May 22, 2006

Professor honored with the Lincoln Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award

LINCOLN—Lisa Forbes, Union College associate professor of finance and accounting, received The Lincoln Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award in May.

             “I’m very honored that my colleagues would choose to nominate me and that I was chosen for the award,” Forbes said.

             Presented at a breakfast on May 12 at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel, the award celebrates the accomplishments of 40 Lincoln-area entrepreneurs, business owners, managers and professional men and women under 40 years of age.

             “I’m overwhelmed,” Forbes said. “I appreciate the confidence from my colleagues very much and am honored to be part of the Union College family.”

             Arlie Fandrich, Union College chair of the Division of Business and Computer Science, nominated Forbes and wrote, “Lisa approaches teaching from a very student-centered perspective. She is interested in the success of her students both professionally and personally and is always willing to provide extra help when needed. She is intentional about going beyond the call of duty in every aspect of her professional life. Known for her abilities in organization, Lisa is always well prepared and motivated. She is an exceptional teacher and business mentor.”

             Forbes graduated from Union College in 1992 and went on to graduate summa cum laude with her MBA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Forbes worked for six years at Deloitte & Touche and became an audit manager before returning to Union College as an associate professor of finance and accounting.

             As a professor, Forbes has sought out creative approaches to optimize her students’ learning. She created a team approach to test taking in which students prepare together, take the test individually and then retake the test as a group. This provides instant feedback, cultivates accountability within a group and reinforces material learned.

            Forbes has active CPA certification and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Nebraska Society of Certified Public Accountants. She is president of the Platte Valley Academy Alumni Association, the chair of the administrative software evaluation committee and part of the College View church finance committee and building committee.