UA’s Dugan Named 2009 Outstanding Accounting Educator

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Dr. Michael T. Dugan, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse School of Accountancy, has been selected by the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants as the 2009 Outstanding Accounting Educator in recognition of his many years of excellence in teaching accounting.

“This state-wide honor is special because I was competing against my peers in accounting education in Alabama,” said Dugan, who has received five teaching awards during his 24 years at the University.

The ASCPA award recognizes college accounting educators for excellence in teaching and for active involvement in the accounting profession. The award has the dual function of extending profession-wide recognition to the recipient as well as promoting role models in academe.

Dugan, a classroom teacher for 30 years, joins three other UA faculty members who have received the award since it was initiated in 1994. The first UA recipient was Dr. Robert Ingram (1994), followed by Dr. Mary Stone (2002), now head of the Culverhouse School of Accountancy, and Dr. Barney Cargile (2004), who has retired.

“This honor is very much deserved,” said Dr. J. Barry Mason, dean of the Culverhouse College of Commerce. “All of Mike’s colleagues and students have long recognized his dedication to accounting education, and it is wonderful to see it recognized by his professional peers as well.”

Dugan, who was born in Dallas but raised in New Orleans, also is the school of accountancy’s internship program coordinator. As such, Stone said, Dugan epitomizes accounting education.

“Dr. Dugan is dedicated to maximizing the contribution of accounting academics to the accounting profession, while at the same time providing the guidance and mentoring that helps accounting students reach their potential,” Stone said.

Dugan earned his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from the University of New Orleans and his master’s degree in accountancy and Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee.

“I wanted to be a math major,” Dugan said, “but I spoke with an adviser my freshman year, and she suggested I go into accounting. I did, and I fell in love with it.”

He said he thinks he received the award because he takes “an active and sincere interest in students. You have to be technically competent in the classroom but just as competent in helping and mentoring students and guiding them toward satisfying and rewarding careers.”

Dugan said his teaching career at UA has been highlighted by “working with a great dean” and great faculty colleagues.

Dugan, 51, is a Certified Public Accountant (Louisiana, inactive).  His five teaching awards include the National Alumni Association Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award.  He has published 45 articles in both academic and professional journals.  He is a member of the ASCPA and the American Accounting Association. Dugan’s teaching and research interests are in the areas of financial accounting and reporting.

Dugan is married to a former student, Stacie Newsome Dugan, and they have two children, Patrick, 11, and Bethany, 9. Dugan said the ASCPA award includes a plaque and $1,500 cash.

“I won’t spend a dime of it,” he said. “I plan to open savings accounts for the kids.”