This event provides a forum for accounting educators at Arkansas’ two and four-year colleges and universities to meet with peers to hear discussion on current topics, trends, and teaching strategies, and to share ideas and concerns.
Markus Ahrens, PhD, CPA, CGMA, FMAA, is the Senior Director of the Global Center for Advancing Accounting Education at the American Accounting Association (AAA). He previously served as a Professor of Accounting and Finance and District Department Chair at St. Louis Community College and was an Adjunct Professor in the Master of Health Administration program at Saint Louis University for 19 years. He also brings professional experience from the accounting and finance industries.
Markus has earned numerous national and state awards recognizing his excellence in teaching and innovation, including the AAA/J. Michael and Mary Anne Cook/Deloitte Foundation Prize, the AAA and EY Innovation in Accounting Education Award, and multiple AICPA Bea Sanders Innovation Awards. He was also named Missouri Society of CPAs Outstanding Educator of the Year, the AAA TYC Section Educator of the Year Award, and received the AAA TLC Section Hall of Honor Award.
He has held extensive leadership roles across the profession, including serving as 2023 Chair of the Missouri Society of CPAs (MOCPA) Board of Directors and as a Trustee of the AAA, AICPA, and MOCPA Foundation Boards. Markus has also served as AAA Council Chair and held multiple AAA section leadership roles and continues to contribute to the profession through board service and national leadership in accounting education.
AICPA CIMA
Lindsey Yopp is Senior Manager – Candidate Engagement, CPA Pipeline at the AICPA & CIMA, with a background in international education and learning and development. Lindsey has worked at the AICPA & CIMA since 2013, and most recently was responsible for management of AICPA & NASBA's Experience, Learn, and Earn Program. Prior to joining the CPA Pipeline team, Lindsey managed a number of international initiatives, including working alongside NASBA on Mutual Recognition Agreements with international accounting bodies. Outside of the office, Lindsey enjoys traveling, being outside, and experimenting with sourdough.
In person attendees may enjoy complimentary breakfast items catered from Chick-fil-A.
Stephanie F. Watson, Ph.D., CPA, has been on the faculty of the University of Central Arkansas Accounting Department since 2003. She currently serves as the department's chairperson. Stephanie has taught Accounting Information Systems, Cost Accounting, Principles of Accounting, and Accounting Case Studies. Stephanie is also involved in Curriculum and Assessment, has co-authored a textbook, and has been published in the Journal of Accounting Education, The CPA Journal, and Oil, Gas, and Energy Quarterly, among others. Stephanie has been honored with the ASCPA Distinguished Achievement in Accounting Education, Outstanding Beta Alpha Psi Advisor, and service and teaching awards from UCA's College of Business. She received a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D., all in accounting from Louisiana State University. Prior to graduate school, Stephanie worked in corporate accounting for seven years.
Dr. Louisa Moseley holds a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Central Arkansas, an M.B.A. in Healthcare Administration from Harding University, and a Ph.D. in Business Administration with a concentration in Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University. She also earned an Accounting Technical Certificate in 2023, further strengthening her expertise in business and accounting education. Since joining UCA in 2012, Louisa has served in a variety of roles, including adjunct instructor in Accounting, academic advisor, and transfer coordinator. She currently serves as the Director of Student Experience for the College of Business and as the Academic Coordinator for BUILD@Carmichael, the College of Business freshman Living Learning Community. In these roles, she is deeply committed to enhancing student engagement, fostering professional development, and creating meaningful experiential learning opportunities. Louisa has led multiple student focus groups in collaboration with the Arkansas Center for Research in Economics and is passionate about helping students become connected, confident, and career ready. Her dedication to student success and community engagement has earned her recognition as Woman of the Year by Conway Business and Professional Women in 2018 and Faculty Associate of the Year in May 2025.
The Accounting Department at the University of Central Arkansas has converted professional development from extracurricular to curricular by embedding 12 topics in required courses. At the sophomore level, the focus is on exploration. Juniors tackle career planning topics, and non-technical skills (aka, power skills or soft skills) are the topics for seniors. Now that these topics are required, a larger portion of students are exposed to and encouraged to consider these career building blocks.
C. Shane Warrick, Ph.D., CPA, is a member of the Southern Arkansas University accounting faculty and holds the Freeman Professorship of Accounting. He obtained a BBA from Southern Arkansas University, an MBA from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and a doctorate from Jackson State University. He has coordinated and served as a speaker for the SAU College of Business CPE Days. Additionally, he has been a speaker for the Arkansas Society of CPAs and several of the Society’s local chapters. He has published in Accountancy Business and the Public Interest, Journal of Ethical and Legal Issues, Journal of Finance and Accountancy, Journal of Business, Industry, and Economics; Journal of Business Administration Online; Review of Business Information Systems; Research in Higher Education Journal; and the College Teaching Methods and Styles Journal. Prior to his academic career he worked in public accounting with KPMG and in private accounting with Murphy Oil Corporation and International Paper Company. Dr. Warrick is a member of the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy, NASBA CPE Committee, AICPA State Board Committee, AICPA Board of Examiners-Audit Subcommittee, the Arkansas Society of CPAs, South Arkansas CPAs, and an educational associate of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
This panel session will cover a few broad topics, such as: Are debits and credits a necessary foundation or a student turn off? Faculty’s experiences and insights will be shared for offering a model of Principles I & II, versus a Survey course. An additional topic that will be addressed is a perceived decline in student critical thinking skills. Panelists may discuss how to help students develop critical thinking and judgement skills needed for career success.
