2012 - ACIS | Pamplin | Virginia Tech

o n t h e C o v e rClass Project ExampleFive undergraduate and graduate students participatingin the Applied Software Development Project class inSpring 2012 were able to put their newly acquired projectmanagement skills and existing expertise to good use,developing a system for the Pamplin MBA office. Underthe supervision of their instructor, Dr. France Belanger,the students created a web-based system and databasefor the MBA office to manage their business and alumnicontacts. In the words of Steve Skripak, Associate Deanfor graduate studies, “[we] were not really expecting thatwhat they developed would be useful to us, but more in theinterest of them having a live case for learning purposes.[It] turns out what they developed was most impressive”.Gina French, the MBA Office Assistant Director, added“We are extremely pleased with the system and appreciateall the time and effort involved to create a great tool forthe MBA program. It was my pleasure to work with eachof you!” referring to student members Salem Copty, BrianLindstrom, Kyle Nelson, Ben Watanabe, and ShanShanWei. The students themselves recognized this as a greatopportunity, stating “We certainly enjoyed this challenge.It has advanced our technical and client interaction skills.This project has honed our skills and will make us moreeffective workers for our respected companies.”G R E E T I N G S A L U M N I A N D F R I E N D SI welcome you to the ACIS newsletter! We have manyaccomplishments to reportto you. We have a healthyundergraduate program, avibrant master’s program, andan excellent Ph.D. program.Our graduates continue tobe highly sought after andprove to add significant valueto organizations that theyjoin given their excellentwork ethic and top qualityeducation. All of our Ph.D.students had multiple joboffers and joined universitiesto contribute to educationand research. We continueto celebrate and cherish thesuccess of our graduatesand we have top qualityfaculty who conduct relevant and practical research in areasof audit, tax, financial, and systems.This year, we interviewed several faculty candidates at theAAA conference and invited them for campus visits andsuccessfully hired four new faculty members who we willintroduce in the next issue of the newsletter. Stay tuned,you will like them once you hear about them! In addition,serving on the Dean Search Committee, I had extremely highexpectations of someone who could replace Dean Sorensen.Dr. Robert Sumichrast, who is selected as the next Dean ofthe Pamplin College, satisfies all of the high expectationsof someone who would be able to lead the College veryeffectively and fill the large shoes that Dean Sorensen hasbeen wearing for the past 31 years. It is my strong belief thatwith Dean Sumichrast, the Pamplin College of Business willcontinue to have a very bright future with many opportunitiesfor our students and other stakeholders. I am sure you willenjoy meeting Dean Sumichrast!34568101112131416Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t sOn the Cover | Class ProjectGreetingsWelcome Our Newest FacultyDistingushed AlumnusA Word from Steve ParkerThanks to Our DonorsFinancial ReportsEndowed Gifts to the DepartmentStudent AwardsA Word from Jim HatchIn Memoriam--Pauline Lester CornDoctoral StudentVirginia Accounting & Auditing ConferenceThis year, we created several new committees in thedepartment and the faculty serving on these committees areworking hard to propose solutions that we can implement tocontinuously improve our curriculum, research productivity,and quality of education and outreach activities. We willcontinue to do well with our dedicated faculty and staff, ourfantastic Advisory Board and our very effective BusinessChair of the Advisory Board, Mr. Jim Hatch, and the wonderfulHokies and friends who contribute funds, time, and valuedadvice. Given these highly motivating resources and supportlevels, we will continue to do well in the ACIS Department toprovide our students with the best education and our facultywith opportunities to engage fully in scholarship, teaching,service, and advising. We are the Hokie nation with the candoattitude and the desire to serve!Best wishes,Reza BarkhiPricewaterhouseCoopers Research Fellow and Head3

