To enhance the Paton Fellow Program’s mission of encouraging Michigan undergrads to explore a career in accounting, the Paton Center created the Honorary Paton Fellow Award in 2016 to honor individuals who through their accounting expertise have made significant contributions as business leaders. There are two categories for the Honorary Paton Fellow awards:
“Lifetime Achievement” candidate nominations honor individuals who through their accounting expertise have made significant contributions as business leaders or a leader in their profession. They may be honored for lifetime contributions, living or posthumously. Secondary consideration may also be given to meritorious community or professional service and positive impact on Michigan Ross accounting education.
“Rising Star” candidate nominations honor mid-career U-M alums (or significant U-M affiliation) who through their accounting experience are making contributions as business leaders, in community, industry, or professional services – and having a positive impact on Michigan Ross accounting education. We are looking for candidates our current Ross students can see making contributions they can relate and aspire to in their not-too-distant future.
We invite you to nominate an individual for consideration, using our nomination form. Submissions are accepted year-round and evaluated for selection in September. Submissions received after September 5 are considered for the following award year. Nominations will remain active for consideration for 3 years. After 3 years, a new nomination form will need to be submitted.
Honorary Fellows are then inducted and formally recognized with Junior and Senior Paton Fellows. This process strengthens the Paton Accounting Center’s relationship with key individuals in the profession and university, while the honorees serve as great examples to Paton Fellows of the diverse and rewarding opportunities in the field of accounting.
Meet the 2024 Honorary Paton Fellows
2024 HONORARY PATON FELLOW, RISING STAR, JARROD WOOD
2024 HONORARY PATON FELLOW, LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT, SUSAN MEYER
Meet the 2023 Honorary Paton Fellows
2023 HONORARY PATON FELLOW, LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT, DOUGLAS C. MCCLINTOCK
2023 HONORARY PATON FELLOW, RISING STAR, ALEXANDRA ROSELLE
Meet the 2022 Honorary Paton Fellows
2022 HONORARY PATON FELLOW, KAREN BIRD
2022 HONORARY PATON FELLOW, JAMES J. LEISENRING
Meet the 2020-2021 Honorary Paton Fellows
2020-2021 HONORARY PATON FELLOW, JACK DARVILLE
2020-2021 HONORARY PATON FELLOW, ROBERT M. PATTERSON
2020-2021 Honorary Paton Fellow Induction Ceremony
Meet the 2019 Honorary Paton Fellows
2019 HONORARY PATON FELLOW, EDDIE HALL III
2019 HONORARY PATON FELLOW, GORDON KRATER
Meet the 2018 Honorary Paton Fellows
2018 Honorary Paton Fellow, Julie R. Booth
2018 Honorary Paton Fellow Lifetime Achievement, Robert D. Neary
Meet the 2017 Honorary Paton Fellows
Bob Anthony- 2017 Honorary Paton Fellow, Robert L. Anthony
Greg Jonas - 2017 Honorary Paton Fellow, Gregory J. Jonas
Meet the 2016 Honorary Paton Fellows
The Ultimate Mentor-2016 Honorary Paton Fellow: A Tribute to Carleton H. Griffin
Professor of Accounting, former Paton Center Director and Deloitte Chairman, Carleton H. Griffin (1928-2014).
A Valued Partner-2016 Honorary Paton Fellow: David R. Noonan
David R. Noonan, a partner in Assurance Services at Ernst & Young LLP was celebrated at the Michigan Ross Paton Fellow Induction Ceremony on March 31, 2016. Dave was named the Honorary Paton Fellow Active Partner.