James Plečnik was declared the 2019 Professor of the Year at the Accounting Society Spring Banquet. Each year, accounting students select the recipient of this award, which is a testament to James’s personable nature and leadership talents in and out of the classroom.
“It is an honor to know that students benefit from and enjoy my classes,” he said. “I look forward to another year of providing a quality, rigorous education to LMU accounting students.”
James joined LMU as an assistant professor of accounting in 2015 where he primarily teaches tax courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Though the subject matter of his courses can be dense, James has quickly earned a reputation for being an attentive instructor who cares deeply about the success of his students.
“I believe in the philosophy that students need to be challenged in order to grow into strong, effective leaders,” he said.
James goes out of his way to make himself available to answer a student’s question, offer tips on taking the CPA exam or provide general career advice.
Last summer, James began his new role as advisor to the Accounting Society, which seems like a natural fit for someone so engaged with students. He already has several ideas on how to broaden the society’s reach.
“My hope is that the Accounting Society can spread the word about our incredibly strong accounting programs,” he said. “Starting this fall, we opened the Accounting Society to LMU students from all majors as well as potential transfer students.”
James earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minor in philosophy from Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina, a master’s degree in taxation from the University of Memphis, and a Ph.D. in accounting from the University of Memphis. He is a CPA with experience in both public accounting and small businesses. Outside of teaching, James enjoys philosophical discussions, stock trading and “pretty much anything else that most people find boring.”