March 28, 2007

Illinois CPA Society to honor business professor

by Sun Min

CARBONDALE, Ill. - A business school professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will receive a top honor from the Illinois CPA Society.

Raymond F. Wacker, Emerson Electric/Charles Groennert Teaching Excellence Professor and an associate professor in the School of Accountancy, part of SIUC's College of Business and Administration, will receive the 2007 Outstanding Educator Award at a banquet on May 31 in Chicago.

"I was very humbled to have been honored by such a prestigious organization," Wacker said.

The Outstanding Educator Award recognizes Illinois educators at a community college, college or university who excel in their leadership and teaching, and who have made continuous and outstanding contributions to accounting education in Illinois.

The Illinois CPA Society is a state professional association representing 23,000 accounting, finance and business professionals throughout Illinois and worldwide.

Wacker joined the SIUC business faculty in 1989. He teaches taxation, international business policy, business ethics, and managerial and financial accounting. Wacker's research focuses on international taxation. He is the author of 40 articles that appeared in academic journals.

Last year, Wacker was one of eight SIUC faculty members to receive an "Excellence Through Commitment Award" for superior teaching. He also received the 2006 College of Business and Administration Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher of the Year Award.

Wacker earned a bachelor's degree in 1973 from St. Louis University, a master's degree in 1974 from the University of Toronto and a doctoral degree in 1989 from the University of Houston.