When he was trying to pick a Ph.D. program as an up-and-coming accounting student, Terry Warfield (PhD89) got some great advice from a pair of colleagues at Purdue-Calumet.

“They told me, ‘You want to go to a place that will help you grow as a teacher, but will also give you great skills and tools to do high-quality research,’” said Warfield.

That’s why he chose Iowa.

“The University of Iowa has a premier research accounting department,” said Warfield. “It has a long tradition and I’m proud to be part of that and to have had the opportunity to work with and receive training from people like Dan Collins, Doug DeJong, and Tom Linsmeier.”

Warfield recently retired after a storied and distinguished 35-year career at the University of Wisconsin where he served under seven deans and interim deans, taught thousands of students, published 40 articles and three books—one of which is a best-selling textbook on intermediate accounting, and participated in roughly 200 service committees.

Warfield said both Iowa and Wisconsin instilled in him the necessity and fulfillment of purposeful work and contributing meaningfully to others.

“At some places, the only thing that matters is your research productivity,” he said. “Whereas at places like Wisconsin and Iowa, there is a lot of value attached to people who are great teachers as well as great researchers—and who provide that service element and engage with their community.”

Warfield said he has tried to pay forward what mentors like Collins and Linsmeier taught him.

“Iowa has punched way above its weight in producing doctoral students who go out and become successful faculty at other institutions,” he said. “I tried to carry that forward at the University of Wisconsin. There is something very rewarding about having Ph.D. students you advised now out in the world as faculty, influencing the next generation.”

Photos courtesy of the University of Wisconsin. 

This article appeared in the 2025 issue of Iowa Ledger.