Thomas J. Purcell CPA, J.D., PhD

Thomas J. Purcell, III, PhD, J.D., CPA, is a Professor of Accounting at Creighton University where he has been on the faculty since 1979. Prior to that he was a tax consultant with the Omaha office of Touche Ross & Co. Tom currently serves the AICPA as a member of the Tax Practice Responsibilities Committee and also as a member of the AICPA Tax Reform Task Force. Previously Tom served the AICPA as chair of the Tax Executive Committee of the AICPA, the highest committee on taxation within the Institute, and on the AICPA Council, the Strategic Planning Committee, the Pre-certification Education Executive Committee, the Tax Legislation and Policy Committee, the Tax Accounting Committee, the Tax Policy Committee, and on numerous tax task forces. Tom has served on the Board of Trustees of the Foundation of the Nebraska Society of CPAs, and is a past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NSCPAs, as well as a past chair and member of several NSCPA committees. Tom has been Treasurer of the Buford Foundation for over 30 years, and has served on the Board of Directors for the New Cassel Retirement Center, the St. Augustine Indian Mission Board and as President of the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities in Omaha. He has facilitated strategic planning activities for numerous non-profit organizations. Tom is in his 21st year as the faculty advisor for Creighton’s Beta Alpha Psi chapter. He also served as the faculty advisor for Creighton’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity for over ten years, and is a past Regional Director and member of the National Board of Directors of Beta Alpha Psi. Tom was recognized by Beta Alpha Psi as an Outstanding Faculty Adviser in August, 2012. Previously Tom was recognized as a member of the inaugural group of volunteers to receive the AICPA Sustained Contribution Award in October, 2011. Tom also has received the Arthur J. Dixon Memorial Award from the AICPA in 2010 (the highest award given by the accounting profession in taxation); the Creighton University Distinguished Faculty Service Award in 2006; the Creighton University St. Ignatius Award in 2002; was recognized in 2005 as the Beta Alpha Psi National Business Information Professional of the Year; received the Nebraska Society of CPAs Public Service Award in 2005 and the Outstanding Accounting Educator Award in 1995; and was listed as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting for 2005 and 2006 by Accounting Today. Tom has published one book, several professional training manuals, numerous articles in academic and professional journals, and lectured and taught thousands of professionals in CPE programs since 1977.