CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The University of Northern Iowa's Master of Accounting (MAcc) program is on an exciting growth trajectory, with the David W. Wilson College of Business forging a significant partnership with regional accounting firm Hogan-Hansen. This collaboration marks a pivotal moment as it appoints Amy Igou as the inaugural Hogan-Hansen Master of Accounting Director. The support and funding from Hogan-Hansen will help Igou and the department rise to the needs of the expanding program.

“Our partnership with UNI is very important to us, and this is a way to make sure our roots continue to run deep in that partnership,” said Steve Duggan (Accounting ‘90), managing partner for Hogan-Hansen, which is a full-service CPA firm with five offices in Iowa, including Waterloo. “We are excited to support the Master of Accounting Director role that is important in the accounting department and to the growth of the master’s program, which will be an essential part of the accounting industry going forward.”

UNI’s accounting program is ranked third nationally and No. 1 in Iowa for CPA success rate, and that’s in large part to the MAcc program, which puts students on track to satisfy and complete Iowa's 150-hour requirement for CPA licensure within a year after receiving a bachelor’s degree. It is also the first STEM-designated accounting master's program in Iowa.

Igou, who has served as the director of the MAcc program since 2020, helps recruit, advise and teach master's students. She also manages the administrative and marketing tasks for the program, which has taken a much larger presence internationally in recent years, recruiting students from India and beyond. The international growth is due in part to being one of the first STEM-designated accounting programs in the nation. 

“This support from Hogan-Hansen shows the worth of this program, that employers are investing in it and us,” Igou said. “I’m excited for this appointment, and how this helps raise the profile of our program across the globe.”

Hogan-Hansen has been a longtime supporter of UNI, employing many UNI alumni, donating to the athletic program and holding season tickets to basketball and football events. Dennis Hogan, one of the firm’s founders, and his wife Camille were supporters of the construction of the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.

The firm hires several UNI accounting students during spring tax season to help prepare individual tax returns and gain valuable on-the-job experience and training.

“Hogan-Hansen has a big local presence, so we’re excited to work with them with this new support,” said Joe Ugrin, accounting head and professor. “As we grow our master’s program with more domestic and international students, there’s a lot of work to be done, and this funding helps provide us with the resources to meet those needs.”

To learn more about the Master of Accounting program, please visit business.uni.edu/macc or contact the Department of Accounting at 319-273-2394.