newchairRobert Freeman, the Arthur Anderson & Co. Alumni Centennial Professor in Accounting, has been appointed as the Chair of the Department of Accounting at The University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business.

Prior to entering academe, Robert worked on the audit staff of Arthur Anderson & Co. in Chattanooga and Memphis, Tennessee.  He holds a PhD in accounting from the University of Texas, a Masters in Accounting Science from the University of Illinois, and a BSBA from the University of Tennessee.  After completing his PhD, Robert served on the accounting faculties of UC-Berkeley, the University of Florida, and the University of Chicago.  He also served three years as a Project Manager at the FASB.  Robert joined the McCombs School faculty in 1988 and has taught introductory and intermediate financial accounting in our BBA, MAS, and MBA programs.  In addition, Robert has taught several doctoral research seminars, has served 10 years as Graduate Advisor for the accounting doctoral program, and has served on over 30 doctoral thesis committees.  His research focuses on relations between financial reports and firm value.  He has several highly cited papers in the Journal of Accounting Research and the Journal of Accounting & Economics.  His favorite pastimes are golf and physical training (for golf).  He loves spicy food, House of Cards, the Voice, and Survivor.

For the first time in several years, the Department of Accounting has several openings for tenure-track faculty.  As department chair, Robert is looking forward to recruiting the very best newly-minted PhD’s to our pursuit of excellence in accounting education.  His research, teaching, and service have prepared him well for his new role and we hope you will join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved honor.