D o n o r s ( c o n t . )1987Andrew G. EricksonDavid S. JarvisDennis M. Scullin, Jr.Christopher W. SheanJeanne C. WhittRichard R. Whitt, IIIJames A. WildingLinda F. WinderTimothy C. Winder1988Kenneth B. AbelSuzanne S. BengeRamesh NarasimhanBrian K. PerryMarvin A. Thomas, Jr.1989J. William Colbert, Jr.Stephanie L. CookerGregory G. HolsingerTracy K. KennyM. Megan MartinYvonne C. McGillWilliam B. Schwartz1990Michael S. ComerDaniel L. DodsonJohn E. KinzerKeith E. KlesatCarlos A. OtalBrian D. PetersBrian E. Rhoades1991Lloyd H. EnglanderSteven E. JonesRobert J. OliverRobert C. PoignantJennifer S. ThomasAmanda L. VaccaroClark M. Wheatley1992Kenneth E. CookeDonna L. FikeMarie N. GodwinSherri H. GoodwinGeorge B. MannersEllen S. Medlock1993Michelle M. BendelLauren L. BrownsteinBrent A. CalhoonCarl D. CroninTiffany L. GormanJonathan H. MangelsThomas L. MilburnRobert A. RybaPamela C. SmithVictor J. Vecchiariello1994Laura J. AnikowMelissa A. ClonigerJames B. DotyJames D. FikeOliver Liu1994 cont.Orval A. NangleBruce A. Riggins1995Fred O. Cornett, Jr.Cole M. CoxKevin L. LaneLaura A. Lew1996Angela S. King1997Susannah G. CarpenterC. Blair Housley, Jr.Christopher S. KehdeDavid C. KennedyJennifer M. KennedySarah R. Shuey1999Adam P. ChildersKimberly D. HighRebecca A. MannMichael E. MizeMary A. ReichardMichael A. ReichardCourtney F. SommerLisa M. Sowers2000Steven G. CornsAaron D. CrabtreeMichael S. DayLisa D. LaneThomas S. MarshMegan M. McInerneyPhillip B. Moore2001Jessica A. HogeStephanie MarshStephen R. Skinner2002Amy R. MaphisMark C. MatheosMeredith H. MatheosWilliam H. Robinson, IIIPeggy E. Snyder2003Jeffrey B. CallawayJoo H. JunVishal Ranjan2004Christopher L. FryeChristopher G. HazzisTimothy M. Mulieri2005Arron S. FlemingThomas G. JonesPatrick M. SmithAngela L. Thompson2006Joanna R. FoxDaniel J. Hazlett2006 cont.Kenneth F. HuberKristen L. JonesRaheel S. KhanTeresa M. MaherJennifer L. Wade2007Laura E. Richards2008Michael V. ChoateCrystal A. DavisMichael P. DunleavyRyan A. FlachJames P. McCoyPatrick R. McKenney2009Maria V. AndersonCatherine A. LetchworthMegan B. Moore2010Jose M. KassarAndrew D. Shutterly2011Matthew B. GuthFriends, Faculty, & ParentsAnonymous DonorAnonymous DonorChristopher C. AdlerAndrea L. AkinChristine AldridgeStamatia S. BasilJoseph R. BelcherKaren G. BellNancy K. BerlinGary J. BerrianNancy E. BlackaSarah E. BlakeJoanne K. BradyJoelen BrownRobert M. BrownKevin BrownsteinMeredith A. CarsoShiu B. CheungShifei ChungC. Bryan CloydRenee H. CloydAnita J. CornettLaura B. CornwellMatthew R. CostaPaige B. CrumpJenna A. CumberlandSusan F. DaleyBrenda K. DavisLinda M. Del AlamoMairid C. Di NennaSusan E. DrasalEileen J. DykesGeorge A. EppWilliam EppPatricia M. EricksonBonnie M. FarrarKathy A. FedarkoJeanne A. FischerSylvia K. GarlandLaura A. GaunttFriends, Faculty, & Parentscont.Paula GershenRichard GoodwinBeth M. GordonWilliam K. GriffithsKerry B. HallAndrew E. Harrs, Sr.Diane R. HeagertyRuthann HicksSam A. Hicks, Jr.Nancy D. JonasTess A. JonesMarie L. KarlNancy E. KarlGabrielle KaufmanMary F. KiefaberRobin A. KinzerJennifer KlesatSamantha KrallTerri C. LaFlamWilliam H. LefflerDorothy H. LeiningerWayne E. LeiningerEllen R. LercheRebecca C. LiuzzoErin LuttrellSarah L. MaherDeborah A. MangoldBryan MaphisMcGladreyJulia M. MillerMichael P. MonaghanBetty C. MongerKelly MorningstarCharles MowryScott NemeroffPasquale NigroRonald J. PattenPamela J. PennyDeborah F. PeverillKevin B. PlummerSteven K. RaineyPratima RanjanJoan RennerMartha S. RichMara C. RigginsNeal RubinJeffrey A. SaltzbergChrista SchlaudeckerCindy SchlaudeckerDavid G. SchlaudeckerAnnie SeagoW. Eugene SeagoParnian D. ShahinDeborah R. SpruellDonna D. StaciaSusan C. StewartKimberly L. StroupMartha H. TaylorCharles E. ViolandTab M. WarlitnerRebecca P. WhitfieldCarla V. WildingJennifer L. WilliamsSharon E. WohllebenMary WyckoffAlexanne Y. Yi7

