2011 Newsletter - Southeast Missouri State University

Department of Accounting
Spotlight
Donald L. Harrison
College of Business
TM
Summer 2011
Donald L. Harrison College of Business
ONE UNIVERSITY PLAZA
•
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI 63701-4799
•
(573) 651-2000
•
http://www.semo.edu
Dear Alumni, Students and Friends of Southeast,
Welcome to the second edition of the Southeast Missouri State University Department of Accounting
“Spotlight” newsletter. The newsletter is designed to facilitate communication between the Southeast
Department of Accounting in the Harrison College of Business and its stakeholders—including
current, former, and prospective students as well as employers and others interested in the progress and
achievements of our programs, including high school faculty and counselors. Our goal with this edition
of the newsletter is to familiarize readers with current department news and to chronicle the progress of
our programs over time.
Within this newsletter, you will read about the first meeting of our Partners in Progress Advisory Board
held in Spring of 2011. Great things are expected from this initiative and faculty are very pleased that
these successful Southeast alumni are willing to share their time and expertise with both students and
faculty.
This edition also includes a summary the CPA exam results of Southeast graduates over the past four
years. We think it is impressive but are continuously working to make it better.
We are often asked by alumni and community members how they can help the Accountancy program,
so we have asked Nolan Brunnworth, Director of Corporate Relations and Associate Director of
Development for the Harrison College of Business, to give some guidance.
Further, this Newsletter is stuffed full of our student’s achievements, awards, and activities. From our
annual “awards” banquet to the activities of Beta Alpha Psi to Beta Gamma Sigma to Phi Beta Lambda
to the “Redhawk Rumble” our students distinguish themselves both academically and as citizens within
the community. The Southeast Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi (BAP), recently installed, continues to do
outstanding work. Also, we have included information about graduates obtaining their first job and
student internships. At the end of the day, this is what we are all about—giving students a chance at a
great start in a professional career.
Accounting faculty completed a variety of major changes to the curriculum in the 2010-2011 academic
year, described below. The finalized changes to the curriculum strengthen entrance requirements,
maximize student learning of topics that are the subject of professional examinations, and provide greater
encouragement for internships.
I look forward to continuing communications with you through this newsletter. Let us know where you
are and what you are doing by updating your profile at www.iAMsoutheast.com. If you know an alumnus
who is “off our radar screen,” forward this newsletter to him or her so that we can reconnect. If you have
any questions or input, feel free to contact me at rpalmer@semo.edu.
Richard J. Palmer, Ph.D.., CPA, CMA
Chair
Donald L. Harrison College of Business
Southeast Alumni Hold
“Partners in Progress” Advisory
Board Kick Off Meeting
On April 29, 2011 the first meeting of the newly formed “Partners in Progress”
Accounting Department Advisory Board was held. The Board, which consists of Southeast
alumni who are partners in St. Louis and regional accounting firms, is constituted to
provide advice and counsel regarding the strategic direction of the Accounting program
and to provide input to support the success of Southeast accounting students and faculty.
The first meeting brought Board members up to speed with the Southeast accounting
program performance and current issues. The Board had lunch with Southeast students
and faculty in the Dempster Hall atrium while listening to an exciting motivational speech
from Southeast Head Basketball Coach Dicky Nutt. The afternoon was dedicated to
brainstorming sessions related to future Board activities.
Accounting faculty are excited to have the assistance of the Board and look forward to
their contributions of wisdom, time, and talent.
3 Partners in Progress
Advisory Board
Glenn Brady, Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers
St. Louis, Mo.
Eddie Cato, Partner
Riley, Stubbs and Cato LLC
Dexter, Mo.
Mike Dambach, Partner
BKD LLP, St. Louis , Mo.
Mike Givens, Partner
Gray Hunter Stenn
Marion, Il.
Michael Grojean
AMD, LLP
St. Louis , Mo.
Betsy Mays, Partner
Coffman and Company, P.C.
Poplar Bluff, Mo.
Ruth Saphian, Partner
Ernst and Young
St. Louis, Mo.
Melvin Van de Ven,
Partner
Van de Ven, LLC
Cape Girardeau , Mo.
L to R: Front row: Ruth Saphian, Betsy Mays, Richard Palmer (Chair); Second row: Melvin Van de Ven,
Mike Grojean. Third row: Mike Givens, Eddie Cato, and Mike Dambach.
