KPMG, a longtime supporter of the Adkerson School of Accountancy, is providing the School with a tool that will help attract and retain outstanding faculty. It recently completed funding for an endowed professorship.

Endowed faculty positions help the University offer recognition of excellence, competitive salaries and resources for research and professional development.

“MSU alumni at KPMG have given annually to the School for many years,” says 1986 alumnus and ASAC Advisory Council member David Hopkins. Hopkins recently retired as a KPMG Audit Partner and the firm’s primary contact for support and for recruitment at MSU.

The KPMG Foundation promotes accounting education by matching employees’ gifts to universities. Scholarships for many ASAC students have been supported in this way. When KPMG’s scholarship fund became self-perpetuating a few years ago, the firm set the endowed professorship as its next aim.

“My goal was participation – I wanted to get anyone at KPMG who graduated from MSU to give, whatever the amount, and working toward this professorship drove that participation,” shares Hopkins. “It engaged the partners – including the retired partners. It energized them and gave them a greater sense of connection to the School. That led to their giving in other ways, too – some have made direct gifts or added the School to their wills.”

Ashley Willson, Managing Partner of KPMG’s Jackson, MS, office, has succeeded Hopkins as MSU liaison. She notes that 40 MSU alumni are currently working in 16 KPMG offices.

“I am proud to serve as Mississippi State University alumni ambassador for KPMG,” states Willson, also an Advisory Council member. “I believe building a strong MSU community starts the day a student begins at Adkerson School of Accountancy and continues with each of them into their professional journeys as they become accountants and hopefully choose to build their careers at KPMG. MSU and KPMG have shared values, particularly around integrity and giving back to our communities, which makes Adkerson graduates a great fit with KPMG’s culture.”

KPMG employees contributed $125,000, and the KPMG Foundation matched their gifts. KPMG’s $250,000 was then matched by the Richard C. Adkerson Family Foundation to meet the $500,000 full funding level.

The fund will be allowed to grow for a time before the position is filled. Meanwhile, KPMG is considering what its next MSU goal will be.