Dear Friends of the Department of Accounting:
Greetings! With true Owl grit and determination, we just finished another unprecedented year at Fox. Students, faculty and staff persevered and indeed, excelled, even with the continued challenges of the pandemic. This newsletter highlights student successes, new initiatives such as the new Young Accounting Alumni Group’s mentoring program, and the MAcc program on its 10th Anniversary.
During the year, the Department continued to connect virtually with the students outside of the classroom. We hosted Explore Accounting panel discussions with alums and accounting supporters on career paths and professional development. Our five Student Professional Organizations (SPO) – Ascend, Beta Alpha Psi, the Fox Accounting Association, the Institute of Management Accountants at Temple, and the National Association of Black Accountants – played a major role in creating community and engagement. The department is also happy to welcome a new SPO, the Association of Latino Professionals For America. (ALPFA).
Importantly, we celebrated the Class of 2021 with virtual graduations. We celebrated that unique Fox and Temple experience, recognized students’ scholarship and academics achievements, and welcomed them to the ranks of Temple alums. In May, graduates had the option to walk to review their diplomas in person. We look forward to being able to fully return to a traditional graduation ceremony.
Sadly, Dr. Eric Press, a long-time chair of the department, passed away suddenly this Spring. This newsletter contains a wonderful tribute to Eric and his legacy.
Another long-time faculty, Dr. Mary Anne Gaffney, is retiring after 38 years at Temple. In her years at Temple, she has contributed greatly to the department, school, university and profession. She has served as director of master programs in the school, was instrumental in designing the University’s General Education curriculum and most recently she has been face of accounting in the Honors program, teaching some our best and brightest students in the Fox Honors program. Mary Anne is a master teacher and true scholar, and will be greatly missed.
As department chair, I continue to be so appreciative of the incredible group of students, alumni, recruiters, faculty, staff and other stakeholders of the Department of Accounting. With our strategic plan, we continue to bring to life our vision to transform students, develop leaders in the accounting profession and impact local and global accounting communities through excellence and innovation in accounting education and research. The articles in this newsletter speak to our recent accomplishments in educational innovation, research leadership, an inclusive culture and community. I look forward to even more to come!
As always, you will get full disclosure in footnotes from Fox. Go Owls!
All the best,
Betsy