The American Accounting Association/J. Michael and Mary Anne Cook/Deloitte Foundation Prize is the foremost recognition of an individual who consistently demonstrates the attributes of a superior teacher in the discipline of accounting. The Prize will serve to recognize, inspire and motivate members to achieve the status of a superior teacher.
Each year up to three prizes can be made in the categories of graduate, undergraduate, and two-year accounting degree programs. The prize consists of an inflation adjusted cash award, a medallion, and a certificate awarded at a ceremony at the AAA Annual Meeting. The cash award for 2021 will be $27,500.
Award Winners for 2021
2021 Two-Year College
Robyn Barrett, St. Louis Community College
"The instructors/professors I remember are those who discussed how the class would benefit me in the future. They brought real world, current and relative examples to class. My teaching format is centered on this goal. I bring in real-life examples of current events which can stem from news events dealing with fraud, tax or the Stock Market. I share current events, such as Fortune Magazine’s “Top Companies to Work For” and Kiplinger’s “Best College Majors.” Engaging students on all levels of Accounting is an important goal for me. My greatest joy comes from seeing a student become interested in learning, while having fun."
Undergraduate
George O. Gamble, University of Houston
"Underlying my teaching philosophy is the belief that each person has worth and potential. If handled properly, every human mind can be shaped into a powerful and productive tool that is useful to its owner and to society. I tell students that every new concept that they learn is a building block toward success in their chosen careers. Even a topic that seems mundane can be become interesting and significant if it is perceived as part of a bigger picture and that they must remember that “grades will get you in the door, but it is knowledge that will provide you with professional sustainability.” Furthermore, knowledge, coupled with high ethical and moral standards creates unlimited professional opportunities."
Graduate
Cindy Durtschi, DePaul University
"My approach to teaching comes from an attempt to solve two problems. First, how to keep students interested without a showman’s confidence. Second, realizing I was not effectively teaching students because their knowledge failed them when confronted with a real scenario. For example, I noticed my graduate forensic accounting students could correctly list red flags of fraud on an exam yet were unable to recognize those same fraud indicators if they were embedded into accounting transactions or financial statements."
"My focus on the student experience has led me to implement a problem-based learning methodology (PBL) in my classes to place students in scenarios with some, but not all the necessary information; requiring them to employ concepts learned in class, their own research, and ingenuity to problem solve."
Award Winners for 2020
2020 Two-Year College
Connie Belden, Butler Community College
“As a teacher, I feel two things are important: 1) being a nurturer to increase the learner’s capacity to engage, including being supportive during difficult times, and 2) to prepare my students for being successful in the future, which in most cases is continuing their education and entering the accounting field.
I strive each day to be an instrument of change for my student’s by engaging them in learning and doing what I can to have a positive supportive effect on their lives."
Undergraduate
Wendy M. Tietz, Kent State University
“My philosophy of teaching is that pedagogy and the curriculum must be current, flexible, and adaptive. First and foremost, the curriculum should reflect the current accounting profession and business environment. I see my job as helping to build a pipeline to the accounting profession. While I make sure that I teach the fundamental principles of accounting, integrating data analytics, emerging technologies, and real-life examples into the course is critical to show students accounting as the multi-faceted profession it is.
Pedagogy must be flexible and adaptive. For example, my students have a choice of how to attend class—in person, live online, or viewing the recording—the course delivery mode adapts to the students’ needs and preferences.”
Graduate
Brigitte W. Muehlmann, Babson College
“I view accounting as a human-made system that provides trustworthy business information for a prosperous society.
My pedagogical approach is the product of my understanding of the human mind and the application of research in neuroscience in the classroom. Viewing the mind as a network, it integrates new acquisitions best when novel knowledge, be it theoretical or practical, passes through the attention filter and connects with the existing knowledge network in my students’ minds, and involves positive emotions. Once connections are made, I aim for retention in the long-term memory."
Award Winners for 2019
Presenter Mary Stone with award recipients William E. McCarthy, Margarita Maria Lenk, and Jill Mitchell, and Kathy Shoztic (Deloitte Foundation)
Two-Year College
Jill Mitchell, Northern Virginia Community College
“My teaching philosophy is based on three core values—opportunity, professionalism, and honor. Using these values as guiding principles, I work tirelessly to be a compassionate and energetic role model for my students to excite them about careers in accounting, and to serve as a mentor to whom they can always return for advice no matter where they are in their professional journeys.
