The professor of accounting, a highly regarded teacher-mentor-scholar, concluded her faculty career this summer.
Professor of Accounting Susan Anderson, who joined Elon in 2014, retires this summer after three decades of teaching tax and financial accounting courses.
During her tenure at Elon, Anderson served as the faculty advisor for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, the founding faculty coordinator for the M.S. in Accounting (MSA) program, and the 2016 faculty-in-residence at the LSB Center Abroad in China.
“I am amazed at the success of the VITA program under Dr. Anderson’s leadership,” Assistant Professor of Accounting Patty Cox says, noting Anderson invested many hours training students to be a VITA volunteer and overseeing the VITA site in Downtown Burlington. “While VITA has been a wonderful asset to our department, school and the university, its success has been because of the great amount of time and talent invested by one professor, Dr. Anderson.”
Anderson is known for her dedication to service learning, mentorship and teaching. Her accolades include Poets & Quants’ Top 50 Undergraduate Professor, Beta Alpha Psi Business Information Professional of the Year, and Gerald Francis Outstanding Educator of the Year. She received the 2017 Dean’s Award for Exemplary Service-Faculty, 2016 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the 2015 and 2002 American Taxation Association/Deloitte Teaching Innovation Awards.
“I was lucky enough to have Dr. Anderson as my professor, advisor and mentor for the past five years of my Elon experience,” Jonathan Connolly ’20 MSA’21 shares. “She has a tremendous heart, and has taught me the importance of hard work, dedication and striving for success. Words cannot describe how thankful I am for everything she has shared with me.”
Anderson, who holds CPA and CFP credentials, has published articles in journals such as Issues in Accounting Education, Journal of Accountancy and CPA Journal. She’s also mentored several students in their research.
“Two words that describe Dr. Anderson are faithful and thoughtful,” says Christina Byrd Hanko, CPA, ’18, who completed undergraduate research under Anderson’s mentorship. “Whether it’s opening the VITA site early every Saturday morning during tax season, showing up with a smile to another tax class, or prepping notes and ideas for meetings with undergraduate research students, Dr. Anderson is faithful to her commitments, going above and beyond each day. I’m so thankful for Dr. Anderson’s contributions to Elon’s business school and the lives of countless Elon students, including my own.”
“Since joining our faculty, Susan has been a valued colleague in the Department of Accounting and quickly established herself as a favorite among students,” adds Associate Professor Danny Lanier, chair of the Department of Accounting. “The impact of her leadership on both the VITA program and our MSA program is immeasurable.
“On a personal note, I am greatly appreciative of the investment she made in helping me develop as a junior colleague and her continued support when I became Chair. We will miss Susan, but she will always be a part of the Department of Accounting and LSB family.”
Prior to Elon, Anderson taught at Appalachian State University, N.C. A&T State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She earned her doctorate from the University of Texas at Arlington.