footnotes ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSIT Y ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT
SPRING 2023
FROM THE CHAIR It has been my privilege to have served as the Acting Chairperson of the Department of Accounting for Fall of 2022. I’ve learned much about the impact of the department on our community, our students, and the profession. We create this impact through initiatives like VITA, our student organizations, our strong internship program, and our connection to practitioners. I want to note a few initiatives not included in this newsletter. We have completed another cycle of reaccrediting by the AACSB, the premier business school accrediting body. This accreditation helps ensure that we have the processes and practices that provide our students with a high-quality education. We hold a separate AACSB Accounting Accreditation, a distinction held by fewer than 200 universities. To help stimulate interest in the accounting program at Illinois State University, we will be holding our first-ever high school competition. For this competition, we’ve invited high school accounting classes to visit our beautiful campus and compete for scholarships and trophies. This event is intended to stimulate interest in our accounting programs and the profession. We have expanded our curriculum to adapt to today’s market. We have added graduate certificates in forensic accounting and data science. We are preparing for the changes to the CPA Evolution coming up in 2024. Our faculty continue to receive accolades in teaching, research, and service. They publish academic, educational, and practitioner research in high-quality journals. I am impressed by the dedication of our faculty and staff to our mission of providing quality education in Illinois. Please take a look at the details of these many accomplishments and other departmental events in our newsletter. We encourage all of our alumni to be involved in programs that assist our students, such as the mentoring program, speaking in classes, providing scholarships, and participating in networking and recruiting events. A special thank you to the many alumni who have increased their giving to the department. In closing, thank you all for supporting the department in many ways. With kind regards,
Joseph Johnston Joseph Johnston, Ph.D. , Acting Chairperson - Fall 2022 Faculty Awards
MY REDBIRD STORY Jakob J. Thompson | ’07 My love for Illinois State University started well before I even took my first class. During my high school years, my sister (Jessica J. Gentzel ’03) was attending Illinois State as an accounting student. I remember visiting my sister and admiring the campus as well as the college environment. When it became time for me to start applying to colleges, Illinois State University was one of the top schools on my list. The decision became an easy one when I was notified that Illinois State University selected me as a 2002 Presidential Scholar recipient. I remember the scholarship coming with very specific academic requirements, some of which were a little intimidating. The thought of studying abroad for a semester or interviewing accounting professors my freshman year in order to select a faculty mentor was something I had not planned on going into my college education. While those requirements seemed daunting at first, they really enhanced my overall college experience and education. Some of my greatest memories during my time at Illinois State were from the summer semester studying abroad in Bristol, England with other Illinois State business students. I took full advantage of my time overseas, getting to explore seven different countries in a short nine-week span (which included six weeks of classes). My selection for faculty mentor (Professor Deborah Lindberg) also could not have turned out better. While she helped guide me with accounting questions, course selections, etc… it was the out of the classroom experiences (Illinois State University athletic events, Madrigal Dinner, and numerous other Illinois State events), we attended together with her husband, Terry, that showed me a lot of what Illinois State had to offer. It pretty much goes without saying but Illinois State University’s College of Business gave me the tools for a successful future and career. The classes I took, along with the mentors I had, prepared me for what to expect from a career in public accounting as well as an important
continued on page 2