As a community college professor, I am a catalyst for transformative learning experiences for my diverse students, as I strive to teach beyond the outcomes. I hope to play a small part in my students’ educational and personal development by creatively providing them with opportunities to become independent learners, and successful and honorable professionals.”
Undergraduate
Margarita Maria Lenk, Colorado State University
“My goal is to equip my students with the professional accounting knowledge, technical currency, critical thinking habits, multiple stakeholder perspectives, and respectful, inclusive communication and teamwork skills so that they have the confidence, enjoyment, and satisfaction in their successful career journey to add value in an ever changing and challenging financial world.
My instructional brand is to mentor students in how to invest in their own life-long habits of developing into the whole person of their aspirations. My courses integrate accounting and business world knowledge with the economic, philosophical, and ethical reasons why accounting professionals provide important value to society, organizations, capital markets, and communities.”
Graduate
William E. McCarthy, Michigan State University
“I am an accounting systems professor, determined to combine the conceptual ideas of accounting from the business school with hard core technology ideas from the computer science disciplines of database theory, artificial intelligence, and object-oriented programming. My teaching philosophy is anchored on three basic points of emphasis:
1. Demand high performance from students.
2. Be enthusiastic and energetic almost beyond normal capabilities about the future of accounting information systems. I want all of my students to be champions for technological change in their firms, companies, and individual entrepreneurial endeavors.
3. Convince students that I am maximally interested in supporting their learning activities with empathy, extra time, and directed TA assistance, so they do not waver in their dedicated efforts.”
Award Winners for 2018
Carolyn B. Hughes - Two Year College | Marsha M. Huber - Undergraduate | Robert D. Allen - Graduate
Two-Year College
Carolyn B. Hughes, Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College
“To me, being a bridge for my students means that I help them along a path that connects them to a demanding but promising career…to help them understand how business and accounting works.”;
“Preparing this bridge requires a commitment on my part to carefully prepare, set clear, measurable goals and empathize with a diverse group of people from assorted backgrounds. This requires that I respect my students, care about their futures, and encourage them to believe in their abilities.”
Undergraduate
Marsha M. Huber, Youngstown State University
“My teaching philosophy is to transform young people’s lives and the accounting profession through the interdisciplinary application of positive psychology, neuroscience, and the best educational theories available today.”
“Underlying my teaching philosophy is my belief that what I do is about THEIR learning, not my teaching.”
“The transformation to become a “superior” teacher has taken a lifetime, and it will likely continue until I retire. What I do is not random, but intentional. I’m always learning more, renewing myself, perfecting my classes, because I can’t ask my students to be their best, if I’m not giving them my best also.”
Graduate
Robert D. Allen, The University of Utah
“As I consider the positive influence outstanding teachers have had in my life, I recognize the responsibility and privilege of being an educator. I work hard to make a positive difference in the life of each student. ”
“Some of the most satisfying experiences I have had as an educator have been to help students beyond their expectations….I love the challenge of helping students see the potential that resides within them.”
Award Winners for 2017
Cathy Scott, Two-Year College | Susan M. Curtis, Undergraduate | Edmund Outslay, Graduate (pictured with Convener Nancy Bagranoff)
Two-Year College
Cathy J. Scott, Navarro College
“My teaching philosophy involves providing students with a stimulating course that challenges and supports their long-term career and educational goals. Community college students come from various backgrounds, diverse age groups, vast experience levels and varying educational objectives. Therefore, I believe it is important to relate accounting concepts through real-world, practical applications that engage this diverse population.”
“My ultimate goal is for all students, regardless of major, to understand and respect the impact accounting has in their day-to-day lives and future careers.”
Undergraduate
Susan M. Curtis, University of Illinois
“Anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I am constantly thinking and talking (Sometimes writing) about teaching. And, I encourage others to talk about teaching. Because, just as stories help my students learn about accounting, sharing TEACHING STORIES helps us learn about teaching.” What students say: “You make accounting exciting and fresh and interesting. You open student’s eyes to a world of accounting and opportunities that they never knew existed. Said another way, you set their souls on fire.”
