy

• Hall, Albright, Garrison & Associates, PC Accounting Scholarship

Elizabeth G. Miller ‘83 Mohamad Motahari ‘80 Debbie J. Murphy Heather W. Mynatt ‘99

• John P. Jones Endowed Scholarships in Accountancy

Laura Acker Nelson ‘85 Nona Ingram Parkman ‘75 Allison Schwyn Preston ‘14 Ryan W. Preston ‘15 Betty Price Billy R. Price ‘56 Rebekah FBC Sunday School Class; Tullahoma, Tenn.

Kimberly J. Rowan ‘14 Thomas Dwight Rush, Jr. ‘15 Glen Fouts Smith ‘98 H. Ellsworth Steele Andrew J. Superstein ‘15 Jennifer Schwartz Swist ‘98 Alice Butler Tindal Heather Walker ‘15 Christopher Scott Wardell ‘13 Hannah Aileen Wilson ‘14 Andrea K. Young ‘14 Matthew Hamilton Young ‘13

The SOA Connection

Spirit of Auburn Campaign Scholarships*

• Grant Thornton, LLP Scholarship

Anne McChesney May ‘74

40

School of Accountancy Scholarships

Fall 2016

• L. Paul Kassouf & Company, PC Endowed Scholarship

• Steven & Lynne Boucher Family Scholarship

• Lovoy, Summerville & Shelton, LLC Accounting Scholarship

• Roberta K. and David Byrum Endowed Scholarship

• Doris Tanquary Memorial Accounting Scholarship

• Lee and Debbie Cameron Family Endowed Scholarship

• Thomas W. and Patricia M. Tripp Scholarship

• The Henley Family Endowed Scholarship • Henley Family Honors Endowed Scholarship • Fred and Becky Pepper Endowed Scholarship *The Spirit of Auburn Campaign Scholarships are no longer available for new scholarships, but the existing ones will remain in perpetuity unless the donor wished to revise theirs to a typical scholarship.

Major Campaign Update

ENDOWMENT TO HONOR AMY B. MURPHY Amy Murphy has been described as “the face of the Master of Accountancy program, if not the School of Accountancy.” She has recruited, advised, taught, and mentored Auburn accounting students since 1994.

Many of these students have recently taken part in a unique opportunity to express their appreciation to Murphy by contributing to the newly created Amy B. Murphy Accounting Excellence Endowment. Striving toward an endowment goal of $1,000,000, former students, School of Accountancy advisory board members, faculty, and some of Murphy’s former EY colleagues initially pledged $280,000 for the fund, which has grown to $524,000 as the result of Raymond J. Harbert’s dollar-fordollar “challenge match” pledged in 2013. The current giving level provides for an Amy B. Murphy Distinguished Professorship to be awarded. Reaching the $1,000,000 goal takes the faculty award to the next level—the Amy B. Murphy Endowed Chair in Accounting.

Students, faculty, alumni and friends are encouraged not only to participate in the Murphy endowment, but also in their aspirations to develop new and diverse endowments that will benefit the entire Harbert College of Business.

Murphy uses her own personal Auburn story to inspire students who may have doubts about whether they can succeed in a demanding academic program.

“In 1981, I knew I wanted to be in higher education. I didn’t know how I would get there, but I never gave up on my dream.

After working my way up to mid-level management in the banking industry, I applied for a commercial lending position in 1986.

Without a four-year degree, I was denied the opportunity. The very next day, I resigned from banking, and made my way to Auburn University in the fall of 1986 to finish my four-year degree. After finishing my undergraduate degree, working for EY, obtaining my Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree, and working in healthcare, I received a phone call in 1994 that would change my life forever. During that phone call, Dr. Rick Tabor offered me the opportunity to come back to Auburn and serve as the MAcc

Amy Murphy with the 2016 SOA Faculty & Staff scholarship recipients. As a result of faculty donations to her endowment, the SOA was able to award more of these scholarships than any prior year.

Program Director. Without hesitation, I said yes, and I knew that my 13-year goal had finally become a reality,” remembers Murphy.

“From the very first day I was on campus, I knew that I belonged. Without realizing it, my parents had raised me to live by the Auburn Creed long before I became an Auburn woman. My life has been full of blessings thanks to my parents, my precious students, my School of Accountancy family, and the Auburn family as a whole. There is one thing I know for sure. I will, forevermore, be an Auburn woman.

“I’m so humbled by the creation of the Amy B. Murphy Endowment and grateful to all who helped make it possible. Since 1986, my involvement with Auburn University has blessed my life, and this endowment is confirmation to me that my life as an Auburn woman was my destiny.”

Although everyone may not share the same level of passion, Harbert College of Business alumni do unite in one common vision to see the students and college grow and prosper through future planning. The endowments that are created today will not only enable future faculty and students to further the mission of the Harbert College of Business, but will be a defining representation of the impact made by those who invested in what

they so strongly believe. With so many great opportunities to get plugged in, alumni and friends have several ways to join in on the quest to become one of the “elite public business schools in the U.S. For information on ways to invest in the Amy Murphy Endowment, please contact Stephanie Froehlich at stephanie@ auburn.edu or 334.844.2983.

For general information or ways to get involved or invest, please contact the Office of Advancement cobdevelopment@auburn.edu or 334.844.1491.

