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UT Tyler Accounting Professor Nationally Recognized

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August 11, 2014

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

August 11, 2014

Dr. Mary Fischer has received the 2014 Association of Government Accountants’ Author Award, Dr. James Lumpkin, College of Business and Technology dean, announced.

Fischer is a professor of accounting within the UT Tyler Department of Accounting, Finance and Business Law. She was recognized at the association’s annual professional development training in Orlando, Fla.

The award recognizes the 12-member AGA Journal Editorial Board’s choice of the best article appearing in the scholarly Journal of Government Financial Management during the 2013 –14 program year. The board chose to recognize Fischer’s co-authored article, “Government’s New Normal: A Changing Role for Auditors,” which was published in the fall 2013 issue.

The article discusses how state and local governments face extreme fiscal challenges as revenue sources shrink and new, long-standing obligations expand. This combined with revised requirements for pension and benefit recognition and reporting creates unique pressures on governmental financial conditions. Given this environment, auditor diligence must prevail to provide adequate assurance to stakeholders.

Serving UT Tyler since 1990, Fischer is an at-large member of AGA and a certified government financial manager (CGFM®).

Honors and recognition include the UT Tyler President’s Scholarly Achievement and the 2013 UT Tyler College of Business and Technology Faculty Research Awards. Fischer also was named the 2009 “Outstanding Accounting Educator” by the East Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants as well as the Southwestern American Accounting Association in 2003 and Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants in 2002.

The National Association of College and University Business Officers also presented her the Daniel D. Robinson and the Professional Development and Scholarship Awards for her outstanding contributions to the college and university national sector.

Fischer has published more than 50 research papers regarding cash flow recognition, financial accounting, accounting education, auditing and financial management of nonprofit organizations, and she is a frequent local and national seminar speaker.

She currently serves as an adviser to the Financial Accounting Standards Board, Government Accounting Standards Board and an array of nonprofit organizations nationwide. She also is the past president of Southwest Decision Science Institute, Southwest American Accounting Association, American Accounting Association Government and Nonprofit Section, as well as the Federation of Business Disciplines, an organization of business school faculty with more than 5,000 members throughout the Southwestern United States.

Her teaching and research interests include financial accounting recognition and reporting, nonprofit organization financial management and non-financial operating measures.

Fischer holds a master of arts in education and business as well as a Ph.D. in higher education administration, both from the University of Connecticut.

Since 1950, the Journal of Government Financial Management has been providing valuable, in-depth information to decision-makers at all levels of government. A valuable research and information source, the Journal is published quarterly by AGA. It is distributed to its membership of government financial managers as well as countless libraries across the nation and abroad.

AGA is the member organization for financial professionals in government that leads and encourages change that benefits the field and all citizens. Networking events, professional certification, publications and ongoing education help members build their skills and advance their careers.

For more information about AGA, visit the organization's website.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 7,500 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.