MANAGEMENT PROFESSOR NAMED KPMG ADVISORY FACULTY FELLOW

AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn University College of Business and KPMG LLP have announced Casey Cegielski as the first recipient of the KPMG Advisory Faculty Fellowship, effective summer 2006. The fellowship is the first ever awarded by the KPMG Foundation for curriculum development or research in non-audit related, risk management or information assurance.

KPMG LLP and the AU College of Business have been in discussions for the past several months about a variety of initiatives. The discussions have included many people from both organizations. The fellowship is the first of many areas to be developed under this alliance.

“We have talked about a wide variety of potential activities and projects that include curricula, student internships, faculty research, faculty internships, training opportunities, etc.,” says Sharon Oswald, Privett Professor and head of the management department. “KPMG sees this as a long-term commitment to Auburn University which we greatly appreciate.”

As the college’s initial corporate alliance program, the partnership with KPMG is expected to provide many benefits for both the College of Business and for KPMG. “Establishing and fostering partnership opportunities with external constituents is a key component of the college’s strategic plan,” says Paul Bobrowski, Dean and Wachovia Professor. “As a professional school focused on business and the practice of management, building viable, long-term relationships with select partners will serve to enhance and enrich degree and non-degree programs, research opportunities, and other non-curricular activities that involve students, faculty and practitioners.”

“At KPMG, we hope to provide ongoing input to student skill priorities, curriculum development, faculty research training tools, advisory methods and access to industry leaders,” says Charlotte Wingfield. Wingfield is a senior partner in KPMG’s Atlanta Office where she leads the firm’s relationship development strategies for the Financial Services industry segment. She is also a graduate of Auburn University.

KPMG LLP is the audit, tax and advisory firm that has maintained a continuous commitment throughout its history to providing leadership, integrity and quality. The Big Four firm with the strongest growth record over the past decade, KPMG turns knowledge into value for the benefit of its clients, people, communities and the capital markets. Its professionals work together to provide clients access to global support, industry insights, and a multidisciplinary range of services. KPMG LLP (www.us.kpmg.com) is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International. KPMG International's member firms have nearly 94,000 professionals in 148 countries.

The Auburn University College of Business is accredited at the undergraduate and graduate levels by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, the highest standard of achievement for business schools. Institutions that earn accreditation confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review. Less than one-third of U.S. business schools and only 15 percent of business schools worldwide meet the rigorous standards of AACSB International accreditation.

Auburn University is a preeminent land-grant and comprehensive research institution with more than 23,000 students and 6,500 faculty and staff. Ranked among the top 50 public universities nationally, Auburn is Alabama's largest educational institution, offering more than 230 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs.

(Contributed by Dina Kanellos.)

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june06:AU-KPMG