According to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), accounting’s history can be traced back thousands of years to the cradle of civilization in Mesopotamia. To her knowledge, Dr. Pam Church’s lineage doesn’t go back quite that far, but CBU’s Dean of the School of Business does come from a long line of nickel crunchers and is an advocate for the time-honored profession.
“Accounting is huge in my family,” said Dr. Church.
Define huge? Her mother rose through the ranks of the IRS from entry-level 2 to top-tier-level 14. Her brother, Dr. Ken Harmon, is an accounting professor at Kennesaw State University and former Provost. Her middle child has been an accountant for 14 years. A cousin started out as a veterinarian and is now an accountant. A son-in-law and a daughter-in-law are accountants. Accounting is a family tradition.
“Accounting is a great career,” she said. “This is my ninth year on the state Board of Accountancy. I believe in our profession. There are many jobs, and you can do so many different things, whether you become a CPA or not.”
Dr. Church came to CBU as an accounting professor in June 2021. Prior to that, she spent 32 years in a similar capacity at Rhodes College, where she received the 2019 Jameson M. Jones Award for Outstanding Faculty Service. After two years at CBU, she was elevated to Dean of the School of Business and continues to teach accounting classes.
“Pam’s remarkable ability to balance teaching with excellence and overseeing a school of business while staying on the forefront of setting CPA standards is unparalleled,” said colleague Dr. Lydia Rosencrants, MBA program director.
“She doesn’t just lead our school of business—she elevates the entire field through her continued thought leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence.”
When she was a young girl, Dr. Church never dreamed she would embark on such a long and fruitful career. She initially planned to go into special education and honestly didn’t expect to be in the working world long.
“I didn’t think I was going to have a career,” she said. “I was the valedictorian of Overton High School in 1970, but people didn’t talk to me about having a career. It was expected that women would not have a career.”
Once she realized that special education was not the best fit for her, Dr. Church looked to her role models, including her mother, and decided to explore accounting. She was immediately drawn to the order, patterns, and logic of the field—along with the financial stability.
“I’ve seen it change families’ lives economically,” said Dr. Church. “Accounting gives you financial security for life. My husband and I were high school sweethearts. I was a first-generation college student and married at 19. Finances were very important to us. We were supporting ourselves from a young age and had three children.”
When Dr. Church retired from Rhodes during the pandemic, she didn’t anticipate going back to work, but curiosity got the best of her when she heard about the opening at CBU.
“I knew it was a service-oriented Catholic school, and that appealed to me,” she said. “I’m Methodist, and my faith is an important part of my life, so I embraced the opportunity. Plus, I fell in love with the students. We have such a diverse set of students who demonstrate gratitude and dedication to their courses and the mission of the college. I have really enjoyed being part of that.”
When counseling CBU students on their educational and career goals, she encourages them to “stay flexible.”
“See your education as lifelong,” she says. “In our field of accounting, that’s probably more true than in many others. You will face changes, and you will have to adapt. Your job can be your passion, or it can fuel your passion. You don’t have to find all of your fulfillment in your job, but it should provide the time and resources for you to pursue your passions.”
Dr. Bev Vitali, CBU’s Director of the Institute for Leadership Development, said Dr. Church is an authentic voice for students, practicing what she preaches.
“One thing that stands out about Pam is her rare ability to embrace changes in higher education, and her chosen field of accounting, with genuine curiosity,” said Dr. Vitali.
“She is constantly asking ‘why’ and listening to responses without judgment, but with an eye toward changing curriculum and programs to meet the needs of our students. Her commitment to accounting and our Lasallian mission means her students don’t just learn from her expertise—they’re inspired by her unwavering passion.”
Along with accounting and related professional organizations, Dr. Church’s passions include her church, her three children (all of whom live in town!), her 4-year-old granddaughter, and service work.
Her office is in Buckman Hall.