Donald L. Harrison College of Business
4
Southeast CPA Exam Performance
Consistently Among the
Top of Missouri Universities
Out of eleven state universities in Missouri, Southeast Missouri
State University ranked third in percentage of undergraduate
degree candidates that passed either the Auditing & Attestation
(64.3%) and Regulation (71.4%) sections of the CPA exam in
2010, according to figures released by the National Association
of the State Boards of Accountancy. The national average pass
rate for both of these sections is 49.8%. Overall, the percentage
of undergraduate degree candidates from Southeast who passed
all four parts of the CPA exam was 41%, good enough for fourth
place in the state just behind the University of Missouri-Kansas
at 42%.
Importantly, Exhibit 1 shows that over the past four years,
Southeast students have consistently performed well on the
CPA exam. In three out of the last four years, Southeast students
have placed in the top three among Missouri public colleges and
universities on two or three parts of the CPA exam.
Commenting on the success of Southeast students on the 2010
CPA exam and over the past four years, Richard Palmer, Chair of
the Department of Accounting, stated, “The accountancy faculty
at Southeast are dedicated to preparing students for the rigors of
the CPA exam. We’re happy to see that our students’ hard work
is paying off and that we have established a consistent pattern
of success. We want to leverage that success and become the
program of choice for bright high school and other students who
want to major in accounting.”
Exhibit 1 Southeast CPA Pass Rates of Candidates without Advanced Degree by Exam Section, 2007-2010
Business
Environment &
Concepts
No. of
Candidates
Financial
Accounting &
Reporting
2010 Report
39
48.0%
64.3%*
71.4%*
44.4%
2009 Report
38
50.0%
52.6%
52.6%
56.5%
2008 Report
41
50.0%
53.6%*
73.9%***
65.4%**
2007 Report
29
40.0%
50.0%*
57.0%**
65.0%
Auditing &
Attestation
Regulation
* **first place among state universities
**second place among state universities
*third place among state universities.
We’re happy to see that our students’ hard work
is paying off and that we have established a
consistent pattern of success.
Donald L. Harrison College of Business
5 FAQs on How to Support the Southeast
Accounting Program
Everyone is aware of the shrinking
level of support for colleges and
universities in Missouri. On campus,
we are dedicated to doing more with
less whenever and however possible.
Fortunately, Southeast alumni often ask
how they can support the Accounting
program or how their contributions can
be leveraged to have the greatest impact
on Accounting students and faculty. In a
nutshell, alumni and community support
is critical to Accounting program
success and the ability to (a) recruit and
retain Missouri’s best students through
scholarships, (b) provide greater student
access to key leadership opportunities
and exposure to business and industry
experiences, and (c) recruit and retain
the country’s best faculty and enable
them to stay on the cutting edge of
disciplinary knowledge.
Given the program’s lofty goals, we
asked Nolan Brunnworth, Director
of Corporate Relations and Associate
Director of Development for the
Harrison College of Business, to bring
our readers “up to speed” on how
alumni and community members can
best support the Accounting program at
Southeast.
Q: When I give during the Annual
Fund, does that money go to
support the Accounting program?
When giving to Southeast through the
Annual Fund, donors can direct their gift
to the Accounting program as follows:
1.By phone: Be sure to ask the Telefund
Associate to designate your gift for the
Department of Accounting, or
2.By land mail: Reference the
“Department of Accounting” in your
check memo line when responding via
direct mail, or
3.By Internet: Type in “Department
of Accounting” in the designation
field when giving online at www.
semofoundation.org.
Annual gifts directed to the Accounting
program allow students to take advantage
of numerous leadership and co-curricular
opportunities throughout the year.
Q. Besides the Annual Fund, how
can I make a contribution to the
Accounting program?
Restricted and Endowed Scholarships
are ways to assist Accounting students
at Southeast. Both types of scholarships
provide the opportunity for donors to
name the scholarship in their honor, in
memory of a loved one, or a business or
organization. Donors are also allowed
to establish the criteria for awarding
the scholarship. Examples of criteria
include GPA, financial need, high school,
county, and extracurricular activities.
