Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ

August 20, 2026
26-108

Jessica Pope
Communications and Media Relations Coordinator

Meet Candace Witherspoon, Recipient of Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s 2026 Presidential Excellence Award for Service

Dr. Candace Witherspoon has earned the 2026 Presidential Excellence Award for Service at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ. She joined the faculty of Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ’s Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration in 2012 and currently serves as a professor of accounting. She is pictured with Dr. Donald J. Green, president of Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ. 

VALDOSTA — Dr. Donald J. Green, president of Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ, has honored Dr. Candace Witherspoon with the 2026 Presidential Excellence Award for Service.

The Presidential Excellence Award for Service recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated a strong and consistent commitment to service at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ and to the community.

Witherspoon joined the faculty of Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ’s Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration in 2012. She currently serves as a professor of accounting with a passion for teaching individual taxation and fraud examination courses and writing about current tax issues. She has also served as head of the Department of Accounting.

Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ: Teaching, mentoring, and conducting research are already full-time jobs. What motivates you to make time for service?

Witherspoon: First, I love service. Second, I believe it is everyone’s moral and civic responsibility to give back to the community.

Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ: Which service roles have allowed you to have the biggest impact on Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ and the community?

Witherspoon: Serving as department head, co-coordinating the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, and volunteering at the animal shelter have allowed me to have the most significant impact. In the fall, I prepare for the next season of VITA (testing and recruiting), co-advise Beta Alpha Psi (accounting student organization), co-host Meet the Firms (career fair), continue as the financial secretary of the Georgia Association of Accounting Educators (GAAE), and continue creating the School of Accountancy E-Bulletin, as well as serve on the Ethics Week Committee, College of Business Administration Strategic Planning Committee, and other committees. I also plan to continue my work at the animal shelter.

Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ: What advice do you have for other faculty who want to make time for service?

Witherspoon: My dissertation advisor told me, “You don’t need to look for service; it will find you.” There are lots of opportunities for service, but not as much time. Be selective. Choose things you enjoy and weigh the impact. Designate a certain number of hours for service each week.

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