Jennifer Reynolds Moehrle, associate professor of accounting at UMSL, engages with her students during a recent accounting class. Reynolds-Moehrle will receive the 2014 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching on Sept. 17. (Photo by August Jennewein)
Success in learning is only possible for the well-prepared student. A successful teacher stretches a student’s expectations to the point where the student develops a desire for what is next. That’s the philosophy behind Jennifer Reynolds-Moehrle’s teaching style.
Reynolds-Moehrle, associate professor of accounting at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, will receive the 2014 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. She will be presented with a plaque and $1,000 honorarium during the annual State of the University Address on Sept. 17 in the J.C. Penney Building at UMSL.
“Success in learning is only possible when the student recognizes the relevance of the subject for himself or herself,” she said. “A successful teacher makes clear the relevance of today’s material for tomorrow’s learning. I incorporate relevance into my teaching by using many in-class examples from the real world.”
This teaching philosophy is not only seen in her classroom, but also felt by her students.
Altanzul Gombo, a UMSL accounting alumna, took her first advanced-level accounting class with Reynolds-Moehrle when she was still trying to decide if it was the right field for her.
“She gave me a clear picture of what the world of accounting is and made the subject very interesting to learn,” Gombo wrote in her nomination letter. “If I can name one class from which I learned the most in college, it’s the research class that I took with her. She is not only a great teacher in a classroom, but she also cares about each student’s career goals and their achievement. She has been giving me the most valuable advice to help me clarify my career path and achieve my goals. She is known among the students and faculty not only by her intelligence and knowledge, but also by her personality and kindness. I feel very fortunate to have known such a great professor and mentor.”
Her teaching abilities haven’t gone unrecognized by her peers either. She’s previously received the College of Business Administration Anheuser Busch Excellence in Teaching Award, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, Missouri Society of CPAs Impact Award for Outstanding Educator and Dedication and Outstanding Performance as a Teacher, Mentor and Leader in Ethics award.
She’s a member of the American Accounting Association, Academy of Accounting Historians, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants and Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity.
Reynolds-Moehrle is an expert on financial accounting and reporting. She’s a vigorous researcher and has published extensively.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Kentucky in Lexington and a master’s degree and doctorate in business from Indiana University in Bloomington.
