John R. Suroviak
Associate ProfessorContact information |
Education:
M.S.P.A. at University of Hartford (1976)
B.A. at Trinity College, Major in Economics (1973)
Teaching Philosophy
After 26 years of college teaching, I believe that all students bring a wide variety of skills and knowledge to college. As a professor, it is my responsibility to create an environment in which all students can succeed: an environment that challenges and nurtures students and promotes their creativity.
Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." As our world continues to change rapidly, students will be required to develop creative solutions to solve unique problems. Professors must enable students to develop all of their skills.
Consider the following people who probably wouldn't have made the cut.
- Beethoven's music teacher once said of him, "as a composer, he is hopeless."
- Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because he had "no good ideas" and he "doodled too much."
- Albert Einstein flunked math.
- Dr. Robert Jarvick was rejected by 15 American medical schools. He later invented an artificial heart.
Each semester, as I stand in front of my classes on the first day, I wonder how many Beethovens, Disneys, Einsteins, and Jarvicks there are in this class.
As a CPA who has worked in both public and private accounting, I am constantly aware of the changing workplace accountants face. As computers become more prevalent in business, the traditional role of accountants continues to change. Accountants no longer can survive merely as bean counters. Today's accountants must bring value to their jobs. They must become integrally involved in the strategic planning and be able to communicate clearly and concisely with top management; they must be able to work in cross functional teams; and most importantly they must be able to solve problems and provide strategic advice to management. The days of simply adding up rows of numbers and preparing journal entries are over - thank goodness!
Although today's accountant must be strategically focused, he/she must also possess the technical skills required of accountants. Every accountant must be thoroughly grounded in GAAP, be proficient in using the latest computer software, and have a broad understanding of the role of accounting in business. Tomorrow's accountants will be required to possess all the above-mentioned skills and knowledge, I include active-learning lessons and assignments in my courses that will enable students to develop or improve those skills and knowledge. All of my courses require active student participation. I require students to present accounting information using PowerPoint presentation software, to solve unstructured accounting problems using real-life case situations, to complete at least one group assignment to develop their interpersonal skills, and to practice their writing skills. In applicable courses, I use state-of-the-art accounting software.
We live in a world that changes in nano seconds - Pacific students will be prepared for that fast-changing business world.
Personal Story
I graduated from Trinity College (Hartford, CT) with a B.A. in Economics and earned my M.S. from the University of Hartford. Before coming to Pacific, I taught at the University of Northern Colorado and Nichols College (Massachusetts), and worked in public accounting for KPMG and Laventhol & Horwath. My special interest, outside of accounting (of course), is education technology. My wife, Cathy, and I live in Forest Grove |
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| and enjoy hiking, camping, running, and golfing. Our human children live in Casper, Wyoming and Boulder City, Nevada. Our substitute "children", Scout and Skye, live in Forest Grove. | |
Publications and Professional Work
Pacific Northwest Wine Industry Survey, Steve Boone, Charles O’Connor and John Suroviak, findings presented at the Pacific Northwest Wine Symposium, August 8, 2002. The survey, part of a pilot study modeled after a similar UC Davis study, focused on how wineries and wine sellers could increase growth and profitability.
Conducted research with Charles O’Connor and Steve Boone on the Pacific Northwest wine industry. Presented our findings at the Second Annual Pacific Northwest Wine Industry Symposium attended by approximately 75 winemakers and distributors, March 27, 2003.
“Using Technology in the Classroom”, Annual Meeting of the Oregon Association of Accounting Educators, hosted by Pacific University, April 19, 2002.
Professional Memberships
Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Member, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
Member, Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants
- Board of Directors, 2006 - 2008
- Financial Literacy Strategic Interest Team, 2005 - present
- Career Development Team, 2001 – present
- Chair, 2004 - present
- Strategic Plan Task Force, participant
Past member, Institute of Management Accountants
Past Chairperson of Education Committee, Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants
Past Director of Education, Institute of Management Accountants (Colorado Chapter)
Awards & Honors
Student Government Association Faculty Award, 1994-1995
Nichols College Award for Outstanding Teacher, 1991-1992
Courses that I teach....
At Pacific University, all faculty teach a variety of different courses. Typically, we do not use graduate teaching assistants, which means that your classes will be taught by professors and that you will have plenty of opportunites to get to know the faculty in your discipline.
Below, I have listed some of the courses that I teach. We are always developing and trying out new classes, so the list may change now and then. You can use the links to the left to read descriptions of the courses listed below.
| BA | 201 | Financial Accounting Principles |
| BA | 313 | Intermediate Accounting I |
| BA | 314 | Intermediate Accounting II |
| BA | 316 | Cost Accounting |
| BA | 318 | Fraud Examination |
| BA | 435 | Accounting and Auditing Seminar |