In recognition of the quality education provided by the School of Accountancy, Grant Thornton has established the Grant Thornton Faculty Research Fellowship in Accounting at the University of South Florida College of Business.  The $25,000 three-year, renewable fellowship was announced August 3; Jennifer Kahle Schafer has been named Grant Thornton Faculty Research Fellow.
 

“The Grant Thornton Faculty Research Fellowship will support the School of Accountancy and the College of Business,” said Dean Robert Forsythe.  “Such support helps fund cutting-edge academic research and in turn our students, the future leaders of the accounting profession, will have access to the most current thinking on issues relevant to the accounting industry.”
 

Contributions from Grant Thornton support a number of College initiatives and the firm is a leading recruiter of USF students, providing internships and full-time opportunities for USF graduates.

“Grant Thornton is a great supporter of USF and the School of Accountancy, and I am pleased to have this honor associated with their name,” said Schafer.   Her research will investigate issues in the tax and financial accounting arena, such as taxpayer compliance.  “I will conduct research examining taxpayer behavior and tax professional judgments under varying conditions,” said Schafer, explaining the synergy in conducting research and teaching students.  “The accounting environment is always changing and students benefit when their professors are in tune with these changes.”

“Students see how seemingly straightforward rules in class actually require much judgment and can result in varying decisions in practice,” she continued.  “Having the support of a firm like Grant Thornton allows faculty to continue to bring these benefits into the classroom, and it helps students be better prepared and more knowledgeable about practice.”