Voting for new Board of Regents begins November, Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program accepting applications, In Memoriam and Board of Regents expels two members

Voting for new Board of Regents members begins Nov. 1

Certified members of the ACFE will begin to vote Nov. 1 online at ACFE.com for their selections for three new members. Voting will close December 31. Candidate bios will appear in the ACFE News department of the November/December issue of Fraud Magazine.

The Board of Regents performs several integral functions. Under the current bylaws, the Board of Regents has sole authority over the admission of members including, but not limited to, examination standards.

The board is also responsible for establishing, modifying and enforcing the CFE Code of Professional Ethics, and all other necessary matters to maintain the high standards of the ACFE.

“I encourage ACFE members to vote early for their choices for the new members of the Board of Regents,” said ACFE President and CEO Bruce Dorris, J.D., CFE, CPA. “It’s a privilege for members to select those who’ll represent them on the board. The board frames the future of the ACFE and, in many ways, the profession.”

The ACFE Nomination Committee will select nine applicants to vie for three available positions. The new Regents, who will be installed in February 2020, will each serve two-year terms.

Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program accepting applications

Are you an anti-fraud, higher-education student needing some scholarship help? Or are you a mentor who knows students who could use a leg up?

The ACFE Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program, which has awarded deserving students entering the anti-fraud arena for 25 years, is accepting applications for the 2020-2021 school year.

The ACFE Foundation, a nonprofit entity, raises funds to support the scholarship program for the education of students worldwide who have an interest in pursuing a career in fraud examination or similar fields. Candidates must be enrolled in accounting, business administration, finance, criminal justice or similar anti-fraud programs.

“Not only will this scholarship financially help me to achieve my education goals, but it also ignites a deeper interest in the field of fraud examination,” says Anna Brown, a 2018-2019 scholarship recipient. “Through this scholarship I have been connected to numerous professionals working in my field of interest,” she says.

We invite you or other prospective candidates to apply for a Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship. Applicants must meet these requirements to be eligible:

• Undergraduate students must be enrolled for nine semester hours (or equivalent) per term.
• Graduate students must be enrolled for six semester hours (or equivalent) per term.
• All must be currently enrolled at an accredited, four-year college or university with enrollment through the 2020-2021 academic year.
• Submit a completed Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship application available at ACFE.com/scholarship.
• Provide official transcript(s) showing all completed college or university courses.
• Submit two recommendation forms on behalf of the applicant.

The ACFE Foundation prefers at least one recommendation from a CFE. Additional recommendations may be from a professor or from an individual who might be familiar with a candidate’s fraud-related education, interests, goals and anti-fraud career path. For more information about the Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program, visit ACFE.com/scholarship.

In Memoriam: Mary Sue Smith

Mary Sue Smith, 61, a member of the ACFE since 2004, died June 13. Family members held a private memorial service on July 13 at Smith’s property, The Cedars, near Hugo, Oklahoma.

Smith was a senior internal auditor for the Dallas Independent School District, and previously worked as an insurance fraud investigator in the special investigations unit of a national health insurance company. According to her obituary, she was loving and selfless, and she enjoyed taking care of others, opening her home to anyone.

Smith is survived by her son, Mark Smith, and his wife, Khai Huyen Nguyen; daughter, Amber Nicole Smith; siblings, Glenn Kiefer and his wife, Linda; Debbie Caples and her husband, Lonnie; Beckie Baggs and her husband, Charles; Rhonda Wooldridge and her husband, Roy; and Darla Overby and her husband, Lanny; sister-in-law, Sharon Kiefer; a host of nieces and nephews; and grandpuppy, Big Head. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, David Ray Kiefer.

“I remember mom always studying in preparation for various fraud certifications as I was growing up,” Mark said. “She was always really passionate about doing things the right way and learning more about her field. Being part of the ACFE helped her with that for sure.” 

Board of Regents expels two members

George Barnes: The ACFE Board of Regents voted to permanently expel George Barnes, former CFE, from the ACFE. This decision was based on Barnes’ misappropriation of ACFE intellectual property.

Anna Coetzee: The ACFE Board of Regents voted to permanently expel Anna Coetzee, former CFE, from the ACFE. This decision was based on Coetzee offering improper assistance on the CFE Exam.