Funding for both types of scholarships
can be accomplished through one gift,
or over time, and are awarded annually
to deserving students. Scholarships
can become endowed at a minimum
principal level of $10,000. At the time
the scholarship is fully endowed, a
pre-established portion of the earnings
income will be used to make the annual
scholarship award. The Foundation’s
current policy allows five percent of
the principal balance to be awarded
each year. Additional earnings on the
endowment are added to the principal
to allow the fund to continue to grow.
Contributions from any source may be
added to scholarship endowments at any
time.
Q. Can I take advantage of a
matching gift program at my
employer?
Yes. Many companies provide matching
gift programs that multiply their
employees’ charitable donations. If you or
your spouse is employed by a matching
gift company, your contribution to the
Accounting program at Southeast could
be significantly increased. Matching gifts
are designated to the same fund as the
donor’s original gift. And matching gifts
Nolan Brunnworth
count toward the achievement of giving
levels for the Foundation’s Copper
Dome Society.
To obtain a matching gift, contact
your employer’s human resources
department for eligibility information
and instructions. Companies have
various methods by which you can
submit your matching-gift request:
online forms, automated phone systems
or paper forms that you submit to
the Southeast Missouri University
Foundation.
Q. What are “named” professors
and chairs?
Named professorships and chairs are
endowments specifically designated
to attract high profile “top quality”
faculty members to join Southeast
and to support outstanding current
Southeast faculty. Hiring and retaining
the very best faculty is crucial to
student learning and Southeast success.
Named professorship endowment funds
support the continuing development
of faculty to insure they have both
Continued on page 12
Donald L. Harrison College of Business
6
Students Receive Academic Awards
On May 6, 2011, Southeast’s Department of Accounting recognized seven outstanding students with awards for the 2010-2011
academic year for their performance. The students and awards are listed below. Congratulations to these students who were recognized
for their achievements.
Outstanding Academic
Achievement in Accounting
Outstanding
Accounting Student
Outstanding Management
Information Systems Student
Benjamin A. Castelli
Michelle L. Meyer
Charles D. Wilson
Outstanding Academic Achievement
in Business/Marketing Education
Outstanding Business/Marketing
Education Student
Outstanding Academic Achievement
in Administrative Systems
Management
Jaclyn J. Birks
Outstanding Academic Achievement
in Management Information Systems
Matthew J. Shepard
Joshua D. Pritchard
John D. Cundiff
Did You Know?
A Few Facts about Southeast Accounting Students
Accounting students at Southeast have their own “profile” of which many people are unaware.
Did you know that:
•63 students received an undergraduate
degree in Accounting from Southeast in
2009-2010.
•53% (47%) of Accounting students are
female (male).
•32% of undergraduate Accounting
students are from the St. Louis area.
•The typical undergraduate Accounting
student was in the top 25% of his/her
High School class.
Donald L. Harrison College of Business
7 Phi Beta Lambda Students and
Advisors Shine in State Competition
Eight students from the Southeast Chapter of Phi Beta Lambda
(PBL) attended the state conference in Jefferson City, Missouri
March 24-26, 2011. All of the students competed in businessoriented competitions with almost all of the students qualifying
to compete in June at the National PBL Conference in Orlando,
Florida. The competitions and placements of Southeast PBL
members include:
• Multiple first place awards to Daniel Schuenemeyer in the
competitions of Future Business Executive, Impromptu
Speaking, and Who’s Who in PBL
• A first place award to Katie Deason for her work in the Job
Interview competition
• First and third place awards to Daniel Levesque in the Financial
Analysis & Decision Making competition and the Financial
Concepts competition
• A second place award to Nathan Litchfield in Accounting
Analysis & Decision Making
• A second place award in Desktop Publishing to the team of
Emilee Glueck and Danielle Huebner
• Second and third place awards in Computer Applications to
new members, Megan Stackle and Malli Tahghighi, respectively
• A third place finish for Emilee Glueck in the Marketing
Concepts competition
• A fourth place award in Business Communication to Megan
Stackle
Group after closing
ceremony (l to r)
Megan Stackle, Daniel
Schuenemeyer, Emilee
Glueck, Kathryn Deason,
Nathan Litchfield
Group 1 (l to r)
Daniel Schuenemeyer,
Emilee Glueck,
Megan Stackle,
Danielle Huebner,
Kathryn Deason,
Nathan Litchfield
In addition to an outstanding performance by Southeast students,
Professor Dana Schwieger was recognized as the 2011 PBL Advisor
of the Year for the State of Missouri at the conference. Dana has
recently started helping Professor Carolyn Rainey, co-advise PBL. Dr.
