FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - In 1997, the accounting firm of Baird, Kurtz & Dobson (now BKD, LLP) established an endowed lectureship for an outstanding accounting faculty member in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas. Effective July 1, 2004, Associate Professor Timothy D. West was appointed to hold the BKD Lectureship for a three-year term.

The lectureship will support West in his work as faculty advisor for the college's chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, the national scholastic and professional fraternity for accounting, finance and information systems students and professionals.

"BKD is proud to have a strong relationship with the University of Arkansas and the Sam M. Walton College of Business," said Steve Warren, CPA, partner in charge, BKD Central Arkansas Management Consulting Services practice. "We have several UA alumni on our team and we are certain that many more will follow. We sincerely hope that our contribution will help the college of business continue to excel."

Karen V. Pincus, chair of the Accounting Department and S. Robson Walton Chair of Accounting, said: "Dr. West has already been working with the student officers on plans for the upcoming academic year activities. It looks like another great year ahead for our Alpha Iota chapter. Congratulations and thanks to Dr. West for his commitment to faculty leadership of our very successful chapter of Beta Alpha Psi." The University of Arkansas chapter received national recognition as a "Superior Chapter" in 2003 and as the recipient of the Beta Alpha Psi "2001 President's Leadership Award"

West joined the Walton College accounting department in the fall of 2002 and teaches managerial accounting. He received a B.S.B.A. and a master's of accountancy from the University of Missouri and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee. He has served on the faculties of Washington University, St. Louis, and Iowa State University, where he was recognized as the "Professor of the Year" in 1997. West's research interests focus on cost management and performance management in the healthcare industry, including research funded by the NSF and an ongoing project with the U.S. military. His published work has appeared not only in accounting journals, but also in major healthcare journals, including the Journal of the American Medical Association.

BKD is one of the 10 largest CPA and advisory firms in the United State with revenues of approximately $230.5 million and 40,000 clients. The firm has supported the Walton College in other ways. In 2002, BKD funded a cash award to encourage junior accounting students to think analytically and hone their communications skills. The firm pledged to fund a new BKD award at $1,000 annually in its initial years while also contributing to a $25,000 endowed fund to ensure the award's future.

Beta Alpha Psi was founded in 1919. By 2002, there were nearly 238 chapters on college and university campuses with over 200,000 members initiated since the fraternity's formation.