F i n a n c i a l R e p o r t sFinancial ReportsDEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMSPAMPLIN COLLEGE OF BUSINESSVIRGINIA TECHUNRESTRICTED GIFTS TO VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATIONFor Year EndedJune 30, 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Alumni & Friends $ 61,915 $ 76,883 $111,861 $ 70,863 $ 70,467 $ 65,522 $ 66,917 $ 86,864Matching Gifts 53,523 61,701 86,245 95,535 114,723 120,124 98,047 101,276Grants/Other Support 2,000 7,500 17,500 22,500 13,000 8,000 3,000 8,000Total $117,438 $146,084 $215,606 $188,898 $198,190 $193,646 $167,964 $196,140Increase (Decrease) $ 32,219 $ 28,646 $ 69,522 ($ 26,708) $ 9,292 ($ 4,544) ($ 25,682) $ 28,176Percentage 37.8% 24.4% 47.6% (12.4%) 4.9% (2.3%) (13.3%) 16.8%Number of Donors* 340 351 318 391 342 336 356 387Increase (Decrease) (49) 11 (33) 73 (49) (6) 20 31Percentage (12.6%) 3.2% (9.4%) 23% (12.5%) (1.8%) 6% 8.7%*Indicates donors who made unrestricted gifts and gifts to endowment accounts.DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMSPAMPLIN COLLEGE OF BUSINESSVIRGINIA TECHRESTRICTED GIFTS TO VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATIONFor Year EndedJune 30, 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Alumni & Friends $269,248 $631,919 $1,767,179 $261,842 $216,586 $139,553Matching Gifts 49,800 85,900 81,500 144,053 206,122 253,375Grants/Other Support ----- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------Total $319,048 $717,819 $1,848,679 $405,895 $422,708 $392,928Increase (Decrease) ($ 33,894) $398,771 $1,130,860 ($1,442,784) $ 16,813 ($29,780)Percentage (9.6%) 125% 158% (78%) 4.1% (7%)8

F i n a n c i a l R e p o r t s ( c o n t . )DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMSPAMPLIN COLLEGE OF BUSINESSVIRGINIA TECHUNRESTRICTED GIFTS TO VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATIONFOR YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2012Gifts from Alumni, Faculty, and Friends $ 86,864Matching Gift Programs*Public Accounting FirmsDeloitte LLP $ 1,400Ernst & Young LLP 4,450Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP 1,500Grant Thornton LLP 9,400KPMG LLP 35,850PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 7,496Total $60,096Corporate ProgramsAir Products & Chemicals, Inc. $ 300AXA Foundation 500Bank of America Foundation, Inc. 2,000Capital One Services, Inc. 1,500Dell Direct Giving Campaign 3,200Eli Lilly and Company Foundation 500Fannie Mae Foundation 440Freddie Mac Foundation 360Goldman, Sachs, & Co. 1,000Ingersoll-Rand Company 6,000LibertyGives Foundation 15,000Mead Johnson Nutrition Employee MatchingGift Program 600Portfolio Recovery Associates 500T. Rowe Price Associates Foundation, Inc. 6,000Universal Leaf Foundation 500Verizon Foundation 700Wells Fargo Foundation 1,130Other Corporate Matches 950Total Corporate Matching Gifts $41,180Total Matching Gifts 101,276Other SupportLanigan, Ryan, Malcolm & Doyle, P.C. $ 3,000McGladrey & Pullen LLP 5,000Total Other Support 8,000Total Unrestricted Gifts $196,140*Amount includes donor’s gift plus company match.9

F i n a n c i a l R e p o r t s ( c o n t . )DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMSPAMPLIN COLLEGE OF BUSINESSVIRGINIA TECHENDOWMENT (RESTRICTED) GIFTS TO VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATIONFOR YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2012Gifts from Alumni, Faculty, and Friends $139,553Matching Gift Programs*Public Accounting FirmsDeloitte LLP $ 41,556Ernst & Young LLP 89,450KPMG LLP 10,000PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 26,500Total $167,506Corporate ProgramsBoeing Matching Gifts Company $ 66,000H&R Block Foundation 2,355LaSalle Hotel Lessee, Inc. 15,000Wells Fargo Foundation 1,814Other Corporate Matches 700Total Corporate Matching Gifts $ 85,869Total Matching Gifts 253,375Total