Endowed chair in tax and accounting established through estate gift in memory of former faculty member

The University of Akron's (UA) nationally acclaimed tax program has received an estate gift that will strengthen the academic excellence of the College of Business and the George W. Daverio School of Accountancy.

Through a $6.7 million estate gift from Hildegard Karlin in memory of her husband Arthur Karlin, UA will establish The Arthur D. Karlin Endowed Chair in Accounting, dedicated to enhancing faculty recruitment and retention, which will draw top-flight students from throughout the nation.

The Karlin Chair will be awarded to a faculty member demonstrating excellence in teaching and scholarship. Karlin, who earned a Juris Doctor from UA's School of Law in 1976 and taught at UA from 1971 to 1993, was known for his dedication to students and his passion for teaching. He was instrumental in helping start UA's Master of Taxation program in 1979, a time when Akron's rubber industry was thriving and the leading companies with a presence in Akron needed tax specialists. Arthur Karlin died in 2018 and Hildegard Karlin died in 2024.

"Arthur Karlin's innovative approach monumentally transformed accounting education at The University of Akron and beyond," said UA President R.J. Nemer. "Under his guidance and instruction, leading tax professionals learned the craft that shaped regional corporate accountancy. The endowed chair is a fitting tribute that extends the unequivocal legacy of this committed educator."

The Karlin Chair will further enhance the nationally ranked tax program, which has experienced remarkable growth with enrollment doubling in the past year - demonstrating that investment is being made in the right place. The ranking website Intelligent rated UA's online master's degree in taxation No. 12 in the U.S in 2025.

"Now in its 46th year, the program is proud of its passionate, well-connected and supportive alumni network," said Jules Jones, director and professor of practice in the School of Accountancy. "This generous gift creates opportunities to strengthen our program and expand the impact of our graduates, while continuing to honor Art's legacy."

The College of Business is one of the fewer than 1% of business schools in the country to receive dual accreditation in both business and accounting from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-687-9269, [email protected]