Ed O'Donnell | SIU

Ed O'Donnell joined the School of Accountancy faculty at the SIU College of Business in the Fall of 2009. He teaches courses in financial statement auditing, information systems assurance, auditor risk assessment, and experimental accounting research methods. O'Donnell's area of expertise also includes enterprise risk management, accounting information systems, and information technology governance.

O'Donnell didn't know what to expect when he came to the Southern Illinois University College of Business, but he was quickly impressed with the students he encountered.

"When presented with a new problem, our students' first reaction is to attack the challenge and try to conquer the problem rather than resist an unfamiliar challenge and complain that nobody had shown them how to deal with this kind of problem," O'Donnell said.

O'Donnell's research examines how people use accounting information to make decisions. His basic research uses theories from cognitive psychology as a framework for examining how characteristics of the decision maker and variables in the decision environment influence professional judgment and diagnostic reasoning in accounting contexts. O'Donnell's applied research examines ways to improve auditing decisions and develop more effective frameworks for more enterprise risk management and information technology governance.

O'Donnell was awarded a Ph.D. in accounting from the University of North Texas in 1995. He spent five years as a faculty member at Mississippi State University, six years as a faculty member at Arizona State University, one year as a visiting professor at the University of Connecticut, and three years as a faculty member at the University of Kansas prior to joining SIU. O'Donnell was a practicing accountant for 14 years before he entered the doctoral program. He started his career as auditor for an international accounting firm, served as controller for a diversified food service and retailing company, then practiced public accounting as a sole proprietor.

"SIU students seem to have more grit and determination than students at other widely-recognized Universities," O'Donnel said.

Continuing to praise College of Business students, O'Donnell is pleased with what he has seen.

"They tend to think on their feet and push back when they face uncertainty. I like that a lot," he said.