FORVIS has forged a strong partnership with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business, with many Nebraska accounting graduates establishing careers with the firm. In recognition of that partnership, the FORVIS Chair of Accountancy was created to invest in the college’s faculty.
“FORVIS is proud to support the UNL School of Accountancy and its outstanding students,” said Tim Wilson, FORVIS’ managing partner for Nebraska. “We have a wonderful relationship with the university, having welcomed many graduates into our firm over the years. FORVIS prides itself on being a place where our people can build remarkable careers, and we’ve seen that bear out with Husker graduates time and again. We look forward to continuing our relationship for a long time to come.”
FORVIS, LLP was created by the merger of BKD, LLP and Dixon Hughes Goodman in 2022. After the merger, the firm took the name FORVIS. The firm has a long history of supporting the College of Business. Its Nebraska employees have served on the School of Accountancy Advisory Board and Junior School of Accountancy Advisory Board. In 1991, Baird, Kurtz & Dobson (BKD) established an accounting support fund through the University of Nebraska Foundation, which became a professorship in accounting. With a gift from the FORVIS Foundation, the fund has now been elevated to the FORVIS Chair of Accountancy. The amount of the gift was not disclosed at FORVIS’ request.
“We are grateful to FORVIS for their support, which helps us better compete with our Big Ten peers for the best and most innovative accounting faculty,” said Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean and professor of finance. “Our faculty inspire and prepare students to lead the future of business by understanding the language of business — accounting.”
Dirk Black, associate professor, currently holds the FORVIS Professorship of Accounting. Black worked as an audit associate for KPMG, LLP before moving to academia. He earned his Ph.D. in business administration with a specialization in accounting from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and his research interests include performance measurement and performance evaluation.
“The support from FORVIS allows the School of Accountancy to retain our excellent faculty, like Dirk, by supporting their research efforts and providing a mark of recognition to an individual’s scholarly achievements,” said Jimmy Downes, director of the School of Accountancy, George and Evelyn Brewster Professor of Accountancy and associate professor of accountancy. “It allows the faculty to shape the direction of their field and mentor students in a meaningful way.”
FORVIS Nebraska has offices in Lincoln and Omaha, with 71 of its approximately 120 full-time Nebraska employees earning degrees from the School of Accountancy. The firm specializes in assurance, tax and consulting services for the financial services, commercial products, nonprofit and higher education, construction and real-estate and private client industries throughout the region. The firm’s partners, retired partners and team members in Nebraska made contributions to the FORVIS Foundation to establish the chair.
The gift was made as part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. The campaign is a historic effort to engage at least 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support University of Nebraska students, faculty, academic and clinical programs and research to address the needs of the state. A key campaign priority is to establish endowed chairs and professorships to recruit and retain faculty who are a source of intellectual capital for Nebraska, as well as the inspiration and teachers of the next generation of students.
About FORVIS, LLP
FORVIS, LLP is an integrated professional services firm with a global reach and a passion to drive businesses forward. The firm’s 6,000 dedicated team members provide an Unmatched Client Experience® through the delivery of assurance, tax and consulting services for clients in all 50 states and internationally. Ranked among the largest public accounting firms in the United States, FORVIS upholds an unwavering purpose to help those we serve unlock their full potential — including our people, our clients and our communities. Visit forvis.com to learn more.
About the University of Nebraska Foundation
The University of Nebraska Foundation grows relationships and resources that enable the University of Nebraska to change lives and save lives. During the most recent fiscal year, 58,072 donors supported the University of Nebraska, and a record $354.5 million in new funds was committed to aid the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture and University of Nebraska Medical Center and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine. The foundation raises more than $7 for every $1 spent. Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future is its current campaign with a goal to raise $3 billion from 150,000 unique benefactors to support the University of Nebraska. More information is at OnlyinNebraska.org.