MSTAX > Program > Board of Advisors

Board of Advisors

A word from the Chairman of our Board of Advisors:

I take great pride in the educational foundation I received from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Accountancy at ILLINOIS remains the top-ranked program in the nation because of its distinguished faculty and cutting-edge curriculum.

I’m also proud to be part of the MS Tax Program in Chicago. This special program is an opportunity for rising stars in our business community to earn a credential in taxation that prepares them, to an incomparable extent, for the challenges they face as leaders in their ﬁeld.

Inﬂuential leaders from major corporations and ﬁrms in Chicago have joined me in serving as advisors to the program, some of whom connect with students directly in the classroom. The College of Business at ILLINOIS actively engages these practicing experts to ensure that its curriculum is relevant and valued in the business world.

The ﬁeld of taxation is incredibly dynamic. Understanding how competing forces impact business activities is a vital characteristic for tax professionals who aspire to leadership positions in their organizations. The MS Tax Program at ILLINOIS addresses the strategic nature of taxation in a changing, globalizing business climate.

As a sponsoring ﬁrm or a prospective student, I encourage you to participate in this prestigious program.

—Howard S. Engle, Chair
Board of Advisors
MS Tax Program

	“The Illinois MS program provides a rigorous discipline of tax technical training combined with the more intangible hands on business savvy needed by today's increasingly sophisticated tax professionals.” Marilyn Gerdes (Retired) Senior Vice President, Tax Sara Lee Corporation
	“The Illinois MS Tax Program provides an excellent opportunity for students to develop skills necessary to be outstanding tax professionals and leaders in the tax community.” Julie Q. Harmon Partner Mergers & Acquisitions – Tax PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
	“The ILLINOIS program is a powerful partner in educating our people.” Tom Lawrence Partner Ernst & Young LLP
	"Employees who complete the MS Tax Program show remarkable growth as professionals and tax experts." Karen Matusinec Senior VP, Treasurer McDonald's Corporation
	“The ILLINOIS MS Tax Program provides tax professionals the opportunity to expeditiously expand their skill sets in a timeframe that works well for both the student and the profession.” Daniel F. Rahill Partner-in-Charge, Tax KPMG LLP
	“The biggest challenge corporate tax functions face today is the rapidly changing regulatory environment. The MS Tax Program at Illinois helps prepare our tax professionals to meet this challenge.” Pat Roxworthy Sr. Vice President, Tax Global Hyatt Corporation
	“The MS Tax Program yields future benefits that are 10-fold.” Allan Sutherland President Capital Solutions International LLC
	“To be an outstanding tax leader, you must be involved and stay involved in the profession. The Illinois MS Tax Program's network of current students and alumni is a unique resource upon which to build that involvement.” Judith P. Zelisko Vice President-Tax Brunswick Corporation
	“Our program not only elevates our student’s technical tax skills, but develops their business knowledge and professional attributes that are essential to their success.” Norma J. Lauder Director—MS Tax Program University of Illinois