New faculty position created with donation

By Michael Sewall

Published Feb. 20, 2007

A new faculty position will be created with the more than $75,000 gift the MU College of Business received. The donation will establish a "named" faculty position by fall 2007.

College of Business spokeswoman Laura Harris said a named position is a way of recognizing someone's work and is an esteemed faculty position.

"It's an honor, basically," Harris said. "And they get the extra cash."

The faculty position would not increase duty or change the job description.

"They would still be teaching and doing research," Harris said. "But they're given more money for funding research."

The scholar selected to fill the position would receive a salary increase and funds to cover travel, research and professional expenses.

Accounting firms Mayer Hoffman McCann and CBIZ donated the money to recognize an "outstanding faculty member in the School of Accountancy," according to a news release.

The college has four academic units: accountancy, finance, management and marketing.

"CBIZ and Mayer Hoffman McCann continue to be valuable partners for the MU College of Business and the School of Accountancy," School of Accountancy Director Thomas Howard stated in a news release. "I appreciate the support and collaboration that both companies and their employees continue to provide."

Respect and gratefulness is mutual on the other side.

"We are consistently impressed with the caliber of students we recruit from the School of Accountancy," said Rick Mills, president of CBIZ Accounting, Tax and Advisory Services.

Mills, an alumnus of the school, said he is proud to stay involved with the college and that CBIZ and MHM can contribute to upholding the excellence of the accountancy program.

The new position will be filled in fall 2007, and the process of selecting the first scholar is expected to begin this spring.

Search criteria will include teaching excellence, research productivity, service contributions and citizenship to MU and the profession, according to the news release.

Harris said she was unsure whether the college would be hiring a new faculty member or using a current professor to fill the position.

CBIZ and MHM have combined efforts in the past to donate to the School of Accountancy. The companies established the Arthur W. Hoffman Scholarship, which is awarded to fifth-year accountancy majors who are specializing in tax and show strong academic achievement, financial need and a commitment to student leadership or community service.