Paul Copley

Paul Copley, Ph.D., is a Professor and Commonwealth of Virginia Eminent Scholar in the School of Accounting at James Madison University's College of Business. He previously held positions at the University of Georgia, including Director of the J.M. Tull School of Accounting. His research focuses on governmental and nonprofit accounting, auditing practices, and financial reporting standards. He has authored six textbooks on governmental accounting and served as Editor of Research in Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting.

Dr. Copley's educational background includes a Ph.D. and Master of Accountancy from the University of Alabama, and a B.B.A. from the College of William and Mary. His work emphasizes transparency in public sector finance, with notable contributions to pension disclosure requirements and audit quality in municipal markets.

His awards include the 2016 Educator Award from the Association of Government Accountants (both national and Washington DC chapters). His research spans IPO assurance services, ratio analysis in nonprofits, and the impact of fiscal stress on state pensions. He has published widely in leading journals, addressing topics such as audit demand-supply dynamics and governmental reporting reforms.

As an academic leader, his contributions bridge theory and practice, influencing both educational curricula and real-world auditing standards in the public and nonprofit sectors.