Eugene Seago recognized for expertise in accounting throughout 45-year career
Over the past 45 years, Virginia Tech professor Eugene Seago’s career has included many accomplishments. In addition to teaching accounting and tax classes to thousands of graduate students, Seago is an accomplished author, a trusted consultant, and a nationally recognized expert in the field of accounting.
He is one of seven Virginia Tech employees who are being honored for 45 years of service to Virginia Tech. He was recognized during the 2016 Service Recognition Program this spring.
According to his colleagues in the Pamplin College of Business, his success and expertise in this subject throughout his career can be attributed to his skills and work ethic.
“Seago has been an active and contributing faculty member for more than 45 years,” said John Maher, the department head of accounting and information systems. “His continued vitality and work ethic are an inspiration to us all.”
Originally a native of Jacksonville, Florida, Seago moved to Blacksburg in 1970 to begin his career in higher education as an assistant professor in the accounting department and was promoted to a professor in the spring of 1977.
And, while he says it was the beautiful mountains that brought him to Blacksburg, it’s his passion for teaching and his wonderful students and colleagues that has kept him at Virginia Tech for 45 years.
Seago said that one of the most important traits to have as a professor is to put yourself in the student’s shoes.
“Sometimes you take for granted how much the students know versus how much you know,” said Seago. “I try to remember what I knew about business when I was their age. It is important to relate to the students and put yourself in their place.”
Seago teaches two different master’s level tax classes to graduate students. In addition to his teaching, Seago is also active in his research and writing. He has published five research articles on technical tax topics every year for the past four years. He has also published more than 175 articles and books throughout his career.
Seago’s expertise makes him a prime advisor for many different groups that need assistance in accounting and tax issues. He is frequently consulted by alumni on technical tax issues and has served as a consultant for numerous companies and other organizations, including the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Department of Justice, and the United States Department of Commerce.
He has also received numerous awards for his efforts, including the American Tax Association’s Outstanding Tax Educator of 2008.
In the fall of 2015, Seago was named the Curling Professor in Accounting and Information Systems by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors in recognition of his academic distinctions and successful career.
Seago received a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from Florida State University. He also holds a juris doctor degree and a Ph.D. in accounting from the University of Georgia.
Written by Mackenzie Nicely, a senior from Lexington, Virginia, majoring in public relations and political science.