Rainey’s 35 years of serving PBL in the capacity of advisor and coadvisor has benefitted both students and faculty.
Congratulations to the Southeast PBL students and faculty advisors
for the great showing.
Andrea Metcalf Receives Scholarship
from St. Louis Society of Women CPAs
The St. Louis Society of Women Certified Public Accountants
(SLSWCPA) has selected Andrea Metcalf, a senior Accounting
student at Southeast Missouri State University, as one of two
recipients for its 2011 scholarship. The selection of Andrea
was from a candidate pool this year that Rachel Meyers, Vice
President of the SLSWCPA, described as “strong.” The $1,000
scholarship is awarded to a junior, senior, or graduate student
in the field of Accountancy who has a demonstrated record of
academic excellence and shown active involvement in outside
activities and organizations. The other winner was Shiyu Han of
Truman State University.
Andrea is from Troy, Illinois. She is the daughter of Steve and Kim
Metcalf. Andrea has been on the Harrison College of Business
Dean’s Honors List every semester since 2008, is a student
member of Phi Eta Sigma (Honor Roll Fraternity) and served as
the Recording Secretary and Fundraising Committee Chair of
Beta Alpha Psi from Fall 2009 to the present and is the incoming
President of the Southeast Mu Xi Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi for
the 2011-2012 term. Andrea has also been an active volunteer
with Junior Achievement, a student Ambassador for the Becker
CPA Review, and a departmental
tutor to the introductory Accounting
course students.
The SLSWCPA was formed for the
stated purpose of promoting women
in the field of accounting. Their
membership consists of certified
public accountants in industry and
public accounting and those who
are working towards becoming certified. The SLSWCPA was
organized to promote the interest of women
in the accounting profession and their objectives include (a)
building a network of professional women, (b) promoting the
accounting profession to women, (c) increasing the visibility of
women CPA’s in the St. Louis business community, (d) presenting
programs of interest to members, and (e) assisting members with
planning professional careers. St. Louis is one of the few cities in
the country which has an active local organization for women
CPAs. In 2013, the organization will celebrate its 35th anniversary.
Kudos to Andrea!
8
Donald L. Harrison College of Business
Accounting Majors Show Their Business
Knowledge, Again!
For the third year in a row, Southeast Accounting students were
winners of the Harrison College of Business “Redhawk Rumble.”
The Rumble is a Jeopardy-style game with question categories
covering business school topics in finance, economics, statistics,
management, marketing, accounting, information systems, and
current events. The Spring 2011 competition began with eight
teams, which were winnowed down to a championship round of
two teams over a course of three weeks.
This year’s winners of the Redhawk Rumble were Ben Castelli
(senior), Sara Kopp (graduate student), Tyler Craven (senior),
and Corey Robinson (junior). All these students are accounting
majors and members of Beta Alpha Psi, the national honorary
accounting organization. The team donated the $500 grand prize
to our Southeast Missouri State University chapter of Beta Alpha
Psi. The team sponsor was Dr. Roberta Humphrey. Great job!
Rumble Winners L to R: Corey Robinson, Tyler Craven, Sara Kopp, and Ben Castelli.
Beussink Retires after
29 Years
Judy Beussink, Administrative Assistant in the Department of
Accounting, retired on June 1st of 2011. Judy began working for the
Department of Management in the Harrison College of Business in 1982.
In 2004, Judy shifted over to the Accounting and MIS Department where
she has served with distinction. Judy’s help over the years has been greatly
appreciated by both the students and faculty. She has been a pleasant and
helpful presence who will be missed much by everyone associated with
the Department of Accounting.
Donald L. Harrison College of Business
Despite Economy,
Students Landing
Internships and
First Jobs
Despite one of the worst economies in decades, Southeast
students are finding internships and landing their first
jobs in the workforce. Below is a list of recent students
placements of which we have been made aware. If you have
updates, please drop us a line. Internships play a valuable
role in accounting education and assists in getting that first
job. Real-world experience makes classroom theory come
alive, allowing students to grasp the depth and breadth of
their field. Students listed on the opposite page worked as
interns in 2010, and we want to recognize and thank the
employers for their important role in educating Southeast
students. If you are interested in hiring an intern, please
contact rpalmer@semo.edu.