This facilitated discussion session will cover two challenges and two successes in teaching efforts. Topics will include:
In person attendees will receive a complimentary catered lunch.
Lindsey Yopp is Senior Manager – Candidate Engagement, CPA Pipeline at the AICPA & CIMA, with a background in international education and learning and development. Lindsey has worked at the AICPA & CIMA since 2013, and most recently was responsible for management of AICPA & NASBA's Experience, Learn, and Earn Program. Prior to joining the CPA Pipeline team, Lindsey managed a number of international initiatives, including working alongside NASBA on Mutual Recognition Agreements with international accounting bodies. Outside of the office, Lindsey enjoys traveling, being outside, and experimenting with sourdough.
Representatives from the AICPA’s CPA Exam team and CPA Pipeline team will provide a comprehensive update on the CPA Exam, CPA Pipeline, and CPA Pathways. The update will include current trends in CPA Exam metrics and key CPA Exam resources for students, CPA Exam candidates, and educators. The AICPA will share the latest trends in the CPA Pipeline and provide the latest resources for navigating CPA Exam Pathways for students and educators.
Markus Ahrens, PhD, CPA, CGMA, FMAA, is the Senior Director of the Global Center for Advancing Accounting Education at the American Accounting Association (AAA). He previously served as a Professor of Accounting and Finance and District Department Chair at St. Louis Community College and was an Adjunct Professor in the Master of Health Administration program at Saint Louis University for 19 years. He also brings professional experience from the accounting and finance industries.
Markus has earned numerous national and state awards recognizing his excellence in teaching and innovation, including the AAA/J. Michael and Mary Anne Cook/Deloitte Foundation Prize, the AAA and EY Innovation in Accounting Education Award, and multiple AICPA Bea Sanders Innovation Awards. He was also named Missouri Society of CPAs Outstanding Educator of the Year, the AAA TYC Section Educator of the Year Award, and received the AAA TLC Section Hall of Honor Award.
He has held extensive leadership roles across the profession, including serving as 2023 Chair of the Missouri Society of CPAs (MOCPA) Board of Directors and as a Trustee of the AAA, AICPA, and MOCPA Foundation Boards. Markus has also served as AAA Council Chair and held multiple AAA section leadership roles and continues to contribute to the profession through board service and national leadership in accounting education.
As artificial intelligence transforms the accounting profession, university educators are uniquely positioned to address a growing disconnect: the traditional entry-level work that once built essential skills is disappearing, while employers continue to demand graduates with significant, hands-on experience. At the same time, the profession faces a historic talent shortage fueled by rising CPA retirements, declining exam participation, and longer hiring cycles.
This session focuses on how accounting educators can respond. We’ll explore strategies to redesign curricula that emphasize experiential learning, critical thinking, and real-world application in an AI-enabled environment. We’ll also discuss how educators can align programs with emerging alternative CPA licensure pathways, helping students navigate new routes to certification while strengthening the talent pipeline.
In addition, the session will highlight the growing importance of advisory services and real-time client engagement, and how universities can better prepare students for these evolving expectations through integrated coursework, technology exposure, and partnerships with firms.
Andrew Williams
Andy Williams is the Managing Partner of Forvis Mazars’ Arkansas offices, leading teams in Little Rock, Rogers, and Fort Smith. He oversees more than 130 client-service professionals and partners, all focused on delivering Unmatched Client Experiences® to businesses and individuals across Arkansas and the Midwest.
Andy is passionate about building remarkable careers for professionals who help clients unlock their full potential. He champions a culture of excellence, innovation, and insight—where professionals provide forward-thinking ideas, trusted assurance, and meaningful analysis to drive client success.
Before stepping into his current leadership role, Andy served as an assurance partner in Forvis Mazars’ National Health Care Practice. Over two decades, he advised a wide range of healthcare providers—from rural community hospitals to large urban systems—across the country. His previous leadership roles in the Southern Missouri and Mississippi Practice Units helped shape his strategic approach and deep industry expertise.
Andy is a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), Arkansas Society of CPAs, and Mississippi Society of CPAs. He is a member of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra board of directors, past president of BreakThrough T1D (formerly JDRF), and in 2017, was honored as one of Springfield Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.
He earned his B.S. in Accounting, cum laude, from Missouri State University in 2001.
Barrett is an Assurance Partner specializing in audit services for investment-related entities, including investment funds, collective investment trusts, private
equity funds, and real estate entities, in addition to nonprofit organizations and other privately held entities. Additionally, Barrett serves as HoganTaylor’s Co-
Managing Partner for the Little Rock Office.
Prior to joining HoganTaylor in 2018, Barrett served assurance clients at both JPMS Cox and Deloitte in Little Rock.
Certifications and Honors
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Professional & Civic Affiliations
Education
Panelists will be practicing CPAs in tax or audit managerial roles from various sized firms. The panelists will address issues facing the profession today relative to their firms (recruiting, AI, alternative pathways to licensure, skills gaps, and others).