Graduate
Edmund Outslay, Michigan State University
“When I prepare for class, I think first of the context for why this topic is important and less about the technical details that will be obsolete in a short time. My first objective is to stimulate their intellectual curiosity about the topic. I teach much the way I plan a trip (my family will tell you I am directionally challenged). I start with the destination and work backwards as to how to get there. I often try to use storytelling and analogies to illustrate concepts…My most enjoyable moments are the hours I spend preparing for class, thinking about how to prepare my students for the next journey on which we embark.”
Award Winners for 2016
Billie M. Cunningham, Undergraduate | Markus Ahrens, Two-Year College | G. Peter Wilson, Graduate
Two-Year College
Markus Ahrens, St. Louis Community College
“I strive to provide an active engaging learning environment for my students. Teamwork and group activities are an integral part of my teaching philosophy…My goal is to develop my students into independent life-long learners. The flipped classroom techniques that I incorporate into my classroom, as well as, the utilization of technology to engage students, results in my ability to meet my student’s learning needs…My teaching techniques are ever evolving and will continue to be tailored to create an engaging and effective learning environment tied closely to the Pathway’s Vision Model.”
“ My ultimate goal is to focus on student learning and engagement, resulting in my students developing a skillset that will help make them successful in the classroom and workplace.”
Undergraduate
Billie M. Cunningham, University of Missouri
“I love people! If through my teaching, I can make a small contribution to even one person’s success in life, the world will be a better place for that person, and perhaps for some of the people that person encounters…how I [will apply] this philosophy to my teaching practice will continue to evolve with each unique class of students, and as I learn more about teaching and learning. Additionally, the domain of my teaching has grown from helping my students to also helping my fellow educators and contributing to our profession.”
“You are my favorite professor of all time. You brought your passion for teaching into every class, and it truly enhanced my experience. I hope to get my PhD and teach someday, and you are a professor I can only hope to emulate. Thanks for always caring.” …A student
Graduate
G. Peter Wilson, Boston College
“I aim to help students and others: (i) develop robust conceptual frameworks and apply them throughout their careers to navigate complexity and uncertainty; (ii) build relationship skills that promote effective and rewarding interactions with others; and (iii) gain a passion for life-long learning and strategies to learn on their own.…Students [can be viewed] as an orchestra and ourselves as caring composers and conductors. Working together we make great music. Moreover, this mindset helps them become highly effective managers in a knowledge economy.”
“I wouldn’t give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I’d give my life for simplicity on the far side of complexity.” ….Oliver Wendell Holmes
Award Winners for 2015
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Joe Hoyle, Undergraduate
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Tracie Miller-Nobles, Two-Year College
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Mark Nelson, Graduate
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Undergraduate
Joe Hoyle, University of Richmond
"I divide my teaching into three distinct categories. First, I have an obligation to be the best teacher I can be for each student who enters my class…Second, I extend my teaching to as many students and accountants around the world…Third, I assist other teachers in their quest to become more successful…I stress the importance of making a 5% improvement each year…If every teacher improves at a 5% annual rate, the quality of teaching around our world will increase quickly and dramatically."
"He is active in the classroom, consistently bringing people into the learning experience. There’s really never a day that he isn’t upbeat and excited to be in the classroom. There’s a lot that can be learned from him." …A student
Two-Year College
Tracie Miller-Nobles, Austin Community College
"I believe an outstanding teacher can best be described by the image of a triangle with a circle around it. The base represents knowledge and accounting pedagogy. One side represents communication and interaction with students-instructional innovation, student motivation, and the pursuit of learning opportunities for students. The other side balances the educator’s role and responsibilities to the larger profession and demonstrates to our students the value of belonging to the community of accountants. The circle surrounding the triangle is my classroom, with no one participant (educator or student) sitting in the center of the circle."
Graduate
Mark W. Nelson, Cornell University
"My teaching metaphor is that I’m a personal trainer. My students hire me because of my expertise, so they aren’t in charge. Rather, they need to follow my program of somewhat painful exercises in order to get stronger and achieve their objectives. Yes, they will sweat and often be sore the next day, but it will all be worth it in the end, and I will make it as fun as possible along the way."
"Faculty can be effective teachers while also being effective at other important dimensions of their jobs, including maintaining an active research agenda and providing service to their school, the profession, and the AAA."