School of Business

In 2015, Professor Patricia (Pat) Corkum was awarded the prestigious designation of Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA), which is the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia’s (ICANS) highest honour. This recognition comes after her extensive and effective work at Acadia University, the Institute of Canadian Bankers, and the Atlantic School of Chartered Accountancy. She has also worked at Ernst and Young and the Federal Auditor General’s Office. By remaining actively involved in the accounting industry, Professor Corkum understands the specific needs of different firms, and can often predict correctly which firm would be a best fit for her current students, given its industry focus and organizational culture. This skill as a talent scout has led to accounting students of Acadia becoming desired candidates because of their strong understanding of accounting concepts, eagerness to learn, and willingness to rise to a challenge, which are traits Pat Corkum has encouraged in her students.

This past year, for example, students partook in a forum organized by Professor Corkum in which senior students described the process that led to them securing employment before graduation. Knowing that this can be done, and how it can be done, is a profound assistance to junior students, who are still working their way through the program. When employment after graduation is secured, the trade-off has been hard work at the undergraduate level. Professor Corkum has created an environment where students know what the expectations are, and she does everything possible to ensure they are ready for the workforce upon completion of their BBA. This sort of oversight helps cement Acadia’s reputation of producing dedicated, hard workers who nevertheless maintain a communal atmosphere of support and accomplishment in a demanding industry.

Both students and colleagues would testify to Pat Corkum’s impact on the Acadia Business culture and the reputation F.C. Manning students have in the workforce. She has connected generations of Acadia alumni to create networks of names and mutually beneficial opportunities for students and accounting firms. It is a truism in the business world that networking is a crucial component to success. Due to the working relationships between professors, students, and alumni, the successful business network at Acadia University is ever growing.