Newly Employed Grads
Kayse Adkins
MA at University of Illinois
Amy Albers
Cargill Food Distribution
Sandra Blake
MBA at Idaho State University
Joe Blakemore
Blakemore Farm/agriculture business
Jeffrey Branch
Americare Systems
Kristin Buck
Alter Trading
Candace Carter
Boeing Company
Samantha Durst
Roly Poly Sandwiches
Jennifer Filkins
Panera Bread Company
Charles Holbrook
Rubbermaid
Timothy Howell
Internal Revenue Service
Sasha Hutson
Beussink, Hey & Roe
Jeremy Jones
Kerber, Eck & Braeckel
Lucas Luckett.
Anders, Minkler, & Diehl (ADM)
Karla Pappas
Colas Inc.
Cara Probst
Baer & Edington
Stephanie Schuette
RubinBrown
Michael Stefaniw
Department of Defense
Megan Stidham
Lowes
Dewayne Whitener
Missouri Enterprise/Univ of MO
Stephanie Winschel
PAJCO
Jason Wood
Payless Shoes
Internships
In today’s highly competitive market, the
demand for accounting graduates continues to
grow. Accounting has been identified by the
U.S. Department of Labor as an area of rapidly
growing job markets into the 21st century.
Go to www.semo.edu/hcb
to find out more about
the Harrison College of Business
Kayse Adkins
Meuller Prost, PC, St. Louis, MO
Amy Albers
Jackson Hewitt Tax
Tracy Althardt
Vogt and Snider
Ashley Bowers
Capaha Bank
Jeff Branch
East Missouri Action Agency
Ben Castelli
RubinBrown, St. Louis, MO
Kelly Eeftink
Beussink, Hey, Roe
Cara Ervin
Baer & Eddington
Emily Gegg
SE Missouri Food Bank
Timothy Howell
Kerber, Eck & Braeckle
Xun Hu
East MO Action Agency
Sasha Hutson
Beussink, Hey Roe, CPAS
Jeremy Jones
Kerber, Eck & Braeckle
Robert Jones
Accounting Services
Janice Ketchum
East Missouri Action Agency
Michelle Meyer
East Missouri Action Agency
Wilson Sikes
United Way
Kristie Sprague
SEMO Accounting Services
Alicia Wilson Sikes
TG Missouri
Jeff Trentmann
SEMO Accounting Services
9 Donald L. Harrison College of Business
10
Congratulations to
the Harrison College of Business
2010–2011 Accounting Graduates
Kayse Adkins
Tracey Althardt
Anthony Boren
Ashley Bowers #
Amber Brewer#
Ashley Burnette
Katie Collier
Lotte Cook
Tyler Craven
Jordan Davis
Lucas Dirnberger
Kelly Eeftink#
Emily Gegg
Chad Gettinger
Brian Godefroid#
Rheanna Greer#
David Harrison
Deanna Hotop
Alicia Howard
Sasha Hutson#
Keith Jones#
Robert Jones
Masanao Kato *
Lorean Kenner
Benjamin Kirn
Brittany Koch
Jane Kurre
Melissa Laughlin
Nathan Litchfield#
Christopher Loseman#
Molli Madden *
Michelle Meyer#
Brittany Mickel
Timothy Miesner#
Cynthia Pipkin
Jacqueline Prater
Paige Reynolds
Dean Richardson
Nicole Schmitt
Lisa Schnurbusch#
Daniel Schuenemeyer#
Emily Scott
Kristie Sprague#
Corey Stika
Carol Tabor
Alicia Thomure#
Stephen Thurman#
Robert Tibbs
Keri Tochtrop#
Deana Wilkerson
Jeremy Wulfers
* Expected Summer 2011 graduation
# Graduated with Honors
Donald L. Harrison College of Business
Faculty Research
Recognized with
“Best Paper” Awards
Faculty at Southeast work to continuously push the boundaries of
their knowledge of their disciplines. This “academic” aspect is an
essential, though oft misunderstood, element of the professorate.
Recently, Dr. Dana Schwieger (along with co-authors Barbara
Clements and Dr. Ken Surendran of Computer Science) was a
recipient of the Best Conference Paper Award at the ISECON/
CONISAR Conference in Nashville, Tennessee in October 2010.
