MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
It is hard to believe I am well into my second year as Director of the Adkerson School of Accountancy . The support I have received from the students , faculty , Advisory Council and leadership within and outside the College of Business has been truly amazing . With this type of continued support , I am confident that the School is destined to accomplish great things , and the best is yet to come . As you navigate through this issue of the Bulldog Ledger , I think you will agree .
I am proud of the work we have accomplished together and the achievements that have been made since I came on board . The School ’ s undergraduate and graduate programs were ranked 3rd in the nation by CCH ’ s 2016 Public Accounting Report for accounting programs with 15 or fewer fulltime faculty . Placement rates for graduate students were 100 percent for 2015 and 2016 . A new strategic plan was developed , and implementation is underway . The number of students in the Accelerating Students into the Accounting Profession ( ASAP ) summer camp for high school students increased by 70 percent . Enrollment in the School is up by 5 percent for 2016 .
Another highlight was the 2016 Spring Banquet . Attendance was at an all-time high . Undergraduate scholarships were awarded to 109 students , totaling $ 82,750 . Total graduate scholarships / support awarded totaled $ 404,014 . Faculty fellowships were awarded to Dr . Nathan Berglund and Mrs . Angela Pannell . None of this would be possible without the generous support of our donors , and it is a testament to the engagement of our alumni in the life of the School .
We couldn ’ t be happier with the outcomes of our faculty searches . The new faculty who started in the fall are Dr . Billy Brewster , Visiting Assistant Professor ; Dr . Clyde Herring , Associate Clinical Professor and Dr . Bradley Lang , Assistant Professor . These scholars bring diverse experiences and strengths to the program . I am confident their contributions will have a positive impact . I am also pleased with the contributions our current faculty are making , many of which are presented in this publication .
Much of my time last year was devoted to preparing the School for an AACSB accreditation visit that will take place in February 2017 . As I move beyond that , one of my priorities is to embark on the fundraising initiative outlined in our new strategic plan . In today ’ s environment , external funding is necessary to maintaining quality academic programs . The Adkerson School of Accountancy is no exception . Please take a few minutes to read the article from Rob Jenkins , Director of Development , to learn about giving opportunities . If you have questions about this initiative , do not hesitate to contact me .
I hope you enjoy reading the Bulldog Ledger . I encourage you to keep up with what is going on in the School by visiting our website and through Facebook and Twitter . On behalf of the faculty , staff and students , I would like to thank our donors , alumni , employers and friends for their continued support . Your relationship with and support of the Adkerson School of Accountancy is key to its success .
Hail State !
Dr . Shawn Mauldin Director , Adkerson School of Accountancy
BULLDOG LEDGER