Endowment Gifts $392,928*Amount includes donor’s gift plus company match.E n d o w e d G i f t sEndowed Gifts to the DepartmentDuring the year three new excellence funds were established:Alan J. Goldsticker, class of ‘80 established the Alan J. Goldsticker Fund for Excellence Fund in ACIS.Dr. James A. Yardley Excellence Fund in ACIS was established by alumni and friends.Dr. Tarun K. Sen Excellence Fund in ACIS was established by alumni and friends.The Deloitte Foundation Faculty Fellowship in ACIS was established by Deloitte employees.Although the department received no new endowed scholarships in 2011-12, there were many significant increases to the sizeof existing scholarships through current contributions, pledges and/or bequests. Two special scholarships were established:Duffie G. Cox, class of ‘76 established the Duffie Cox Family ScholarshipE. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company established the DuPont Accounting & Information Systems Merit Scholarship10

S t u d e n t A w a r d sACIS Student Awards2012-2013Accounting and Information SystemsAdvisory Board Award• Jeffrey J. Virga, Jr.Gerald L. Alderson AccountingScholarship• Amandeep SainiAccounting and Information SystemsAlumni Scholarship• Anne-Marie E. Caporale• Lindsey B. Herrala• Claire E. Hybl• Jessica R. Klaber• Viktoriya Y. Leshchenko• Melissa A. Ryan• Mark D. Sheldon• Natalie L. Simko• Ian J. Twardus• Maegan M. WiestAnderson and Reed Scholarship• Charles T. GardnerFloyd A. Beams Scholarship• Brandon Ater• Jeffrey O. BrownBobby Lee Benson MemorialScholarship• Valerie A. PaganiTommy R. and Nancy E. BlackaScholarship in ACIS• Evelyne P. Burr• Mohammad AliWayne E. Boggs Scholarship• Kevin S. Lee• Diana M. Luc• Adrianne E. TaylorD. Perry and Sharon C. BrownAccounting and Information SystemsScholarship• Stephanie K. CarrollT. Edwin & Willie Ann BushScholarship• Joanna L. GarciaThomas R. Byrd Scholarship inAccounting and Information Systems• Grant M. Chaney• Nicole M. Hurst• James P. Lee• Alexander J. Mazzuca• Justin J. Mikk• Logan M. Ryder• Meghan C. Seifert• Jennifer L. WadePauline L. Corn Scholarship• John R. LauckDuffie Cox Family Scholarship• Kayla L. WongRosalind N. Cranor Fellowship inAccounting and Information Systems• Christine GimbarClifford A. Cutchins, III Scholarship• Holland Y. Anderson• Morgan A. Curry• Tyler G. Ott• Alan J. Stancill• Corey A. Walsh• Kenneth W. Wimmer• Nicole S. WrightJorge and Rosa Del AlamoScholarship In ACIS• Phillip C. StuckiDeloitte Award• Phoebe Y. ChoiJoseph M. Donnelly ’70 AccountingScholarship• Diana P. TongLoretta R. Donnelly MemorialAccounting Scholarship• Caroline G. BoulangerDuPont ACIS Merit Scholarship• Brian J. PendletonDouglas R. Eanes MemorialScholarship in Accounting• Lacey A. WoolfJasper R. and Allyn G. EanesScholarship in Accounting• Danielle E. Chambers• Scott T. SimmonsLoretta M. Emery Scholarship inAccounting• Derek M. CassellsErnst & Young AccountingAchievement Award• Brian T. Benson• Sonia R. MundackalAccounting and Information SystemsFaculty Scholarship• Brittany M. WoodRobert L. Freeman Scholarship• Paul F. FeaganWilliam S. Gay Scholarship• Christine Gimbar• Steven J. Goldstein• Jenna D. Hoover• Laura K. Neiditch• Joseph R. Rakestraw• Jonathan C. SouthGrant Thornton Award• Kristi A. Keck• Chris E. MaysGreer & Walker Scholarship• Matthew N. WitmanL. Mahlon Harrell Scholarship• Markus B. GibsonLeo Herbert Scholarship• Anh D. SonRobert F. Hogan, Jr. and Alison W.Hogan Fellowship in ACIS• Alyssa M. KniesDr. Frederick E. Horn MemorialScholarship• Nasser S. MikdadiT. Dallas Hundley, Jr. Scholarship• Cameron M. MalewskiJoseph R. Jenkins Scholarship inAccounting• Jesse D. GardnerChristopher Allen Johnson MemorialScholarship in Accounting• Laura E. Beale• Sarah E. Hurford• Cassandra A. MendozaJohnny R. Johnson MemorialScholarship• Jonathan S. PyzohaKPMG Leadership Award• Caroline G. BoulangerKPMG Scholarship• William P. HoKonrad W. Kubin Scholarship inAccounting and Information Systems• Joseph C. D’AmatoC. Franklin and Helen M. LawsonMemorial Scholarship in Accounting• Katie M. HortonKwan Soon Lee Scholarship• Madeline G. Butz• Zachary T. KiszkaWayne E. Leininger Scholarship inAccounting• Gabriel D. SaucedoRobert C. Morris, Jr. Freshman MeritScholarship• Michele Ahn• Sarah E. Beamer• Carman J. Liuzzo, Jr.• Benjamin P. MitchellMichael and Nancy OwensScholarship in Accounting andInformation Systems• Chris E. MaysRonald J. Patten Scholarship inAccounting and Information Systems• David M. RatchfordErnest J. Pavlock Scholarship inAccounting and Information Systems• Jamie L. Vail11

