Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Recipient: Jordan Newman

Meet Jordan Newman, a driven individual who received the prestigious Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship for excelling in his professional and academic pursuits. Along with being a full-time tax accountant at Pace & Company, he  is also a graduate assistant at the Georgia Southern School of Accountancy where he works as a writing assistant and tutor. Jordan recently obtained his CPA designation in the state of Georgia and is now pursuing his Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential. Currently, Jordan is a Master of Accounting student at Georgia Southern University. 

How did you hear about the Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship, and what made you decide to apply? 

I learned about the Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship from one of my accounting professors at Georgia Southern University. She had mentioned many of the details of the scholarship and asked me if I was planning to apply. Like many, my first thought was that I had a very small chance of receiving a national scholarship. My professor influenced my application, and I am so happy she did.  

Joining the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and receiving this scholarship has been amazing. The ACFE provides an abundance of resources for networking opportunities as well as fraud-related journals. Such resources have aided in advancing my career, knowledge and perception of fighting fraud. 

How did you become passionate about fighting fraud? 

I have always had a passion for fighting fraud. Going into college, I was undecided with my career path. At first, I selected a very generalized course path until I could find the one part of college that just clicked with me. A few semesters into college, I realized I was always drawn to instances of fraud cases. Around the same time, several of the amazing accounting professors at Georgia Southern University made me realize my love for accounting. As these professors would teach in their class, I would always be thinking about the fraud that could take place in any instance. Every time I had a class project, fraud was the topic on which I would focus. This resonance coupled with my admiration of human behavior, social sciences, criminology and accounting showed me that fighting fraud would be in my future.  

I currently work as a full-time tax accountant, and even in the work that I do now, I always keep fraud, or merely uncovering unethical decisions, in the back of my mind. One day, I hope to be able to make a career out of fighting fraud. 

What advice do you have for students who are interested in applying for the scholarship? 

If you are truly passionate about fraud, apply for this scholarship. The connections you can make through the ACFE are unmatched. In addition, the number of resources that would be at your disposal will set you far ahead in your career. Every student has a shot at receiving this scholarship. Advancing one’s knowledge and admiration for the field of fighting fraud is the main goal of this scholarship, and it is out there for whoever is eager enough to pursue it.  

I am not far enough in my career to really come across many interesting stories of fraud. However, I have learned that you should always stick to what you admire. Many might find accounting to be a dry field of study — it most certainly is not for everyone. However, fighting fraud as a Forensic Accountant or even as a CFE can be a very enticing field. This is a field where one never stops learning; the day-to-day life is anything but mundane, and the societal implications of the work performed are perpetually expanding.  

The Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship is just one step along the way; a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to set you apart and advance your career.  If I have anything to add, it would be to make pursuit of all these opportunities and really concentrate on what you want to do. Fight for your passions, absorb the knowledge of college  and become the exemplar of who you want to be and what you want to do.