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Soules Spotlight

Get to Know Community Servant Leader Barbara Bass

Bass Dedicated servant leaders support the success of the Soules College of Business. One prime example is Barbara Bass, retired Gollob Morgan Peddy–CPAs officer. In the following question and answer segment, learn about Bass, the advice she offers students and why she gives back.

Since moving to Tyler, Bass has been extremely involved in the community and has served on and chaired numerous community boards. Current board memberships include the UT Health East Texas Board and UT Health Science Center Tyler Development Board. She served as the mayor of Tyler from May 2008–May 2014. She also served the former UT Tyler College of Business and Technology as “executive in residence” in 2017.

Bass holds over 35 years of professional accounting experience. While at Gollob Morgan Peddy, her practice focused on tax planning and accounting needs for small business owners, and included business and personal income tax preparation.

Can you please tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in Longview and moved to Tyler after I graduated from Texas A&M-Commerce. As soon as I passed the CPA exam, I started getting involved in the community. After joining an organization, I volunteered, was offered board leadership opportunities and continued to grow through many wonderful nonprofit board experiences. Those experiences led me through Leadership Tyler and into more nonprofit experiences, from serving as chair of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce to being mayor of Tyler.

How did your involvement with the university and its business school come about?

I initially was invited to serve on the UT Tyler accounting department’s advisory committee; later I served on the dean’s College of Business Community Advisory Board. Over the years, I’ve spoken to the Beta Alpha Psi Chapter, shared real-life stories with accounting classes, presented for Career Success Conferences and volunteered whenever asked.

In your experience, what qualities do UT Tyler graduates possess as they become successful accounting professionals that are needed in today’s society?

My CPA firm has hired interns and full-time degreed accountants from UT Tyler since our inception. The students have entered the workforce with can-do attitudes and good work ethics that have helped them grow professionally and personally. Most have become CPAs, including many who moved from public accounting to industry accounting or other careers. Their college degrees changed their lives by providing them career opportunities and a better quality of life than they would otherwise have had.

What advantages do accounting professionals have when it comes to learning/education and community service opportunities?

Accounting professionals bring great skills to nonprofit boards. Not only can we read and interpret the financial statements, we are also problem solvers. Our abilities to analyze, evaluate and process results make us valuable team members. My personal experiences have also made me a better person – from seeing and addressing issues from a broader perspective to expanding my circles to include friends with diverse backgrounds and experiences, who are also passionate about volunteering for great causes.

What advice do you offer UT Tyler students, and especially those interested in the accounting field?

Education opens doors and provides you access to more opportunities in life. Don’t stop until you get your degree, but know that learning never stops. Accounting degrees are a great foundation for most any direction you want to go in the business world, for governmental careers and in the nonprofit world. For balance, use an elective or two on a psychology or sociology class, since everything we do is about people.

What are your hobbies/interests?

Flyfishing, playing mah-jongg, spending time with friends and volunteering on nonprofit boards.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Education is a great equalizer. It also provides tools for helping others, so engage in life and live generously.

Bass has been married most of her life and enjoys spending time with her numerous nieces and nephews and the family’s rescue dog, Kramer.

Watch a special interview about servant leadership featuring Bass and associate professor Dr. Venugopal Gopalakrishna-Remani.

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