Virginia Tech Student Benefits From Accounting Doctoral Scholars Program

There is a growing crisis at the nation’s colleges and universities — a lack of academically qualified accounting faculty threatens the pipeline of tomorrow’s accounting students. To combat this problem and increase the pool of qualified Ph.D.s, the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) and VSCPA Educational Foundation have made a bold statement by pledging a combined $25,000 over five years to the Accounting Doctoral Scholars (ADS) Program sponsored by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) Foundation.

One beneficiary of the VSCPA’s pledge is close to home. Virginia Tech student Jon Pyzoha, CPA, an ADS scholar, will attend Virginia Tech’s accounting Ph.D. program beginning in fall 2009 and plans to specialize in audit research, with the ultimate goal of teaching at the college level.

“This career offers a lot of flexibility in what you specialize in and research,” said Pyzoha. “And you have the ability to teach and impact future accountants of America.”

Pyzoha worked at accounting firm KPMG, LLP in Chicago for five years, first as an audit intern and then as senior audit associate. He is licensed as a CPA in the states of Illinois and Virginia. Pyzoha has also been active in the community helping out the Meals on Wheels organization and participating in Accounting Day for Kids.

Beginning in 2008–2009, the VSCPA and VSCPA Foundation joined more than 69 firms and 35 other state CPA societies with its commitment to the ADS Program. Individually, the VSCPA pledged $15,000 and the Foundation pledged $10,000 to support the Program. 

Launched in 2008, the ADS program provides funding for up to 30 individuals each year, with a focus on those currently working in public accounting, to help them make a permanent transition to teaching and research in accounting at the university level. The funding supports applicants to doctoral programs in accounting and also provides an annual stipend of $30,000 for up to four years of enrollment. Priority is given to those committed to teaching and research in audit and tax — the areas of greatest need.

Virginia Tech benefits from participating in the ADS Program because it helps attract highly qualified Ph.D. students concentrating in auditing or tax to enter its program. John J. (Jack) Maher, an accounting professor in Virginia Tech’s accounting doctoral department, is grateful for the ADS Program’s assistance attracting top talent.

“The ADS Program helps the CPA profession by encouraging highly qualified CPAs to join the professoriate,” said Jack Maher. “This will benefit the CPA profession because these highly qualified individuals will likely be professors for 20 to 30 years. They will help to train the next generation of students that will enter the accounting profession.”

A full description of the program, complete eligibility requirements, application procedures and a current list of participating universities are available at http://www.adsphd.org/. For more information on the VSCPA Educational Foundation and its various programs and services aimed at ensuring the future of the CPA profession, visit http://www.vscpafoundation.com/.

The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) is the leading professional association dedicated to enhancing the success of CPAs. Founded in 1909, the VSCPA has 8,700 members who work in public accounting, industry, government and education. The VSCPA is celebrating its Centennial anniversary this year — marking 100 years of an organized CPA profession and statewide organization uniting and representing CPAs across the Commonwealth. Visit /Centennial/ to learn more about the VSCPA’s Centennial Celebration. For general information, please visit the Press Room on the VSCPA website at /, e-mail vscpa@vscpa.com or call (800) 733-8272. To search for a CPA in your geographic region, visit http://www.financialfitness.org/ and click on “Find a CPA.”

Founded in 1984, the VSCPA Educational Foundation is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to attracting future CPAs by promoting financial and accounting education, rewarding academic excellence and encouraging students to pursue promising careers. The Foundation supports students and educators in Virginia through undergraduate and graduate scholarships, financial literacy grants and award/recognition programs. For more information on the VSCPA Educational Foundation and its programs, visit http://www.vscpafoundation.com/, e-mail info@vscpafoundation.com or call (804) 612-9417.