University of Mississippi alumni who are now partners and employees of Big Four accounting firm KPMG have made a collective gift of $125,000 to support construction of the new Patterson School of Accountancy building at Ole Miss.
The graduates’ contribution will be matched by KPMG, doubling the impact to $250,000. In recognition of the gift, the Patterson School will name a student lounge in the new building for the company.
“We have a great relationship with the School of Accountancy,” said KPMG partner Brian Roberson of Georgetown, South Carolina.
“Our relationship with students is very near and dear to us, and many have gone on to become successful partners and employees of the firm,” said Roberson, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy from Ole Miss in 1992 and 1993, respectively. “Those employees and partners now want to give back to future generations of students.”
KPMG partner and UM alumnus Mitchell Thweatt of New York, New York, said he is excited about the benefits the new building will bring and proud to see the company’s name on one of its student lounges.
“The new building will be a tremendous asset for students, providing a central place to gather with fellow students, professors and potential employers,” said Thweatt, who earned a bachelor’s degree in accountancy in 2001 and a juris doctor in 2005. “The student lounge will be central to many of these interactions. We believe this environment will help create more well-rounded and better-educated students.”
Gifts to the Patterson School of Accountancy Building Fund support construction of a four-story, 110,000-square-foot facility that will house the school. The building will overlook the Grove from the corner of University Avenue and Grove Loop and will include study spaces; administrative and faculty office suites; outdoor areas such as balconies and terraces; and new tiered auditoriums and advanced classrooms.
The KPMG gift was announced during Ole Miss Giving Day, an online, social media-driven campaign that brings together students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and friends to support academic and outreach initiatives across the university.
KPMG’s financial support enables the Patterson School to build on its legacy of achievement, said Accountancy Dean Mark Wilder.
“We are grateful for this tremendous investment by our Ole Miss accountancy alumni with KPMG,” Wilder said. “We have enjoyed a wonderful partnership with KPMG for many years, and we greatly appreciate their commitment to providing resources for our new building. Their support will strengthen the Patterson School and help ensure our students receive the best accounting education possible.
“I am personally honored to hold the KPMG Endowed Chair of Accountancy in the Patterson School.”
The Patterson School of Accountancy offers a bachelor’s degree, four master’s degrees and a Ph.D. in accountancy. The master’s programs include the traditional Master of Accountancy and Master of Taxation, as well as degrees in data analytics: the Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics and the Master of Taxation and Data Analytics. The school has been ranked among the top 10 accounting programs in the nation every year since 2011.
“It is rewarding to see Ole Miss alumni like Brian and Mitchell give back to their alma mater so students can continue to experience the high-quality accountancy education the Patterson School provides,” said Jason McCormick, executive director of development. “This collective effort reflects the value these graduates place on their University of Mississippi education and the role it played in their success.”
For more information about supporting the new home of the Patterson School of Accountancy, contact McCormick at jason@olemiss.edu or 662-915-1757. To make a gift, visit https://give.olemiss.edu.
By Bill Dabney/UM Foundation