College partners with Compass Bank to survey top businesses
By LARA ZUEHLKE
erched on a stool sat a six-year-old girl. Her small fingers worked the cash register with ease. Customers who passed through the small town of Port Gibson, Mississippi would nod and smile — amazed by her knack with numbers at such a young age.
Accounting professor Annie McGowan laughs when she tells this story, thinking back to the many childhood days spent in her parents' store. For her, accounting was second nature. With her parents' education only spanning the eighth grade, by early high school she took over the books. Interpreting documents, keeping records, working with the CPA.
"I was doing accounting without really realizing it," she says. "It just came naturally to me."
By the time she reached college, there was little question as to what her major would be. She earned her bachelor's from Alcorn State University and then a master's in accounting from Jackson State University. After grad school, she took an accounting job with the government.
But that wouldn't last long. While at Jackson State, she befriended then dean, Dr. John Price. He was so impressed with Annie that he called her boss and convinced him to give Annie a year's leave so she could teach cost accounting at Jackson State.
"I'd never thought about teaching and didn't want to quit my job," she says. "But I really enjoyed it much more than I thought."
Annie's newfound love of teaching accounting is what led her to pursue a Ph.D. at the University of North Texas. And, it was what eventually led her to teach cost accounting at the Mays College.
In retrospect, Annie admits the story of how she became an academic isn't a typical one. But, spend just a few minutes with her and it's obvious she enjoys every minute of it.
"I really love interacting with the undergrads," she says. "We have a lot of fun. I give them a break about halfway through class, which gives us a chance to stop and talk. So we really get to know each other. I think that this approach promotes a relaxed atmosphere in which students feel comfortable exchanging ideas."
Outside of the classroom, Annie advises several student organizations — the African-American Business Society and the National Association of Black Accountants. She's also the faculty advisor of the college's Business Careers Awareness Program, which exposes underrepresented high school students to the opportunities in business.
Annie says for her accounting was an easy decision thanks to the introduction she had to her parents' business. But many underrepresented students don't have the same opportunities to explore their options.
"I think I have a duty to help students — underrepresented students in particular," she says. "When I look back at my career, I would like to say that I made a difference in encouraging students to pursue lucrative business careers." @