S t u d e n t A w a r d s ( c o n t . )Pearman Family Freshman MeritScholarship• Anna K. BruceJames D. Penny Scholarship• Kelly E. ShieldsJohn E. Peterson, Jr. and Mary JaneC. Peterson Ph.D. Fellowship• Eric M. Negangard• Michael E. Ozlanski• Jonathan S. PyzohaPricewaterhouseCoopers Award• Shauna V. HerrmannR. Bruce Prouty Scholarship• Rebekah A. FaszewskiJoseph J. Quadros, Jr. Scholarship• Alysha M. Braddy• Jessica L. Cabler• Dalton J. DesRoches• Aimee K. Fatico• Jessica L. Kirkland• Steffen C. Moseley• Alyson R. Stellato• Stephanie E. TysorFrederick M. Richardson Scholarshipin Accounting and InformationSystems• Kathryn A. Enget• William A. MiddletonJames Robinson Award• Nasser S. MikdadiMary F. McVay and Theodore R.Rosenberg Scholarship• Gregory E. SmithJohn T. Ryan Scholarship• Courtney S. DobbsJoseph J. Saunders III Scholarship• Jessica L. EastHarry & Penny Schwarz Scholarshipin Accounting• Stephen J. WernickiThomas L. Souders AccountingScholarship• Ryan H. BuckropKatheryn A. Tyree ’02 MemorialScholarship• William P. HoVSCPA Award of Achievement• Danielle E. StumpJimmie L. Wade AccountingFellowship• Aaron G. SwegerThomas M. Wells Scholarship inAccounting• Gary L. FangWells Fargo Scholarship in Accounting• Hejab ChowdhuryVirginia Owen Williams MemorialScholarship• Jessica D. BertholfElmer S. Wilson, Jr. MemorialScholarship in Accounting andInformation Systems• Negar Jamshidi-MehrYount, Hyde & Barbour Scholarship• Abigail L. YoumansA W o r d F r o m J i m H a t c hA Word from Jim Hatch, Chair, ACIS Advisory BoardAs we welcome in a new year for the Accounting and Information SystemsDepartment, the Pamplin College of Business, and Virginia Tech, wefind ourselves at a very important crossroads in our history. It has been31 years since we have had the opportunity to welcome a new Dean tolead the Pamplin College going forward. In 2011, ACIS welcomed a newDepartment Head, Dr. Reza Barkhi and for the first time in a number of yearsthe department received new funding for added faculty positions. We arealso hopeful that some added funding will come to the Pamplin College,over time, in support of our new Dean, which sends a very strong messageabout how the University feels about the importance of a quality businesseducation at Virginia Tech.I continue to feel that ACIS graduates are among the best, most successfulgraduates at Virginia Tech. A high percentage of them receive job offers,with the highest starting salaries. Our alumni base continues to show itsstrong support for the department and we look forward to more engagement and philanthropy from our alums.As we look to the future, there are very exciting opportunities ahead as well as many challenges. Maintaining the relevanceof our course offerings and providing our students with the best possible education, while embracing online education areamong our greatest challenges.I thank you for past support and look forward to exciting times ahead and your ongoing commitment to the ACIS Department.Jim12

