UA WALTON COLLEGE DEAN HONORED BY AICPA

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) has awarded the Gold Medal for Distinguished Service to Doyle Z. Williams, dean, Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas.

The medal, which is AICPA’s highest award, was presented to Williams today at the annual meeting of the AICPA in Maui, Hawaii. Olivia F. Kirtley, former chair of the AICPA and vice president of Vermont American Corporation, also receive the award.

According to the AICPA, the award is given for recognition of a person whose influence on the profession as a whole is distinguished when compared with other contemporary leaders. Nominations are sought from members of the awards committee, recent past chairs of the Institute's board of directors, past award winners, management staff of the AICPA, and other knowledgeable sources. Selection criteria include quality and length of service, motivation, and influence and personal attributes. Established in 1944, this is the fifth time that the Gold Medal has been given to someone in the field of education.

Williams said, "I was totally surprised to find out I would receive this award. I have been active in the AICPA through various committees and programs since 1966. This award validates the importance of higher education in the field of accounting."

Williams has served as vice president of AICPA, as a member of its board of directors, on its council, on the Future Issues committee, the Professional Ethics Executive committee, the Technical Standards subcommittee of the Professional Ethics Division, its Group of 100, and as chairman and member of numerous other committees.

Williams joined the Walton College in 1993. He came to the University of Arkansas from the University of Southern California where he founded the School of Accounting, which under his leadership moved up to one of the top five accounting schools in the nation. He also was the KPMG Peat Marwick Professor of Accounting. As dean of the Walton College he has recruited 60 percent new faculty, and in 1998 he was instrumental in securing a $50 million gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, the largest upfront cash gift ever given to a business school.

As a result of this investment in student scholarships, faculty research and outreach programs, the Walton College moved this year from a tie for 40th place to a tie for 28th place among the nation’s top 30 public undergraduate business schools, according to U.S. News & World Report’s "America’s Best Colleges" 2003 rankings. The results also inspired the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation to pledge $300 million to the University of Arkansas in April 2002.

Among the many other organizations he has served is the AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, for which he is currently on the board of directors. Williams holds a B.S. from Northwestern State University of Louisiana and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in accounting from Louisiana State University.