TULANE TALK

Ira Solomon, the R.C. Evans Endowed Chair in Business and head of the Department of Accountancy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has been named the new dean of the A. B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University, effective June 1.

A leading scholar in his field, Ira has been a primary architect in creating what is widely regarded as one of the finest accountancy programs in the country.

Ira received his BBA, MPA and PhD in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. He initially held faculty appointments at the University of Arizona before moving to the University of Illinois in 1983.

Throughout a very distinguished career, Ira has focused his research and teaching on external auditing and attestation. He has published more than 35 scholarly articles, monographs and books, many of which have been recognized for their innovation and impact by organizations such as the American Accounting Association (AAA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He has served as an associate editor of The Accounting Review and Accounting Horizons and is currently on the editorial boards of numerous journals. He is also a vice president of the AAA and has previously served as research director of its Auditing Section, vice president of its Academic Section and its president. The AAA recognized Ira as the Outstanding Auditing Educator of 1997. Also, in 1997, 2000 and 2003, the AAA Auditing Section recognized him for Outstanding Dissertation Supervision. In 2009, he received a Special Award of Merit by the Illinois CPA Society and recognition by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for Distinguished Achievement in Accounting Education.

Ira will replace Angelo DeNisi, the Albert Harry Cohen Chair in Business Administration, who has served as dean of the business school since July 2005. Angelo will join the faculty at the business school. We are deeply indebted to Angelo for his leadership during the past half-decade and look forward to his continued contributions as a full-time member of our faculty.

Professor Sheri Tice and Provost Michael Bernstein led the search and recruitment effort that brought Ira to Tulane. We are grateful to them and their colleagues who served on the search team. Please join me in welcoming Ira Solomon as the new dean of the A. B. Freeman School of Business.