"Accounting is the language of business, so we need to be comfortable with the terminology and how it is used. We also need to know what the numbers mean, and how our individual activities can influence those numbers."
Degrees Held:
Career Highlights:
Worked for Farmers Home Administration from 1986-1991. Received tenure from Bradley University in 2005, and received tenure from the University of Northern Colorado in 2013. Provided accounting education courses for managers at the Marmon Group (owned by Jay and Bob Pritzker) from 2001-2011.
In which online degree program do you teach?
Which class do you teach online?
MBA 610: Managerial Accounting
What do you want students to learn in these courses? What is the expected learning outcome?
For people who are not accountants, which is the primary audience of this program, my number one objective is for students to become better consumers of accounting data. Accounting is the language of business, so we need to be comfortable with the terminology and how it is used. We also need to know what the numbers mean and how our individual activities can influence those numbers. Then we can examine financial reports and discuss how our actions can improve the overall success of the organization we manage.
What types of projects can online students expect in this course?
Students can be expected to contribute to discussions about managerial accounting topics, completing small projects in both the preparation and evaluation of managerial accounting reports, and providing presentations of managerial accounting data.
What advice would you give to those considering this online program?
The number one challenge with an online program, to me, is feeling like you are part of the class. Without regularly scheduled class times, it is up to the student to make sure that he/she is staying on pace and not falling behind. It is also important for you to be involved with discussions, sharing experiences, asking questions. The more you put into it, the more you will get out of the class. So your objective should not be to race through the program as fast as possible to get the degree, but to acquire the skills and knowledge from this program for lifetime success (I know that is a little corny).
Why did you start teaching?
I have always enjoyed the process of learning new things. What I discovered in my master's program, as we were studying in larger groups, was that I really enjoyed leading the discussions and helping my peers understand concepts. It was at that time that I realized I had an ability to help make topics that seemed challenging more relatable to the audience. That is why I elected to pursue my Ph.D., so that I could make higher education my career.
What is the one book you think everyone should read?
"Animal Farm" by George Orwell
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