Dr. Allen S. Lee, right, presents the doctoral degree in Philosophy in Business to Ambrose Jones. Jones will begin a new career soon as a college professor.

Obtaining a Ph.D. has been the lifelong dream of Ambrose Jones who achieved that goal in May 2007. It crowns a business career of over 35 years, and opens the door to a new career in education. In a few weeks he will be moving to Greensboro, North Carolina where he will be teaching in the Accounting Department at the University of North Carolina.

“It’s a dream come true,” says Jones. But not without a great deal of dedication. Study and perseverance.

Jones spent 33 years in public accounting, the last 23 as a partner with McGladrey & Pullen, a national accounting firm. He began his career in New York City with Arthur Andersen, after graduating with a BS from King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA; Five years later he joined McGladrey, where he stayed for 28 years, retiring at age 55, and more determined than ever to fulfill his dream of obtaining a doctoral degree.

In 2002, Jones seriously began investigating what it would take to obtain a doctorate, received encouragement from friends and mentors including Dr. Dennis O’Toole, retired economics professor from VCU School of Business and Dr. Chong Mo Pak, former head of VCU ‘s Department of Public Administration. He would need to complete a few prerequisites, so he enrolled at VCU in spring 2003 as a part-time student. He was already acquainted with VCU since his son Michael had enrolled in summer 1998. The senior Jones closed out his accounting career and became a full-time student in the fall of 2003.

“Michael was and is an inspiration to me. When I began,  Michael also was working toward an accounting degree, and we found many things to talk about and study. My wife, Diane, who is a marketing director, was our greatest supporter and was continually cheering us on.”

Michael Jones graduated from VCU in Spring 2002 with a BS in  Accounting and was inducted into Beta Alpha Psi the Accounting Honors Society (3.882 GPA) and Phi Kappa Phi Honors Fraternity in April 2002. He now works for Ernst & Young, “I’m very proud of Michael, who really continues to be an inspiration.”

His challenge renewed, Ambrose Jones felt he was on the right road, he enjoyed his classes and the colleagues he worked with.. He began doing research with two Accounting Department colleagues Dr. Benson Wier, professor of Accounting, and Dr. Carolyn Strand Norman, associate professor of Accounting. .

"We are very proud of Ambrose and his accomplishments. He approached the Ph.D. program and his dissertation with the same level of fervor that he had for public accounting. He was eager to learn, quick to understand complex concepts and methodologies, and passionate about excelling at every task! He already has an American Accounting Association Section-level publication, and we expect him to continue to distinguish himself at the University of North Carolina--Greensboro, in publishing, teaching and service!" says Dr. Norman.

Dr. Jones’ dissertation was “Antecedents and Consequences of Lifestyle Choice in Public Accounting and was accepted in September, 2006.

“I am fascinated by the amount of behavioral research contained in accounting literature and this seemed like a logical topic of study after so many years spent as a practitioner.”

On May 19, 2007 Dr. Ambrose Jones received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Business. His family was all there to cheer. Foremost was his three-year old granddaughter, Rhiannon, whose “Doctor PaPa” cheers could be heard throughout the Siegel Center.

Jones was named a Dean’s Scholar in April 2007 and was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the business honors fraternity. and into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Fraternity.  Since then, he has sold his home, bought a new one and soon will be moving to Greensboro. – proving once again, that dreams really can come true.

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