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

41

ANNUAL GIVING Interested in supporting the already successful Amy B. Murphy Endowed Distinguished Professorship?

IT’S THE ACT, NOT THE AMOUNT, THAT MATTERS. Some ways you can help…

Below are the suggested participation levels, shown as a total five-year pledge.

Please note that ANY amount is appreciated; the progress made already is amazing, so any additional donations are icing on the cake. If your employer matches donations to Auburn, you can really make an impact with your dollar!

Participation Gift Annual Payment

Levels Designation Over Five Years $10,000 Leadership $2,000 5,000 Partner 1,000 2,500 Supporter 500 1,000 Friend 200

Does Your Employer Match?

You Your Employer $1,000 $1,000 500 500 250 250 100 100

Interested in starting your own fundraising campaign, whether it’s a group effort through your employer or funding something independently?

Below are some possible ways that you can make an impact through giving. For more information, contact our development team at 334-844-1387. n S CHOLARSHIP: Resources to support the cost of attendance, on-campus residence, study abroad, conference opportunities, and/or other approved academic-related expenses.

Scholarships may be awarded to undergraduate or graduate students.

• Minimum endowed scholarship: $25,000 (payable over maximum of five years) • Minimum annual scholarship: $1,000 n F ELLOWSHIP: An award used to recognize and/or a stipend used to support graduate and postgraduate study through financial awards for tuition, fees, room, travel, research, etc.

• Minimum endowed fellowship: $250,000 (payable over maximum of five years) • Minimum annual fellowship: $10,000 n P ROFESSORSHIP: An endowment from which the earnings support an AU faculty position by funding a portion of the salary or portion thereof, benefits, and other expenses relating to that position. The receipt of an endowed and/or named professorship by a faculty member does not confer direct or implied tenure or tenure benefits.

• Minimum endowed professorship: $500,000 (payable over maximum of five years) n F UND FOR EXCELLENCE: Funds for excellence are an important form of endowment that create a reliable funding stream to support a variety of initiatives. These endowments can provide broad-based support for the college or department’s general needs, flexible funding for a particular focus area, or funding for narrowly defined purposes, such as research in a given department or awards recognizing students and faculty for exceptional achievements.

• Minimum endowed Fund for Excellence: $25,000 (payable over maximum of five years)

42

The SOA Connection

Fall 2016

IN MEMORIUM

SOA Remembers Professors Dinius and Hale

DR. SARA “SALLY” SUDDUTH HOLTON DINIUS March 23, 1928 - August 11, 2015 Dr. Sally Dinius was born March 23, 1928, in Normal, Illinois. She attended Illinois Wesleyan University, where she met her husband of 62 years, Dr. Robert Dinius. Sally also attended the University of Illinois at Northwestern and Florida State University, receiving the distinction of Certified Public Accountant.

She accepted a position in the accounting department at Auburn University in 1961, earning her doctorate in psychology from Auburn University in 1969. She served as the Secretary on the University Senate Committee in 1989 and was named Associate Professor Emeritae in June of 1993 at her retirement. Sally authored numerous articles about the field of accounting and presented programs at national meetings.

After Sally and Bob retired, they enjoyed traveling to many foreign countries, supporting AU athletic teams, traveling in their RV through the US, Canada and Mexico, and spending time at their Lake Martin home. Sally and Bob loved their pets: Shamoo, Rhapsody, Susie I, Susie II, and Susie III.

MR. DENNIS PARKER HALE June 26, 1923 - March 15, 2016 Mr. Dennis Hale was born on June 26, 1923, in Flat Creek, Tennessee. He grew up and graduated from high school in Tullahoma, Tenn. He served in the U.S. Navy during and immediately after World War II and completed his education with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Middle Tennessee State College.

He taught and coached at Athens College for a number of years and worked as a textbook salesman for Southwestern Publishing Company.

In 1957, he married Frances Olive Wood, whose first husband had been killed in action in Korea.

He became “Pop” to her two children and raised them as if they were his own. The family settled in Auburn, where Mr. Hale taught at Auburn University for almost 30 years.

He continued to live an active life in Auburn after retirement in 1986. He enjoyed gardening, playing golf and tennis, and was a great supporter of Auburn football. In 2014, he and his wife moved into an assisted living facility in Columbus, Georgia to be closer to family.

Fall 2016

The SOA Connection

43

NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE PAID Montgomery, AL Permit No. 530

735 Extension Loop Auburn, AL 36849-5247 www.harbert.auburn.edu

Auburn University is an equal opportunity employer/educational institution.

MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN THE SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY ONLINE harbert.auburn.edu/giving (INVEST NOW! Button) *We accept Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express™, or DISCOVER® cards.

CHECK BY MAIL Fill out the pledge form found at harbert.auburn.edu/giving/invest-in-harbert.php, designating the amounts and areas to which the donation is directed. Checks should be payable to Auburn University Foundation. Mail to: Harbert College of Business | Office of Advancement 405 West Magnolia Avenue, Suite 203 | Auburn, AL 36849-5240

OVER THE PHONE Contact the Office of Advancement at (334) 844-1387 with credit or debit card information.

CORPORATE MATCHING Your employer may double or even triple your gift to the School of Accountancy. Your employer’s Human Resources department can provide details and the matching gift form to include with your check.