Their paper entitled, “Development of an Evaluation Model for
XBRL-enabled Tools Intended for Investors” was selected as the
best paper from a field of 19 papers submitted to the CONISAR
division. Along with receiving an award for their paper, the article
was recently published in the online peer reviewed research
journal, Journal of Information Systems Applied Research.
In addition, Professor Sean Eom received recognition for “Best
Paper of the Conference” for his article entitled, “Relationship
among E-Learning Systems, Self-Efficacy, and e-Learning
Outcomes: A Path Analysis Model” presented at the International
Academy for Information Management conference, The
association for information systems special interest group on
education (AIS SIGED) International Conference, on December
8-10, 2010, in St. Louis, MO. Sean was also elected to serve as
a member of Board of Directors with responsibility for general
policies and the administration of AIS SIGED.
Faculty at Southeast
work to continuously
push the boundaries of
their knowledge of their
disciplines.
Dana Schwieger
Named Copper
Dome Faculty
Research Fellow
Professor Dana Schwieger was awarded
the Copper Dome Faculty Fellow award in
scholarly work for 2011. This award recognizes
Harrison College of Business tenured
and tenure-track faculty for significant
accomplishments in the area of research and
scholarly work. The purpose of the Copper
Dome Faculty Fellowship is to provide
additional resources that enable the recipient
to further his or her research agenda. Over
the past five years, Dr. Schwieger has been
recognized for four “Best Paper” awards
at national conferences and published ten
papers in scholarly journals in the information
systems field.
11 12
Donald L. Harrison College of Business
Accounting Program
Completes Curriculum Facelift
The Department of Accounting at Southeast Missouri State
University completed their overhaul of its Accountancy
curriculum in Spring of 2011. The most significant changes
occur in the undergraduate curriculum, where the program
has been revised to intensify the coursework focus on student
ability to master topics that are part of professional tests such
as the CPA examination. In addition, Admission requirements
have been strengthened. Students entering the program will
now be required to score a “B” or better in both sophomore
level accounting courses to merit admission into the Accounting
major. Once enrolled, the students will take five required
(financial, tax, auditing, and international accounting) and
Section
Southeast Course
Four Required Courses
Financial
AC321
Financial
AC332
Regulatory
AC435
Audit
AC437
Financial
AC540
Elective Courses (Choose five from below)
BEC
AC330
BEC
AC331
Financial
AC534
Audit
AC537
Regulatory
AC545
Financial
AC548
Regulatory
AC563
All
AC573
FAQs with Nolan Brunnworth
five elective courses. Students are also strongly encouraged to
participate in internships and a new credit structure is in place to
support this activity.
According to Richard Palmer, Chair of the Accounting
Department, “We are excited about the new curriculum and feel
that these changes will better prepare students for professional
examinations, strengthen training on accounting and spreadsheet
software, and strongly encourage internships in the field. We
believe it represents ‘state of the art’ preparation for success in
the business world.” For more information about the Southeast
Accounting program visit www.semo.edu or contact Professor
Palmer at rpalmer@semo.edu
Course Name
Financial Accounting and Reporting I
Financial Accounting and Reporting II
Taxation of Individuals
Auditing and Assurance Services
International Perspectives on Accounting
Accounting Information Systems
Cost Accounting and Analysis
Financial Accounting and Reporting III
Advance Auditing and Assurance Services
Taxation of Business Entities
Not-for-Profit Accounting
Regulation and Professional Ethics
Internship
Continued from page 5
the opportunity to interact with leading-edge academics and
practitioners and the graduate assistant support needed for their
scholarly and student-oriented endeavors. By investing in faculty,
we enhance the reputation of the University and promote the
transfer of cutting-edge knowledge to our students.
Q. How can an individual contribute through a planned
gift?
There are many types of planned gift arrangements which allow
a donor to make a difference in the future of the Accounting
program. Gifts of this kind are a way for the donor to give a major
gift without an immediate impact on their cash or investments.
The most common type of planned gift is accomplished by simply
adding Southeast Missouri University Foundation as a beneficiary
of the individual’s estate plan and designating that gift for the
Department of Accounting. Bequests and other planned gift
arrangements, such as life insurance, trusts, and annuities, may be
incorporated into a person’s estate and financial plan to ensure the
future of the donor and the donor’s family along with the future
charitable gift.
