Carlow University professor Diane Matthews was named the 2017 Educator of the Year by ACFE, the largest anti-fraud association in the U.S.
| Marketing and Communications | For Immediate Release |
| Drew Wilson, Director, Media Relations | May 23, 2017 |
| 412.578.2095 (phone) | |
| 412.260.6807 (cell) | |
| 412.578.2080 (fax) | |
| agwilson@carlow.edu |
Largest Anti-Fraud Association Honors Dr. Diane Matthews,
Director of Master of Science in Fraud and Forensics, at ACFE’s June Convention
Pittsburgh, Pa. – Diane Matthews, PhD, CPA/CFF, CFE, the director of the Master of Science in Fraud and Forensics (MFF) at Carlow University, was named the 2017 international “Educator of the Year” by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), an 80,000-member organization. The award will be presented to Matthews at ACFE’s June convention in Nashville, Tenn.
“Over the past several years, Dr. Diane Matthews has had a significant and profound effect on effecting the values and mores at Carlow University and the general Pittsburgh community,” said nominator James S. Fellin, CFE, CPA, CFF, managing director of The Nottingham Group and president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the ACFE. “She has promoted the ACFE and all it stands for and has been instrumental in organizing, attending and facilitating many anti-fraud events for our region. Most importantly, she has successfully guided numerous students into this worthwhile and highly rewarding career field, which is paying immeasurable dividends to these individuals and the entities in which they work by providing communities that can recognize and respond to fraud.”
In addition to Fellin, Matthews was nominated by many colleagues, faculty, and students. One of the other nominators, Mary Anne Basilone, CPA, CFE, chair of the accounting and forensic accounting program at Carlow, described Matthews as “the consummate mentor, leader and friend. Her support and encouragement led me to attain my CFE certification, join and participate in the ACFE and ACFE Pittsburgh Chapter, and teach in the forensic accounting and MFF programs.”
Matthews, who said she was “truly surprised and profoundly honored” when she learned of the award, is one of the first educators in the U.S. to establish a bachelor of science (BS) degree in forensic accounting-and in 2011 she created a fully-online master’s degree program at Carlow in fraud and forensics. Before joining Carlow, she had a successful public accounting career at Touch Ross & Co. and Arthur Young & Co., two “Big Eight” CPA firms. She also served as vice president for Equibank’s operations division and directed Fisher Scientific’s international customer systems and telecommunications division. A founding member of the Forensic Accounting Academy, she is a graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy and also worked with the Pittsburgh District Attorney’s Office in their fraud investigation unit. Diane is a certified public accountant (CPA), a certified fraud examiner (CFE), and is certified in financial forensics (CFF).
Matthews continued, “I am truly humbled that my colleagues nominated me for this award and I look forward to educating more future professionals in fraud prevention, investigation, and remediation.”
Established in 2002, ACFE’s Educator of the Year Award is presented to an ACFE member who has made outstanding contributions to anti-fraud education within their college or university. Established in 2011, Carlow’s Master’s in Fraud and Forensics is a one-year, fully-online, CFE-prep program for professionals by professionals, with courses currently enrolling for the August 2017 cohort. For more information, visitwww.carlow.edu/fraud.
### About Carlow University
Carlow is a private, co-educational, Catholic university located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s “Eds, Meds, and Tech” district. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, Carlow’s graduates, curricula, and partnerships reflect its strong commitment to social justice; ethical, forward-thinking and responsible leadership; and service to the community that has a meaningful impact. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in three colleges: Health and Wellness, Leadership and Social Change, and Learning and Innovation. Carlow graduates are in demand for their professional expertise, in fields ranging from nursing, the sciences, and perfusion technology to counseling, education, and forensic accounting; their entrepreneurial spirit and creative mindset; and their ability to manage change. Carlow’s eleven athletic teams are known as the Celtics, a reflection of the university’s Irish heritage and roots.