University Of Mobile: Q&A With UM Accounting Professor Rusty Roberts

Mobile AL

29 September, 2021

7:14 PM

Description

Press release from the University of Mobile: Kathy Dean September 29, 2021 "This couldn't be further from the truth," Roberts says. "There are so many avenues that open up to someone with an accounting degree. In fact, the FBI's top recruits are those with accounting degrees. Why? Because they are used in the investigation and uncovering of white-collar crime and fraud." The possibilities are endless with an accounting degree, he adds. Accountants can work in public accounting doing tax preparation for both individuals and corporations, engaging in audits, work for governments at all levels, or run a business. "Seriously, accounting is one of the best programs to study. Accounting is the language of business, therefore every business, and even government, must account for every transaction. So, accountants are needed!" We talked with Roberts about teaching in the School of Business at the University of Mobile, and how UM's 2019 Faculty Engagement Award recipient and baseball team chaplain intentionally fosters community among students and invests in their lives. Q: You have taught at UM for 19 years. What is your background?  A: I am an alumnus of the University of Mobile, holding a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. I also have a master's in accounting from the University of South Alabama and am currently finishing my Doctor of Business Administration in accounting from Anderson University (Indiana). Prior to teaching at UM, I was a staff accountant and copyright accountant for Integrity Music Inc.  Q: What courses do you typically teach? A: I teach Principles of Accounting 1 & 2, Intermediate Accounting 1 & 2, Governmental/Not-for-Profit Accounting, Auditing, & Advanced Auditing. I would say my favorite class is probably the Principles of Accounting classes because it's where all business students are introduced to accounting concepts. It's there that some students change their major to accounting because they begin to like it. I love when I see the "light bulb" come on and students begin to understand what's going on and fall in love with accounting. Q: UM offers "Higher Education for a Higher Purpose." What does that mean to you? A: This means that my job is to do more than just prepare a student to be a great accountant who will go into the business world and be successful. Every day I spend with students in the classroom transcends that. My job is to also show students who I have influence over for any length of time that they are studying accounting for a higher purpose – and that purpose is to go into the business world with the Great Commission of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This press release was produced by the University of Mobile. The views expressed here are the author's own.