Dear alumni, friends, and members of the Accounting Circle,
As we enter a new academic year, our faculty, students, alumni and Executive Committee continue to work together to ensure that our programs remain relevant, innovative and closely connected to the profession.
This year marks both a period of transition and accomplishment. We recently celebrated the careers and contributions of three recently retired outstanding colleagues, Marco Malandra, Dave Jones and Christian Wurst. Their service has helped shape generations of accounting students and strengthened the reputation of our department.
We also celebrated three significant faculty promotions. Wayne Williams earned promotion to professor of instruction, while Enrique Gomez and Hyun Jong Park earned tenure and promotion to associate professor. These accomplishments reflect the strength of our faculty and our commitment to excellence in teaching, research and service.
The accounting profession is evolving rapidly, and preparing students for its future is one of our highest priorities. In response to recommendations from our Executive Committee and employer partners, we have expanded the integration of artificial intelligence throughout the curriculum and launched a new undergraduate elective, Generative AI in Accounting, this fall.
We also established a faculty and Executive Committee curriculum-review initiative. Their input is helping us strengthen students’ systems knowledge, information technology, auditing, data analytics and critical-thinking skills while reinforcing the professional judgment, communication, ethics and skepticism essential to success in an AI-enabled profession.
The reimagined Master of Accountancy program also added a strong technology orientation, including information systems courses to its already rigorous, CPA ready, accounting curriculum. Thanks to the incredible efforts of our director, Wei Wang, we are already seeing increased enrollment.
Professional readiness remains another key focus. We have restored on-campus mock interviews and continue to strengthen opportunities for students to engage directly with professionals through recruiting, mentoring and student-organization activities. We are grateful to the many firms and alumni who generously volunteer their time to support these efforts.
None of these initiatives would be possible without the guidance and support of our alumni and Executive Committee members. Your insights help us identify emerging trends, your engagement provides invaluable opportunities for our students and your partnership ensures that our curriculum remains aligned with the needs of employers and the profession.
Thank you for your continued commitment to Fox Accounting. Together, we are preparing the next generation of accountants to thrive in a profession being reshaped by technology while remaining grounded in the judgment, integrity and critical-thinking skills that define our field.
Sincerely,
Steven Balsam, PhD
Professor and Merves Senior Research Fellow
Chair, Department of Accounting
Fox School of Business, Temple University