FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 10, 2002 CONTACT Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 DRAKE APPOINTS INTERIM DEAN OF BUSINESS COLLEGE Patrick Heaston, the Aliber distinguished professor of accounting and director of the School of Accounting at Drake University, will be interim dean of Drake's College of Business and Public Administration, Drake Provost Ronald Troyer announced today. Professor Heaston will become interim dean when Joe Alber leaves Drake in June to become dean of the Richard J. Wehle School of Business at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y. "Dr. Heaston is highly respected by the College of Business and Public Administration faculty and staff members," Troyer said. "He has extensive experience in both College of Business and Public Administration and University-wide governance. He is an accomplished teacher and scholar and he has earned the admiration of people across the University. I am confident he has the ability to lead the college during the next year. I appreciate his willingness to step forward and assume the duties of the dean’s position." Professor Heaston, CPA, is in his 19th year at Drake. He has accounting experience in both public accounting and government and teaches financial accounting. He has been selected as the outstanding teacher in the College of Business and Public Administration three times, twice at the undergraduate level and once at the graduate level. Professor Heaston holds B.S.B.A. and M.B.A. degrees from Creighton University and a doctorate in accounting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His published research is in the areas of professional licensure and professional ethics. During Heaston’s tenure as director, the School of Accounting attained initial accreditation from American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business International, initiated a master’s degree in accounting and redesigned the accounting major to incorporate it with the study of the liberal arts throughout the four years of undergraduate study. In addition, the school created joint accounting majors, which allow accounting majors to study other major business areas as part of the accounting degree.