Ira Solomon named new dean of Freeman School

Ira Solomon, the R.C. Evans Endowed Chair in Business and head of the Department of Accountancy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has been named the new dean of the A. B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University. The appointment is effective June 1.

Tulane President Scott Cowen made the announcement on Monday, March 21, culminating a nine-month national search led by Professor of Finance Sheri Tice and Tulane Provost Michael Bernstein.

A leading scholar in his field, Solomon has been a primary architect in creating what is widely regarded as one of the finest accountancy programs in the country.

Solomon received his BBA, MPA and PhD in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. He initially held faculty appointments at the University of Arizona before moving to the University of Illinois in 1983.

Throughout a distinguished career, Solomon has focused his research and teaching on external auditing and attestation. He has published more than 35 scholarly articles, monographs and books, many of which have been recognized for their innovation and impact by organizations such as the American Accounting Association (AAA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He has served as an associate editor of The Accounting Review and Accounting Horizons and is currently on the editorial boards of numerous journals. He is also a vice president of the AAA and has previously served as research director of its Auditing Section, vice president of its Academic Section and its president. The AAA recognized Solomon as the Outstanding Auditing Educator of 1997. Also, in 1997, 2000 and 2003, the AAA Auditing Section recognized him for Outstanding Dissertation Supervision. In 2009, he received a Special Award of Merit by the Illinois CPA Society and recognition by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for Distinguished Achievement in Accounting Education.

Solomon will replace Angelo DeNisi, the Albert Harry Cohen Chair in Business Administration, who has served as dean of the Freeman School since July 2005. DeNisi will join the faculty at the business school.