The Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA) bestowed its highest honor on Stetson’s own Judson Stryker, D.B.A., on Friday, June 12, at the Dolphin Hotel at DisneyWorld during its annual meeting. This award recognizes full-time college accounting educators for excellence in teaching and for national prominence in the accounting profession.

Stryker has been with Stetson University for 40 years, is currently a professor of accounting and holds the prestigious Eugene M. Lynn Chair of Business. Formerly, he also served as Associate Dean of the School of Business Administration and was the Department Chair of the Rinker Institute of Tax and Accountancy. A previous recipient of the School of Business Administration Outstanding Teacher Award and Stetson’s Mentor of the Year Award, he also served as Vice President and Treasurer of the Stetson Business School Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors.

A prolific researcher and writer, he is the author of more than 60 articles in his field and is a licensed C.P.A. in the state of Florida. Additionally, he served as Vice President of Finance for Stetson University for three years while also conducting his work in the classroom.

Stryker was also instrumental in the development of the online Master of Accountancy program and at its inception served as its Director. He oversaw Stetson’s effort to initially achieve and then assisted in maintaining AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting.

Originally from Ohio, Stryker came to Flagler Beach as a teenager, and went on to complete a bachelor degree from the University of Florida. While working for General Electric in Daytona Beach, he attended Stetson and obtained his M.B.A. After a transfer to Michigan, he later returned to Florida and taught at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University while attending classes at Stetson for his required coursework to become a C.P.A.

With the encouragement of the late Professor Joe Master, he worked toward his D.B.A. from Mississippi State with the support of his devoted and beloved wife of 54 years, Barbara, and two children who joined him there while he completed his doctoral studies.

Nominations for this award come from the Accounting Department along with letters of support and recognition from faculty and former students. Besides Professor Master, another Stetson accounting professor who has also been the recipient of this award, Vincent C. Brenner, Ph.D., continues to serve on the Accounting faculty.

“Jud genuinely loves to teach and this award specifically recognizes someone who has had a positive impact on their students,” said Paul Dascher, Ph.D., retired Dean of the School of Business Administration, who worked with Stryker for 22 years. “Jud and I are proud of Stetson’s many former accounting students who are now very active in the state and national associations, including Ms. Tommye Barie, who currently serves as the first Florida woman elected chairperson of the national AICPA, American Institute for Certified Public Accountants.”

Accounting alumnus, Jeff Barbacci ’91, MAcc ’92, (Master of Accountancy) was elected in October 2014 to serve as the 87^th Board Chair of the FICPA. Both Barie and Barbacci, pictured above, both former students of Stryker, presented him with the FICPA 2015 Outstanding Educator Award at the Mega CPE Conference in Orlando. Another focus of the FICPA has been to grant countless scholarships to deserving accounting students across the state. Stetson’s accounting students always rank high in these competitions and regularly receive multiple awards each year.

Michael E. Bitter, Ph.D., the present Department Chair of the M.E. Rinker Institute of Tax and Accountancy, believes this award is so well deserved. “Jud is a true gentleman – soft-spoken, kind, patient, and understanding. A beloved teacher, he has contributed to the success of countless accounting graduates over the years, including those who have become C.P.A.s and achieved significant success in public accounting and other career endeavors.”

“It is my view that we are all here for a purpose,” said Stryker. “Mine is to touch young lives in a positive way and hopefully make a difference. I personally enjoy spending time with our students and seeing them grow and move into their professional careers. I feel fortunate to be part of an institution which genuinely cares about its students and faculty.”

By Mary M. McCambridge