Georgia Southern University School of Accountancy

05/26/2026

Every spring, Beta Alpha Psi’s Induction Ceremony serves as one of the organization’s most meaningful traditions — and this year was no exception. On April 27, sixteen new members were formally welcomed into the honor society at the University’s golf course banquet room. All inductees earned their places through demonstrated academic achievement, professional commitment, and a genuine dedication to the values that Beta Alpha Psi stands for.

With fellow members and faculty members gathered to mark the occasion—and catering provided by the Painted Chef—the ceremony carried the weight of something larger than a single event. For the inductees, it was the culmination of hard work and the formal beginning of lifelong membership in one of the most respected honor societies in accounting, finance, and information systems. The evening also celebrated individual excellence, with Samuel Audu and Lindsey Warren earning the Most Outstanding Member Award in recognition of their exceptional contributions to the organization.

For Beta Alpha Psi, the night was a reaffirmation of its mission—to recognize excellence and cultivate the next generation of professionals who will lead with integrity and purpose. A heartfelt thank you to all the faculty members who attended and showed their support, and a special recognition to Debbie Hilton, Parker College event coordinator, for her continued dedication and everything she does to make BAP thrive.

05/23/2026

On May 20, Nivine Richie, Ph.D., dean, Parker College of Business, announced that the search committee has chosen L. Dwight Sneathen, Jr., Ph.D., CPA, CFE, associate professor of accounting, to assume the duties of director of the School of Accountancy on July 1, 2026. “Sneathen’s background positions him well to lead the …[School’s] operations and support its academic mission. His connections with the accounting industry and his work preparing students for careers in accounting will continue to be a great benefit to the … [School of Accountancy],” stated Dean Richie. Congratulations, Dwight!

04/10/2026

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Alumnus Speaks to Forensic Accounting Students
by Andrea M. Scheetz PhD, CPA (Ohio), CFE. associate professor of accounting

Bill Donaldson (ACCT &MAcc, 2008), CPA and CFE, supervisory special agent (SSA) and coordinator of the FBI’s transnational organized crime – Western Hemisphere (TOC-West) program and manager of the FBI’s William J. Fay TOC-West Task Force, a component of the Atlanta OCDETF Strike Force, and domestic and international investigations involving priority targets associated with transnational criminal organizations, recently served as a guest speaker in Andrea Scheetz’s fraud schemes class and with Don Berecz’s, senior lecturer emeritus of accounting, interviews & interrogations class.

Bill, a double-eagle operating out of the FBI’s Atlanta field office, frequently returns to the Parker College to address accounting classes and student organizations. In early April, he spoke to classes about money laundering and provided anecdotes of cases he has investigated as part of his current and past roles with the FBI including assignments in the Miami and Chicago offices.

03/21/2026

02/22/2026

Fraud Examiners Club February Speaker
By Layla Berry

On February 5, 2026, the Georgia Southern Fraud Examiners Club hosted Nicole Ponziani as their speaker of the month. Ponziani is the President of the GA ACFE and the Vice President of Fraud & Credit Operations – BSA/AML Compliance Officer at a fintech company. She is a University of West Georgia alumni with a B.S. in Criminology and has her CFE, CCE, and CECI certifications. Ponziani has previously worked at Goldman Sachs, Aprio, and SunTrust. In her position at GreenSky, Ponziani leads enterprise-wide financial crime strategy, investigations, and regulatory programs. She has built and modernized BSA/AML and OFAC programs, partnered closely with legal and risk teams, and regularly engages with executive leadership and boards.

In the meeting, Ponziani spoke about her team, which consists of 143 investigators, compliance employees, etc. That being divided into various teams including consumer fraud, merchant fraud, special investigations, and BSA/AML. In their work, Ponziani’s team works with fraud operations, compliance and legal, law enforcement, and SARs.

Ponziani was very enthusiastic and engaged about sharing this information with students and emphasized her non-standard approach to reaching this forensic
accounting position. She encouraged students to explore options and different
pathways within the career to make for a position that you love.

01/21/2026

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On November 20, 2025 the Fraud Examiners Club hosted Trey Davis, the Atlanta Ernst & Young Forensic and Integrity Services Senior. He is a Double Eagle, with his bachelor's and master’s degree in accounting. Davis also had several internships during his time in college, including with E&Y, earning quality experience and knowledge through these internships.

After sharing about his time at Georgia Southern, Davis spoke about Ernst & Young and his time there. E&Y has over 91,000 employees in the U.S. and has offices in over 150 countries. EY is a big four accounting firm and is known for its accounting and consulting services. Some of these service lines that they focus on are tax, assurance, consulting, and strategy and transactions. The EY Forensics team, where Davis works, collaborates with clients on high-stakes situations requiring meticulous management, risk mitigation, and operational integrity.

Davis also spoke about a few big projects he has been a part of. The biggest one being E&Y’s contract with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, which Davis is one of the lead people on. The TDEC is allocated large amounts of money to be used for infrastructure and structures for pipes and sewage systems. EY makes sure that the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation follows the 2 CFR 2000 Uniform Guidance. This is a set of strict regulations that must be followed to be able to give them the amount of money for these projects for their state.

Davis shared how important it is that you obtain your CPA certification to help you stand out as a young professional. He also emphasized how much he has loved his time with Ernst & Young and encouraged students to reach out if they are interested in being connected to opportunities with E&Y.

01/15/2026

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Parker College of Business is proud to announce Sharon Ponder (ACCT, 1994) as the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Service Award.

The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor conferred by Parker College. It celebrates alumni who embody the aspirations, achievements, and impact of the College. Recipients demonstrate exceptional support for Parker College throughout their lifetimes, excelling as leaders in their professions and communities.

After graduating from Georgia Southern, Sharon began a 29-year ascent at Bennett International Group, where she now serves as vice president of finance for an organization with revenues exceeding $1 billion. Beyond her corporate success, Sharon is a devoted servant-leader, currently serving as treasurer for the Georgia Southern University Foundation Board and as a director for several community organizations. Her visionary leadership as chair of the Henry County Chamber led to the creation of a thriving business resource center, providing vital mentorship and innovation hubs for small businesses in Metro Atlanta. Sharon’s legacy of professional excellence and her tireless advocacy for education and entrepreneurship make her a cornerstone of our alumni community.

The Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Sharon at the Fifth Annual Parker College Gala, presented by Heritage Capital Group/Business Valuation, Inc., on March 7 in Savannah. To sponsor or purchase tickets for the Gala, please visit https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/colleges/parker-business/donate/gala