The 2021-2022 academic year marks a significant milestone for the School of Accountancy & MIS as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Strobel Accounting Honors Program. For decades this program has provided—and continues to provide—a pipeline of exceptional accounting professionals for Chicago business and beyond. Graduates of the Strobel program, as you’ll read in this issue’s feature story, include a who’s who of the Chicago accounting and finance professions. We are honored to continue this tradition with the admission of the 40th Strobel class.
This year also marks the beginning of new leadership roles for several of our faculty members:
Associate Professor Mary Mindak took over as director of the Strobel Honors program following the June retirement of Deloitte Distinguished Professor John McEnroe—who is the subject of this issue’s faculty profile. Additionally, Clinical Professor Diane Kuhlmann is the new director of the Master of Science in Taxation program, taking the place of Professor Ron Marcuson, who served our school exceptionally for more than 40 years.
Another new development is Associate Professor David Wang’s appointment to director of the Master of Science in Audit and Advisory Services program. He succeeds Professor Cindy Durtschi, whose outstanding leadership has created a solid foundation for the program’s growth and success. We are also searching for a new assistant professor to add to the school’s roster, particularly one who specializes in accounting information systems, in light of the announced changes in the CPA exam.
Yet with all these exciting developments, I’m sad to share that we lost a valued member of our community in Oct. 2021 with the passing of Professor Sandra Shelton, whose influence as an educator and mentor leaves a lasting impact on all of us here at the school. You can read about Sandra’s legacy in this issue, including how to donate to a new scholarship we have created in her honor.
As our faculty and staff returned this fall to the in-person connections that have always been a cornerstone of our school, we’re simultaneously embracing hybrid modes of working and learning that have become a new normal in our world today. We look forward to continuing our work both in-person and online to support our students in their professional and academic pursuits.