FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AICPA Honors University of Arkansas Professor with Distinguished Achievement in Accounting Education Award
The award recognizes full-time college accounting educators distinguished for excellence in teaching and for national prominence in the accounting profession.
NEW YORK (June 10, 2024) – The AICPA & CIMA is proud to recognize Vernon J. Richardson, PhD, with the Distinguished Achievement in Accounting Education Award for his outstanding contribution in the field of accounting education as a teacher and researcher and particularly for his impact on nationwide accounting curricula in the United States. This prestigious annual award honors full-time college educators who are distinguished for excellence in teaching and have achieved national prominence in the accounting profession.
Richardson is Distinguished Professor of Accounting and Glezen Endowed Chair, William Dillard Department of Accounting, within the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. He received his BA, MAcc, and MBA from Brigham Young University, a PhD in accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a visiting professor at Baruch College. He has also taught at University of Kansas, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, and China Europe International Business School.
Richardson has won numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to the field, including the 2020 MBA Teacher of the Year at Walton College, and the Innovation in Accounting Education award from the American Accounting Association and EY for his data analytics textbooks (2022). But most significant are his contributions to the nationwide accounting curriculum.
“It is hard to overstate Vernon’s contribution to curriculum development,” said Bruce Dehning, PhD, associate professor at Argyros College of Business and Economics, and a peer of Richardson’s. “Most faculty members are involved in designing a new course or revising the accounting curriculum at their institution. Meanwhile, Vernon has revised the accounting curriculum in the entire country (and many other countries as well). I am preparing to begin teaching accounting analytics at Chapman University, and I have been contacting my friends at universities around the country for advice. I received similar advice from everyone I talked to: Use Vern’s book and follow his recommendations for coverage and the time spent on each topic. There is no better way currently to teach accounting analytics the first time.”
Richardson’s research has had an extraordinary impact on the field of accounting education — most notably in the number of students who have benefited from his guidance beyond the classroom. In addition to the 17 dissertation committees Vernon has served on, he has worked with numerous PhD students and assistant professors, mentoring them through successful research projects and careers.
“Every year I am honored to present this lifetime achievement award to a peer in the field, and this year is no different,” said Jan Taylor, CPA, CGMA, PhD, academic in residence and senior director, academic and student engagement, at the AICPA. “Now more than ever, the accounting profession needs educators who lead in an exciting, innovative, passionate way to inspire the next generation of accountants and accounting educators. The AICPA recognizes that the path to excellence in the profession starts within the walls of educational institutions and is proud to promote and recognize those who contribute to this journey. I offer a hearty congratulations to Dr. Vernon Richardson for this well-deserved recognition.”
Richardson’s impact reaches well beyond the classroom, as he has made time during his career to serve professional bodies in various capacities. He is a member of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Technology Innovation Alliance (TIA) Working Group. This important committee advises the PCAOB on the impact of emerging technologies on audit quality and what needs to be done to ensure that the Board is ready for the forthcoming changes to the profession.
“I consider Professor Richardson a forward thinker, a strong and practical advocate for training future accountants to develop data analytics skills and mindsets,” said Christina Ho, PCAOB board member. “His steadfast voice to challenging the status quo and embracing changes in an increasingly data-oriented and technological era is indispensable and a great catalyst to the advancement of the accounting profession.”
Richardson’s passion is teaching, and he enjoys it at all levels. He is devoted to revolutionizing accounting curricula with data analytics, as evidenced by his six coauthored textbooks emphasizing the subject. But above all, he is proudest of his wife and 12 children.
About AICPA & CIMA, together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
AICPA & CIMA, together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association), advance the global accounting and finance profession through our work on behalf of 597,000 AICPA and CIMA members, candidates and registrants in 188 countries and territories. Together, we are the worldwide leader on public and management accounting issues through advocacy, support for the CPA license, the CGMA designation and specialized credentials, professional education and thought leadership. We build trust by empowering our members, candidates and registrants with the knowledge and opportunities to be leaders in broadening prosperity for a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient future.
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Ranica Arrowsmith
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