I n M e m o r i a mPauline Lester Corn (1925-2012)Pauline Lester (Polly) Corn passed from this life on July 31, 2012. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph andten brothers and sisters. Polly is survived by a daughter, Paula Sue Corn Rinehart and husband, Stacy, of Raleigh, N.C.;son, John (Acct. 1978) and wife, Karen, of Columbia, TN, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.In 1942, Polly left Hurley, Virginia and enrolled in RadfordCollege. She received a degree in accounting and was electedMay Queen. She married Ralph, a local banker, and taughtbusiness at Radford High School for eight years. She taughtaccounting for three years at Radford College and then joinedthe faculty at Virginia Tech for 19 years until her retirement in1985.During her tenure at Virginia Tech the Principles of Accountingsequence was three courses because the University wason the quarter system. Polly served as coordinator of thePrinciples course sequence where she selected the textbooks,and prepared course syllabi, lesson plans and exams for over1,000 students each quarter. Students have fond memoriesof her two hour exams that were given at multiple campuslocations in the evenings. Polly was responsible for recruitingnumerous students into the accounting major.She significantly influenced Master’s and Ph.D. graduateteaching assistants in developing their teaching skills andphilosophies. Polly nurtured them, reviewed their coursesyllabi, lesson plans, and exams. She worked with thesefuture professors on their presentation skills and emphasizedpatience in tutoring an individual student. Her contributionsin this area continue to influence accounting students todaythrough her efforts in instructing the next generation ofaccounting professors.Mrs. Corn, as her students referred to her, served on theRadford City Council for 12 years. She was also active at thelocal hospital and was treasurer of her church for over 20 years.Polly loved to play golf and was a passionate bridge player.Polly took great joy in the accomplishments of her children. She frequently spoke of the wisdom contained in booksauthored by her daughter Paula. Specifically, she often mentioned Better Than My Dreams: Finding What You Long ForWhere You Might Not Think to Look and Strong Women, Soft Hearts: A Woman’s Guide to Cultivating a Wise Heart and aPassionate Life. Her son John played on two state championship football teams at Radford High School. Polly loved sportsand, when talking about football, would frequently mention John’s accomplishments. She was so pleased that he followedher as an accountant.On the occasion of Polly’s retirement, Family, Faculty, Alumni, and Friends established the Pauline L. Corn Scholarship. Thisscholarship provides financial assistance to Graduate Teaching Assistants in the Department of Accounting and InformationSystems.13

D o c t o r a l S t u d e n tDoctoral Student Helps UndergraduatesAccount for Their Full PotentialMichael Ozlanski, recipient of the 2012 Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher Award from the Pamplin College of Business,says the educational impact of faculty members goes beyond teaching their courses to “helping students reach their fullestpotential in life.”“Higher education gives students opportunities to prepare for their careers, as well as to intellectually mature,” said Ozlanski,who earned a master’s degree in accounting and information systems from Virginia Tech in 2012, and expects to receivehis doctorate in May 2013. “This means that students need to challenge their beliefs about the world. Some of their existingworldviews will remain, and some of their beliefs will change. It is our job as teachers to ensure that our students simultaneouslylearn skills for success in their career paths and in making the world a better place.”Ozlanski, who worked on the audit staff at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Philadelphia for four years, said he loves his disciplineand wants to make studying it fun and relevant. “When I teach Introduction to Accounting, I try to explain abstract accountingconcepts by making reference to things that students already know,” he said, citing such examples as the accelerators on theToyota Prius, the BP oil spill, defective Nike running shoes, and outings to local restaurants and night spots.In upper-division auditing classes, he uses metaphors from