Accounting Professor Earns Lifetime Achievement Award

Aug. 22, 2022

MISSOULA – The Montana Society of CPAs (MTCPA) has named University of Montana College of Business Professor Emeritus Dr. Kent Swift as the winner of the George D. Anderson Distinguished Service Award for 2022. The highest honor given by MTCPA, the George D. Anderson Distinguished Service Award recognizes an outstanding individual who has worked to strengthen the accounting profession, in addition to serving their community.

Founded in 1913, the Montana Society of CPAs is a professional association with approximately 1,700 members. The organization focuses on professional excellence and works to be an inspiring and empowering resource for all of its members.

Dr. Swift is a leader in the growing field of sustainability reporting. He served on the Global Sustainability Standards Board and has been recognized by the Institute of Management Accountants for his article on accounting for greenhouse gas emissions. Also, at UM Swift co-leads the VITA program, offering free tax help for those with low to moderate income. Annually, the VITA program and 25 students help complete more than 600 federal and state income tax returns.

In addition to these accomplishments, Swift has received over 20 teaching awards during his more than 30 years of teaching. At UM, he has taught a variety of business and accounting courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, including an award-winning special course on sustainability reporting. His research, which has been published in a variety of journals, focuses on US tax law related to charities and charitable giving, sustainability reporting, and the economics of renewable energy.

With his long career of service to the public and to the accounting profession, it is certainly well-deserved as an incredible professor emeriti at the UM College of Business. Kent was honored with the George D. Anderson Distinguished Service Award at the 109th Annual Meeting of the MTCPA in Billings, Montana on June 16.