Accounting Newsletters
Spring 2019
Alumni in the News
Though he now lives in Belleville, Justin Price still knows SIUE pretty well. He should considering he finished both his graduate and undergraduate degrees in accounting as a cougar. Price graduated with his bachelor’s in 2011 and his master’s in 2012.
Currently, he works as a manager at CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP), a firm that he says fits his career goals perfectly. Even with a successful career, Price balances organizational work and currently serves as the Director for the SIUE Accounting Department Alumni Advisory Board. He balances that with a positions as the Vice President on Executive Committee for Board of Directors of greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce and as a Director at Caritas Family Solutions.
When asked what he enjoyed most about his time at SIUE, Price cited the support the accounting department provided him: “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for all of the support the accounting department provided. They were outstanding not only in providing me with technical skills in practice and theory, but they also helped me navigate how to build my career, what to look for in an employer, how to interview, how to be successful in a professional environment, and many of the other soft skills necessary to make a successful transition into a professional career.”
Department News
The Accounting Department has been busy during the 2018 – 2019 academic year. In the Fall of 2018 we brought three faculty candidates to campus to interview to replace Professor Linda Lovata who is retiring. We were fortunate that our top pick accepted our offer and will be joining our faculty in Fall 2020. The new faculty member is Jennifer Williams from Virginia Tech.
The School of Business scholarship awards luncheon is coming up and we anticipate that Accounting students will again be well represented in receiving scholarships. We are always grateful to alumni and firms who donate to make these scholarships possible. Listed below are the accounting scholarship recipients.
- Anders CPAs + Advisors Scholarship: Andrew Phipps
- Beta Alpha Psi Award: Braxton Berlin
- BKD Scholarship: Adam Donley, Rachel Huwe, Joseph Guithues
- Hagemann Accounting Scholarship: Deniene Brigeman
- Outstanding Senior Accounting Student Award: Sydney Boschert
- Phoenix Fund Scholarship: Bailey Gurley
- Harry & Lena Rosner Memorial Scholarship: Braxton Berlin
- Denise L. Suhrenbrock Memorial Scholarship: Jessica Lake
- Wenzel CPA Scholarship: Rylan Lopez
- Stuart E. White Accounting Scholarship: Adam Pashea, McKinley Vickers, Breann Walton
International Travel Study
We often hear from our School of Business Alumni that they wish they had traveled internationally while in school. Employers are increasingly seeking out individuals who have had international experience, and this international experience is helping our students stand out among the competition. Students and Alumni report that studying abroad changes their lives in many ways including enhancing what they are studying and opening doors to new possibilities and new ways of thinking.
The School of Business International Program helps students prepare for successful careers by providing them with international educational opportunities through student and faculty exchanges, study abroad, travel study courses, and service learning experiences in England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and China, to name a few. Having the opportunity to live and study in another culture brings the concept of working in a global economy to a very personal level.
Giving to our international travel study program will increase SIUE’s national and international profile. Travel opportunities enhance the professional and academic experience for faculty and students, and offer a hands-on approach to engage with cultures not available on campus. Support for this campaign will help afford students the benefit of a global, transformational educational experience.
“Participating in the Business Culture of Spain travel study expanded my understanding of the need to appreciate and work with other cultures. The trip was a great opportunity to see historical and culturally significant places around the country, and left me with new friends to share the experience with!” Kelly Pfaff, BS '19
“I had the opportunity to study abroad in Germany, China and Budapest. You realize just how big the world really is.” Jared Fischer, BSA ’07, senior internal auditor, Graybar, St. Louis
Focus on Faculty
Who else could we select for the faculty spotlight other than Linda Lovata who is retiring at the end of the 2018-1019 school year. Linda has been a member of the Accounting faculty at SIUE for about 30 years. Prior to joining the faculty at SIUE, Linda was on the Accounting faculty at Notre Dame. During her time at SIUE Linda has taught accounting systems, financial accounting, managerial accounting and in the MSA program she has taught ACCT 510, the environment of accounting. Perhaps some of you still have unpleasant memories of the ACCT 510 exam. Over the years, Linda has been a champion of the student Accounting Club and has helped organize many student activities. In recent years, Linda has served on numerous committees including the University Curriculum Committee and the Faculty Senate.
When asked about future plans, Linda said she plans to sit in a rocking chair on her porch. When more excitement is needed, she plans to rock. I’m sure I speak for everyone, faculty students, and alumni, in wishing Linda a happy retirement.
Spring 2018
Alumni in the News
Glen Carbon resident, Kali Patterson received her Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and Master of Science in Accountancy from SIUE. She currently holds the position of audit manager with Kerber, Eck & Braeckel LLP in St. Louis.
When asked if she ever envisioned herself in this career while attending SIUE, she said, “Not initially. It wasn’t until my senior year that I even thought about taking the CPA exam. Even after graduating and getting a full-time job at a CPA firm, I didn’t expect to stay in public accounting for more than a few years. Now, after 11 years, I can’t envision ever leaving.”
Kali mentioned Dr. Reed as one of her favorite professors. She admired his teaching style and appreciated his care for the students and their success in understanding the material and reaching their potential. In addition to making great faculty connections, Kali made lifelong friendships while attending SIUE. She mentioned, “I met some lifelong friends in my accounting courses. All of them are doing great and have full-time accounting jobs all over the country.”
As far as her lasting impression of SIUE, Kali believes SIUE is a great place to get an education—especially an accounting degree! She highlighted that the professors are top notch, and that many firms in St. Louis recognize SIUE for their accounting program, which always helps the hiring process.
Focus on Faculty
We welcomed Dr. Xiaoxiao Song to our faculty in the fall of 2017. She earned a PhD and MSA from the University of Texas at Arlington and a BA in English from the China University of Petroleum, Beijing China. She is married with two young children, and her family is currently building a home in the Edwardsville area.
Dr. Song currently teaches the ACCT 312 – Managerial Accounting course. She has worked hard to prepare for teaching her courses, and she has been well-received by the students. Her research interests are in the areas of financial and international accounting. She recently had a paper accepted for presentation at the prestigious conference of the Journal of International Accounting Research in Venice Italy in June. We are fortunate that Dr. Song accepted a position at SIUE, and we welcome her and her family to SIUE.