daily life to illustrate ideas. “For example, companies need tomaintain internal controls to prevent or catch accounting errors,” he said. Showing a picture of his golden retrievers, Ozlanskiexplained that a safety sensor on his garage door prevents accidents by automatically reversing the door if his dogs run outwhile the door is lowering. A discussion on safety mechanisms in accounting and auditing follows. “A few months after I taughtthe class, a student stopped by my office to tell me that she remembered this concept in subsequent classes by recalling mygarage door analogy,” he said.Ozlanski also uses research findings from social psychology in his classes to help students understand how “good, everydaypeople can perpetrate financial frauds.”14

D o c t o r a l S t u d e n t ( c o n t . )An important teaching strategy is creating an “open and inviting classroom, where students feel comfortable asking questionsand talking with me or their peers.” He encourages his students to call him “Mike” to promote an informal classroom environment,something he said has not compromised his role as instructor.He also likes to chat with his students before class to learn something about their lives, interests, and struggles. One studentworked part-time managing the kitchen at a local steakhouse, “so we discussed how our accounting lessons applied to his job.”Another student who shared Ozlanski’s passion for indie rock helped him discover some new artists.The informal talks are enjoyable and support the teaching and learning process, Ozlanski said. Developing a good rapportwith students can make them less shy about asking for help, he said. “These impromptu conversations are just as importantto student success as my planned lectures. I’ve explained complex accounting problems, critiqued resumes, given dating andfashion advice, and counseled students on career decisions.”His professors were always available to help him and his classmates, and research suggests that the quality of student-facultyinteractions affects academic performance and personal and social development, Ozlanski said.In nominating him for the Pamplin teaching award, Professor Reza Barkhi, Accounting and Information Systems DepartmentHead, wrote that Ozlanski has made “extraordinary efforts to help students learn difficult material” and that hard work wasevident in the “outstanding” teaching evaluations he received.“Mike has been an excellent teacher for the department,” Barkhi said. Mike has accepted a job offer from the University of NewHampshire as an assistant professor of accounting. He starts in Fall 2013.15

Department of Accounting and Information SystemsVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University3007 Pamplin Hall (0101)Blacksburg, VA 24061Non-Profit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDBlacksburg, VA 24060Permit No. 28Virginia Accounting and AuditingConference -- June 27, 2013 --Westfields Marriott, Chantilly, VAMajor Issues Facing CPAs Working For orWith the Federal Government2013 is the second year the department has sponsored a conference focused upon federal government accounting andauditing issues. The conference is co-sponsored by the Department of Accounting and Information Systems and the VirginiaSociety of CPAs. Topics include:• Update on Government Auditing Standards [Yellow Book]• Update on Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board [FASAB sets accounting standardsfor federal agencies]• Hot Topics in Internet Controls including the GAO Green Book Standards• Standards to Guard Against Cyberattacks• Case Studies on Ethics• Long-Term Fiscal Imbalance, Is Sustainability Possible?The conference is designed for accountants who work for or with federal agencies. One attendee of last year’s conference,who is in private practice, said it was interesting to hear what issues federal government accountants faced. The eight-hourconference is on June 27, and registration is through the VSCPA at www.vscpa.com/conferences.