Utah State University Announces New Professorship in Accounting

Douglas D. Anderson, dean of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, announced a gift of over $1 million from the estate of former faculty member Jay Price. The school will establish the Dr. Jay H. Price, Jr./Arthur Andersen Endowed Professorship to support the School of Accountancy.

Few individuals have left a legacy at Utah State University such as Jay Price. After retirement from Arthur Andersen at age 62, Price began his second career as an educator, donating his time teaching accounting at USU and the University of Wisconsin, along with serving as a visiting professor at Stanford University, teaching economics for public utilities.

“Jay was an extraordinary individual,” Andersen said. “His commitment to service over self was legendary. He loved our students, his faculty colleagues, Utah State University, and Cache Valley. We can all take inspiration from Jay’s wonderful life.”

Price selflessly gave of his time and resources to make USU’s School of Accountancy a better place than he left it. In addition to donating his teaching time, he made significant financial contributions to the university, helping to establish the Arthur Andersen Alumni Accounting Professorship endowment and the Jay H. Price Student Scholarship endowment. He was recognized for his contributions with the awarding of an honorary doctorate degree from USU in 1993, Distinguished Service Award in 2001 and Teacher of the Year award in 2004.

The highest award conferred by the School of Accountancy, called the "Spirit of Jay Price Award,” is given annually to an alum who embodies the attributes of Price: service, generosity and charity.

“This gift is particularly meaningful to me,” said Chris Skousen, the head of the School of Accountancy. “I first met Jay during my high school years. He asked me to spend a few days showing kids from inner-city Chicago the beautiful Cache Valley mountains and surrounding area. I was able to attend his funeral in July 2019 and share stories of Jay with his family. He has always had a generous heart and sought for ways to make a difference.”

Former Arthur Andersen partner and USU graduate Joseph Keller echoed Skousen’s sentiment, saying that Price was a humble man of integrity and quiet strength.

“He was a man of service and many were beneficiaries of his unselfish service,” Keller said. “His exemplary service to his clients at Arthur Andersen made him an outstanding partner and reflected positively on the firm. His dedicated service to his students at USU changed their lives and brought honor to the university. All of us who had the opportunity to rub shoulders with Jay Price are better because of that association.”