Zabihollah (Zabi) Rezaee is currently the Thompson-Hill Chair of Excellence, tenured Professor of Accounting, and School of Accountancy PhD coordinator at the University of Memphis. He served a two-year term (2004-2006) on the Standing Advisory Group (SAG) of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and he is currently (2019-2023) the editor of the Journal of Forensic Accounting Research, one of the journals of the American Accounting Association (AAA). He is currently appointed as the Honorary Advisor of the Financial Reporting Council in Hong Kong (December 2019-September 2023). He received his BS degree from the Iranian Institute of Advanced Accounting, his MBA from Tarleton State University in Texas, and his PhD from the University of Mississippi. Dr. Rezaee’s areas of teaching are: Accounting Systems Applications, Business Sustainability, Corporate Governance, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting, Financial Statement Analysis, Forensic Accounting, Internal/External Auditing, International and Managerial Accounting, Organizational Ethics, and seminars at undergraduate, graduate, Executive and International MBA, and PhD levels.

Dr. Rezaee has published over 230 articles in well-recognized academic and practitioner journals. He has presented over 240 research papers at universities and regional, national and international meetings keynote speaking. He holds the CPA, CMA, CIA, CFE, CGFM, CSOXP, CGOVP, CGRCP, CGMA and CRMA certifications and possesses practical experience in auditing, expert witnessing, international governance and financial/managerial accounting. Key Publications include 14 books on Financial Statement Fraud, Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Governance, Internal Auditing, Business Sustainability, Organizational Ethics, Audit Committees, and Forensic Accounting. Many of the more important books have been translated into multiple languages (Spanish, Chinese, Persian, and Korean).

Professor Rezaee has developed courses in accounting and business including Advanced Auditing, Capstone course in Accounting, Business Sustainability, Corporate Governance and Organizational Ethics, Financial Reporting and Forensic Accounting. He has served on many international and national professional organizations as well as the university, college and department committees. He has served as an expert witness in several court cases and testified before a federal judge. He has received several research grants on cybersecurity, IT governance and diversity.

Professor Rezaee’s teaching philosophy and practice reflects a dedicated commitment to student learning and often says, “If it was not for students, faculty would not be at the University and if it was not for faculty, the University would not exist.” He views the University as a community of faculty, students, administrators and staff who are gathered to support learning by creating knowledge, disseminating knowledge and implementing knowledge. Focusing on shared governance, respect for others, diversity, integrity, honesty and competency in the academic, personal and professional affairs, and a culture of accountability and transparency. Dr. Rezaee’s approach as a scholar, practicing accountant and teacher are guided based on his six E’s of Excitement, Energy, Engagement, Efficiency, Effectiveness and Excellence.

Actively encouraging Executive MBA aspirants to examine and pursue their commitments to tone at the top, shared value, effective communication, culture of integrity, competency, compliance and accountability. Dr. Rezaee’s world-view has helped many global institutions and business organizations more effectively balance the profit-with-purpose mission of generating required financial returns for their shareholders with growing world demands for social and environmental accountability performance opportunities.