Donald L. Harrison College of Business
13 Students Attend APICS Professional
Development Meeting in St. Louis
Dr. Raj Somarajan enhances student learning by encouraging
his Production/Operations Management students to do unpaid
internships as part of class work and taking them on educational
plant tours and to professional development meetings of APICS
(The Association for Operations Management).
On April 12, 2011, student members of the Southeast APICS
chapter attended the Professional Development meeting of
APICS Saint Louis Chapter held at the Sheraton Westport
Chalet in St Louis. Thirteen students from Dr. Somarajan’s
P/OM classes attended. There were also about 30 managers
from the St Louis area in attendance.
It was a great opportunity for our students to interact with
real-time managers from industry. Students were asked to
introduce themselves and say a few words about themselves
and their future plans. The event provided our students a
good “networking” opportunity with regional organizations.
The students listened to a presentation by Mr. Bob Stahl,
author of 6 books on Sales & Operations Planning and
a consultant to DOW, Sara Lee, Rubbermaid, Tiffany,
and many other multinational companies. The students
thoroughly enjoyed the presentation. Thanks to Mr. Robert
Bielecki, President, and other board members of APICS Saint
Louis Chapter.
Professor Somarajan and his P/OM students
Students Tour Nordenia International
Thirty-nine students from Dr.
Somarajan’ss P/OM class went on
an educational tour of Nordenia
International in Cape Girardeau,
MO on November 19, 2010. With
about 3,000 employees worldwide,
the companies of Nordenia
International AG produce flexible
packaging, technical films, and
product components. The local
facility in Cape Girardeau is the
main supplier of the packaging
material for the P&G.
While on the tour, students
were able to view the complete
manufacturing process of plastic
bags from pellets to the finished
products. Everybody enjoyed
the trip and the hospitality of the
Nordenia organization. Special
thanks to Ms. Birdie LeGrand,
training co-ordinator and other
technical staff who spent more than
2 hours as our tour guides.
P/OM students visiting Nordenia.
14
Donald L. Harrison College of Business
Beta Alpha Psi Update
The MU XI Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi,
the Accounting honor society, will start
the 2011-2012 school year with a new
leadership team. The new President is
Andrea Metcalf, Vice President is Tim
Couch, Recording Secretary is Cindy
Sandoval-Perez, Reporting Secretary is
Ashley Bates and Treasurer is Melanie
Urbaniak.
In August of 2011, the leadership team
will attend the Beta Alpha Psi annual
meeting in Denver, Colorado. One of
the officers, Cindy Sandoval-Perez was
nominated and then selected as one of
60 students nationwide to participate in
“Project Run with It.” These students work
to develop solutions to real life business
problems of actual not-for-profit (NFP)
agencies. The students, working in fifteen
teams of four, will have the equivalent of
approximately one day to develop a formal
presentation showcasing their solution to
the business issues presented by the NFPs
in their request for proposal for consulting
services. Prior to the meeting, the NFP
agencies provide background information
and during the meeting are available
to answer the participating students’
questions. There will be three winning teams
selected and each student on these teams will
receive a $1000 cash reward for their chapter.
Some big events are planned for the
upcoming year, including:
• September 12, 2011: Meet the Firms
Night
• October 7, 2011: 4th Annual golf
tournament fundraiser
• April 2012 (date TBD): Annual trivia
night fundraiser
Anyone wishing to participate in the events
can email bap@semo.edu. Further, Chapter
information is sent out via email; if you would
like to receive BAP invitations and updates,
please send your email address to this address
as well.
Beta Alpha Psi meetings take place the first
and third Monday evening of each month
with accounting professionals attending and
speaking at each meeting. The Chapter is
always looking for alumni to come back to
campus and visit our students. If you would
be available to speak to Southeast students at
Beta Alpha Psi meetings, please contact BAP
at bap@semo.edu.
BAP volunteering to work on Habitat for Humanity service project.
New Members
Inducted
On Saturday, April 30, 2011,
Beta Alpha Psi inducted 16
new members into their honors
society at the Dempster Hall
Atrium.
The student-inductees in
2011 are:
Ashley Bates
Matt Bey
Tim Couch
Elisha Dean
Andrew Dorn
Rheanna Greer
Joe Jansen
Jordan Jansen
Ben Kirn
Nicole Lee
Elizabeth Marquart
Andrea Metcalf
Abdul Rahim Nurani
Cindy Sandoval Perez
Melanie Urbaniak
Tom Wodraska
The College of Business wishes
to congratulate each one on
their hard work in achieving
induction into this highly
coveted honors society.
