Richard L. Townsend, CPA, is an Associate Professor Emeritus of Accounting at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he taught both undergraduate and graduate financial accounting courses from 1969 to 2012. He received his Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Townsend regularly conducts continuing professional education courses in reporting and disclosure for the Tennessee Society of CPAs, Georgia Society of CPAs, corporations, universities and public accounting firms. He was the co-author of three AICPA continuing professional education courses from 1986 to 2010. In addition to several teaching awards given by the College of Business, Dr. Townsend has received the University of Tennessee's Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award on three occasions as well as the University's 2001 L. R. Hesler Award for Teaching and Service. In 2003, He received the Outstanding Discussion Leader Award from the Georgia Society of CPAs.