Unparalleled Commitment

For decades, Accountancy majors could hardly graduate from the Villanova School of Business without having Professor Gerald Dougherty, CPA ‘58 VSB. After more than 56 years, he taught longer than anyone else at VSB and is widely considered a legend. Prior to his passing in February 2018, Prof. Dougherty spoke openly about his career and the good fortune he enjoyed at VSB. Many would counter to say we at VSB were in fact the fortunate ones for his contributions.

Q: What brought you to VSB as a student and then as a teacher?

I thought maybe I could be an engineer. I took a year off after high school to work and earn $300 {for tuition} and saw my buddies flunk engineering. Since I was starting college late, I took accounting instead, and  I loved it.

As a student, I commuted to Villanova along with the faculty member. We’d talked, and once I said, “I think I’d be interested in teaching.” After graduation, I was working for a small public accounting firm. He had since become a department chair and invited me to speak to the Accounting Society. In 1961, I started teaching part-time and went full-time in 1963. I was extremely lucky.

Q: How many students have you taught?

I’ve taught ever required [undergraduate] accounting class, so it's not a simple answer. By my estimation, I come to 25,000 students, including CPA review and training seminars. Former students often come back and say, “You taught me!” I’ll ask where, because I teach at Villanova, at CPA training, at staff training, and they say, “All of the above!”

Q: Tell us about the classroom in Bartley, dedicated to you in 2006, and the teaching award named in your honor in 2007.

A group of alumni led by Jack Surgent ‘80 VSB and Bruce Peacock ‘73 VSB came together and raised a generous sum to dedicate a room in my honor, and I was extremely humbled. Afterward, there was money left over and Jack asked me what they ought to do with it. We decided that the income from endowment would be used for the annual Gerald A. Dougherty Endowed Faculty Award for Undergraduate Teaching. Given my background teaching undergraduates, it made sense.

Q: What made you stay for so long?

I have never, ever had a bad day here, I’ve enjoyed every minute in the classroom. I also taught a CPA review course for 27 years and delivered staff training programs for small and medium sized CPA firms for 32 years. So I was approached [for other jobs] but I had no desire to leave.

I do not have a PhD. When I started teaching, an MBA and a CPA sufficed. When the national accreditation standards changed in 1968, I was the youngest member of the Accounting department. I also happened to be the assistant dean. Villanova was very kind and very fair. They grandfathered those with MBAs and CPAs and granted me tenure.

Q: What’s been the highlight of your career?

Winning the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for the Outstanding Teaching has been the highlight. I came here to teach. What’s more important than being recognized by colleagues and students alike? I was very satisfied.

Originally published in the Summer 2017 Issue of Villanova Business magazine with updates.