Dr. Jennifer M. Wang, a research associate in the Department of Biology, and Dr. David Mitchell, an assistant professor in economics, have received a grant in the amount of $34,996 from the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium to investigate the effects of nonprofit assistance on home rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. Dr. Wang and Dr. Mitchell are partnering with a nonprofit organization, the Phoenix of New Orleans, to apply spatial and econometric analysis to a five-year dataset of rebuilding and recovery in the Mid-City district of New Orleans. In addition to providing substantive research on spatial spillover effects and the optimal spatial allocation of resources, the researchers will produce a guidance document for nonprofit, public, and private organizations participating in redevelopment and recovery projects.
Dr. Joe McGarrity’s research was mentioned in a recent article in The New Yorker. The article, “Jobs and the G.O.P.” by James Surowiecki, refers to a study of elections from 1916 to 1994 by political scientists Kevin Grier and Dr. McGarrity which shows that the “state of the economy has a major impact on the outcome of congressional elections.” Dr. McGarrity is a professor of economics.
Dr. Roy Whitehead’s article, “Can Corporate Directors be Liable For Taxes When They Are Duped by a Dishonest Accountant?”, has been accepted for publication by The CPA Journal. Dr. Whitehead is an associate professor in the Accounting Department.
Beta Alpha Psi Place in the 2011 National Beta Alpha Psi Conference
The University of Central Arkansas chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, the honors organization for accounting majors, placed in the 2011 National Beta Alpha Psi Conference.Will Baker, Nicole Braddock, Adam Conley, and Ben Cox gave a presentation entitled “Accounting: An Education and a Career.” They won third place and $1,000 in the Deloitte Best Practices category “Helping Other Understand the Financial Information Professions.” Their project reached over 300 students in high schools and community colleges to introduce accounting as a great career and produced 10 accounting in the news videos demonstrating the current events that involve accounting (www.youtube.com/user/accountingUCA).
Jonathan Wallace participated in Project Run With It. His team, which consisted of three other accounting majors from other universities, had to solve an accounting problem that a non-profit was experincing. The group had to create a solution and presentation to the nonprofit. The teams presented their solutions to the Denver Shared Space Project suggesting ways to match non-profits who could share space, technology, and human capital, and suggesting ways to account for those shared resources.Stephanie Watson was honored as an outstanding Beta Alpha Psi advisor. The award of $5,000 was sponsored by McGladrey. She was nominated by the students in the chapter, her co-advisor Patricia Mounce, and others. The trip to the conference was made possible through the generosity of BKD, LLP and its partners.