J. Reed Smith takes helm as new chair of Graduate Accounting programs in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS – Kelley School of Business Executive Associate Dean Philip L. Cochran announced today the appointment of J. Reed Smith, professor of accounting, as the faculty chair of the Graduate Accounting programs at Kelley Indianapolis, effective January 1, 2014. Smith succeeds William N. Kulsrud, associate professor of accounting and the Katz, Sapper & Miller Faculty Fellow, who has chaired the programs since 1998 and will retire next spring.

Last year, Kelley Indianapolis graduated its largest class from the Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) and Master of Science in Taxation (MST) programs with 93 students. The MSA is a critical advantage for students who wish to obtain CPA certifications and move to positions of leadership. The MST is the only program of its kind in the state of Indiana, preparing students to become tax and business strategists.

“I believe strongly in the goals of our MSA and MST programs. I came through a program very much like our MSA program, and I grew so much while in that program,” said Smith. “The MSA and MST programs provide a closer bond between faculty and students than is available in a typical undergraduate program. It was through these relationships and these interactions that I found myself.”

A member of Kelley’s faculty since 2002, Smith’s areas of professional interest are accounting information systems, auditing and game theory. He received his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in 1989, his MAcc from the University of Tennessee in 1984 and his B.S. from the University of Tennessee in 1983.  

Smith is one of just a handful of professors in the country tackling the theoretical issues of accounting through modeling. His research focuses primarily on studying the economics of fraud and auditing, investigating connections between the two.

“Among my goals for the Graduate Accounting programs is to continue the great work that Professor Kulsrud has done to build and run these programs for the last 15 years,” said Smith. “I also will work to build greater community among our current students and alumni.”

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