MTSU’s Jennings A. Jones College of Business has tapped the expertise of a longtime Midstate financial services executive and alumnus to fill its new accounting chairholder of excellence position.

Tom Walker (Class of ’78), former managing partner of Deloitte’s Nashville office, is the inaugural holder of the Joey Jacobs Chair of Excellence in Accounting, which is sponsored by veteran health care executive and MTSU Board of Trustees member Joey Jacobs.

Tom Walker

Dr. David Urban

Walker, a licensed CPA who retired from Deloitte & Touche LLP last year, will serve as a “professor of practice,” a nontenure-track position available to those who have distinguished themselves by expertise, achievements and reputation over a sustained period in an area of practice or discipline.

“Tom Walker’s background, experience, national reputation, and love for Jones College at MTSU make him a perfect choice as the inaugural holder of the Joey Jacobs Chair of Excellence in Accounting,” Jones College Dean David Urban said. “He personifies our college’s commitment to practical education that aligns with the needs in the real world of business.”

Walker brings 40 years of experience serving a variety of clientele from early-stage venture-backed and private equity-owned companies to large, complex international companies primarily in the health care and retail industries. He’s also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants.

“As a faculty member I believe I will bring the unique combination of exceptional leadership, strong technical experience, industry knowledge, board governance experiences, and strong communication skills,” he said. “My roles as an office, audit function, and service line leader within Deloitte, combined with my role serving some of our largest and most complex clients will enable me to bring valuable insights and perspectives to students and fellow faculty members.”

Joey Jacobs

As the Jacobs Chair, Walker plans to actively engage the professional and business community, with a focus on healthcare, to promote MTSU’s program; engage in innovative and effective teaching, with a long-term goal to develop a recognized healthcare finance/accounting/auditing school of excellence; collaborate with colleagues to enhance accounting and auditing course offerings; and organize seminars and workshops for the professional community.

Jennings A. Jones College of Business holds two accreditations from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business — AACSB International. In 2016, the college’s Business and Accounting programs received reaffirmation of their AACSB accreditations. Only 189 collegiate business schools out of approximately 13,500 worldwide have AACSB accreditation for both Business and Accounting.

The Jones College’s Department of Accounting, which offers a bachelor’s and master’s in Accounting, is led by Dr. Jeannie Harrington. For more information about the department, visit https://mtsu.edu/accounting/.

— Jimmy Hart (jimmy.hart@mtsu.edu)