Faculty
Stuart Michelson, Ph.D.
Dr. Michelson is the Dean of the School of Business Administration. He also serves as a Roland and Sarah George Professor of Finance and Director of the Executive MBA program at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. He holds a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Kansas and an MBA from the University of Missouri.
He is editor of the academic journal, Financial Services Review. He has published extensively in academic and professional journals, including: the Journal of Investing, Journal of Financial Planning, Managerial Finance, and the Journal of Business, Finance, and Accounting. He is a member of the editorial board of several scholarly journals and is an active member of Financial Executives International and the Financial Planning Association. He has completed several studies for the Institute of Public Policy and Business Research and Daytona Beach Community College.
He is the past President of the Academy of Financial Services, the past President of the Academy of Business Education, and past President of the Central Florida Financial Executives International. Prior to becoming Dean, he served as chair of the School of Business Graduate Committee, Unit System Change Committee, and Policy Review Committee. He was chair of the University Finance Committee and a member of the University Trustees Finance and Investments Committee.
Judson P. Stryker, DBA, CPA
Dr. Stryker is the Eugene M. Lynn Chairman of the Rinker Institute of Tax and Accountancy at Stetson University and serves as an Associate Dean of the School of Business. He previously served as Vice President of Finance for the University and held management positions with the General Electric Company prior to joining Stetson University. He earned a BSBA at the University of Florida, an MBA from Stetson University and his DBA from Mississippi State University. He is a licensed CPA in the state of Florida. Dr. Stryker has been active in research and has published over 50 articles in journals and conference proceedings. He actively serves the profession and the local community. He is a previous recipient of the School of Business Teaching Award and the University's Mentor of the Year Award. He is currently serving as Treasurer and on the Stetson University Business School Foundation Board.
Theodore J. Surynt, Ph.D. (Georgia State University)
Dr. Surynt is Professor of Information Systems and Associate Dean of the Stetson University School of Business Administration. During his twenty plus years at Stetson, he has been instrumental in the creation of business technology programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. He has published numerous articles dealing with Information Systems pedagogical issues. For fifteen years he was owner and president of Surynt Computer Services, a software consulting and contract-programming firm. Prior to coming to Stetson, he was a Systems Engineer and Corporate Planning Analyst for IBM Corporation.
Patrick J. Knipe, CPA
Mr. Knipe earned his B.S. and MAcc degrees at Stetson University. A CPA with extensive experience in public accounting, he began his career at a small, local accounting firm. After a merger with the international firm of Coopers & Lybrand (now PriceWaterhouse Coopers), he was named managing partner of the firm's Orlando office. During his time in public practice, Mr. Knipe served as audit engagement partner for a wide range of clients in the commercial, governmental and not-for-profit sectors. His extensive service in the profession includes a year as president of the Florida Institute of CPAs and six years on the National Council of the AICPA. Mr. Knipe has earned numerous awards and recognition for his leadership and volunteer activities in community organizations. He currently serves on the Board of Directors and chairs the Audit Committee of CCS Medical Holdings, Inc.
Michael Bitter, Ph.D., CPA
Dr. Bitter is a Professor of Accounting at Stetson University. His degrees include a BBA from Stetson University, a MAcc from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi. Dr. Bitter is a CPA and previously worked in public accounting with Ernst and Young. He has been very active in research and has numerous publications in journals such as Strategic Finance and the Southern Business Review. He has also made numerous presentations at various professional conferences. He has actively served the profession and the local community. Dr. Bitter has received numerous awards for his teaching, research and service including being named the School of Business Administration's Professor of the Year in 2001 and 2006.
Paul E. Dascher, Ph.D.
Dr. Dascher is the Senior Professor of Accounting at Stetson University. He earned his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from The Pennsylvania State University and has served on the faculties of Virginia Tech, Northeastern University, Penn State, New Jersey Institute of Technology and Drexel University. His administrative experience exceeds 30 years and includes service as Dean at Drexel University and at Stetson University. Paul is the author of over 100 articles and 20 textbooks in the fields of management accounting, financial accounting and accounting systems. He has been a national Vice President of the Institute of Managerial Accountants, President of Accountants for the Public Interest and Vice Chairman of the Independence Blue Cross Board of Directors. His involvement with AACSB International spans more than 25 years and included leadership of many committees and a position as Secretary/Treasurer.
Richard W. Copeland, JD
Professor Copeland received his JD from the University of Florida in 1972 and his LLM from the University of Miami in 1973, majoring in tax. He has been an Associate Professor at Stetson University for 33 years and is recognized as one of the most outstanding educators at the University. Dr. Copeland has extensive experience in the areas of taxation and estate planning and has had his own law practice for 35 years, specializing in the purchase and sale of businesses, probate, guardianship, sale of real estate and adoptions. He is an active speaker in the Florida Bar Association, Florida Institute of CPAs, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, estate planning meetings for churches and insurance companies among others.
Fred K. Augustine, Jr., Ph.D. (Florida State University)
Dr. Augustine is Professor of Information Systems and Chair of the Department of Decision and Information Sciences at Stetson University. He has written articles published in the Journal of Systems Management, Journal of Computer Information Systems, System Dynamics Review, Journal of End-User Computing, CIS Educators Forum, Interface, The E-Business Review and others. His primary research interests are in the organizational issues involved in the use of web technologies in the development and implementation of e-Business systems and the global aspects of e-Commerce.
Kevin Michael Miller, CPA
Mr. Miller is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator and earned his master's degree in accounting and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Stetson University in DeLand, FL. He also earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Rollins College. During his six years with KPMG, LLP, Kevin worked as an audit manager in various industries with clients such as Darden Restaurants, Crane Technologies Group, The CED Companies, Florida's Natural and Badcock Home Furnishings. He performed due diligence and assisted in successful fund raising for Surfparks, LLC, a start-up theme park in the Orlando area. For the past ten years, Kevin has served as treasurer for Sawmill Investments, LP, an investment management firm with over $20 million in assets. Kevin also performs contract audit services for an audit and tax firm in Maitland, FL. For the past three years, Kevin has served as an adjunct instructor at Stetson University for both the school of business and the graduate school of business. Kevin serves on the City of Maitland Fiscal Advisory Board and served as treasurer for four years on the Orlando Opera Company Board of Trustees. He has served on the Housing Resource Development Association Board, a HUD project dedicated to providing housing for the disabled.