Donald L. Harrison College of Business
15 Beta Gamma Sigma
Inducts Eleven New
Accounting Student
Members
On Friday, May 6, 2011, Beta Gamma Sigma
inducted eleven Accounting students into
its member ranks. Beta Gamma Sigma is the
international honor society serving business
programs accredited by AACSB International The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools
of Business. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma
is the highest recognition a business student
anywhere in the world can receive in a business
program accredited by AACSB International.
The Accounting student inductees included
Ashley A. Bates, Catherine M. Brown, Timothy
S. Couch, Amanda Germann, Jennifer R. Hinkl,
Jordan L. Jansen, Elizabeth M. Marquart,
Lacey L. Morrison, Sarah C. Pettigrew, Cindy
C. Sandoval-Perez, and Audra L. Smith.
Congratulations to these students for their hard
work in achieving this goal.
Winning golf team from 2011 Beta Alpha Psi golf tournament (L to R):
Michele Ivers, David Prasanphanich, David Roberts, and Scott Roe.
They are all with Beussink, Hey & Roe, a firm in Cape Girardeau.
Thank You!
The Department of Accounting would like to send
out special thanks to all our friends and alumni
who have generously donated to the department
over the past year. These donations help ensure
that our program will continue to provide students
with an outstanding education and the tools for a
brighter future.
BAP team building and leadership activities from our meetings.
Worldwide
Your support now is more important than ever. If
you have made a gift in the past, please continue
and consider ways in which you can increase
your gift for a greater impact. Please visit www.
semofoundation.org and click “How to Give” or
call (573) 651-2332 to learn more. To direct your
support to the Accounting program at Southeast,
be sure to designate that your gift is to benefit the
Department of Accounting in the appropriate box.
Also, more insight into philanthropic opportunities
can be found in the Newsletter article above
entitled, “FAQs on How to Support the Southeast
Accounting Program.” Your gifts are valued,
important and will greatly assist our students.
Accreditation
Donald L.
Harrison
College of
Business
www.semo.edu
GetEducated.com, a
consumer watchdog group,
listed Southeast #1 on its list of “Top 10 Ranked Best
Values Online MBAs—AACSB Accredited” in 2010.
16
Donald L. Harrison College of Business
Department Of Accounting Faculty Listing
Deborah Beard, CMA
Professor of Accounting
Ph.D.,University of Arkansas
Mary Johnson
Professor of Business Law
J.D., Washburn University
C. Somarajan (Raj)
Professor of Quantitative Methods
Ph.D., Oklahoma State University
Sean Eom
Professor of Information Systems
Ph.D., University of Nebraska
Rebecca Lohmann, CPA
Instructor of Accounting
M.S. in Accountancy, Southern Illinois
University
Gangaraju Vanteddu (Raju)
Assistant Professor of Quantitative
Methods
Ph.D., Wayne State University
Charles McAllister
Associate Professor of Quantitative Methods
Ph.D., Penn State University
Anthony Varnon, CPA
Professor of Accounting
DBA, Mississippi State University
Richard Palmer, CPA, CMA
Department Chair, Professor of Accounting
Ph.D., Southern Illinois University
Jill Young
Instructor of Information Systems
M.S., University of Santa Clara
ABD, Nova Southeastern University
Pamela Gershuny
Professor of Business Law
J.D., University of Michigan
Eleanor Henry, CMA
Professor of Accounting
Ph.D., St. Louis University
Roberta Humphrey, CPA
Assistant Professor of Accounting
Ph.D., University of Mississippi
Gary Johnson, CPA, CMA
Professor of Accounting
Ph.D., University of Arkansas
Carolyn Rainey
Professor of Administrative Systems
Ed.D, University of Missouri
Dana Schwieger
Professor of Information Systems
Ph.D., Southern Illinois University
Alisha Youngblood Ortiz
Assistant Professor of Quantitative
Methods
Ph.D., University of Arkansas
The Department of
Accounting is housed in
the Donald L. Harrison
College of Business, one
of the finest colleges of
business in the Midwest,
serving more than
one-third of all declared
majors in the University.