Family* faith an

Work and worthip
min0 \moMl for
Alan Onst@in

By Louise Moceri

The rapid-fire cadence of Alan
Reinstein's speech still recalls
his Brooklyn boyhood. The
walls of his office are filled
with his published research
and photos of his family. An
overstuffed satchel on
his desk speaks to the
volume of his current
interests. The cast
around his wrist attests
to a racquetball game
in which he was the
victor. But perhaps
what's most revealing
is the yarmulke he
wears. All these things
are indicators of a life
filled with purpose
and reward. Alan
Reinstein, CPA, George
R. Husband Professor of
Accounting and Dean's
Research Chair at the
Wayne State University
School of Business
Administration, is a
man of family, faith
and career.

His proudest accomplishment
while chair was continuing
the legacy of the late George
Husband and the creation
of the George R. Husband
Professorship in Accounting. An
early chair of WSU's accounting
department, Husband was a
nationally respected professional
with an unparalleled reputation
as a researcher. In Reinstein's
eyes he also was a man of
character.

Wiii§ttiti: 4 ti le44t kik with

With a 40-year career, Reinstein
contributes eagerly to academic
and professional accounting.
A prolific researcher, he's
published more than 300
articles. In the classroom,
he's instructed generations of
students. Administratively, he
chaired WSU's business school's
Department of Accounting,
raised money for student
scholarships and created
employer networks ensuring
opportunities for graduates. He's
served on the boards of all five
major accounting organizations,
and is vice president of
education for the American
Accounting Association. In
2008, the University of Kentucky
gave him its first Outstanding
Accounting Doctoral Alumnus
Award. In October 2011,
the Michigan Association of
Certified Public Accountants
awarded him its Distinguished
Service Award, making him the
only fifth academic to achieve
this milestone since 1968.

'1

4if ti)& IIIMANIref-§, , it i§

"In 1950, while George
Husband was chair of Wayne
State's accounting department,
one of the big firms called and
said, 'George send us your best
student.' George sent them his
best student, who happened
to be Jewish. Later the firm
told Husband that they didn't
hire Jewish students. Husband
responded, telling them if
that was the case, then they
wouldn't be hiring any of his
students. He singlehandedly
broke the religious barrier
in this town. Every day of
my professional life includes
perpetuating Husband's legacy
on some level."

Reinstein, too, touts his
students' talents as well as
their tenacity in getting an
education. "WSU students
write their own checks and
work many hours to attend
school," he says. "They have
such a hunger to do whatever
is necessary to enter the
professional class. Our students
sacrifice in order to be the best,

career

and that makes me so proud."

In 1995, he stepped down as
department chair after eight
years. "I went on a one-year
sabbatical and during that
year I thought about my life.
I really think it was God's plan
that I have that year off before
returning to the faculty."
Through deep reflection he
discovered Judaism, the missing
component that would enrich
his life.

"I became an
Orthodox Jew in
1995, and it was
very hard. I began by
doing one mitzvah,
then another and
then another. I've
discovered it's just
a better life. If you
look at life with God
as the owner and we
are the managers, it
is so much easier. As
an owner you never
sleep. You worry
about everything. As a
manager, you do the
best you can, you go
4§t4t WP t.f to sleep and go back
MIR %
to work the next day.
God worries about
everything else.

"Something else is very
important to remember. I don't
always ask what God can do for
me, but what can I do for God?
I belong to three synagogues:
Congregation B'Nai Moshe,
where I was married;
Congregation Bais Chabad of
West Bloomfield; and Young
Israel of Southfield.

"I'm a blessed guy and thank
God every day. Natie, my
wonderful wife of nearly 41
years, is amazing. In the first
hour we met all those years ago,
I knew she was special. I have
three successful, happy children
and a grandson who is the light
of my life. I recently turned 65,
but have no desire to retire
for a while. I love what I do at
WSU. I research, I walk into a
classroom and I look at those
students' faces students — it's
just wonderful."

fa44w WO 4
EsorrAififof fof VAS E
fitAivig 449414441.44

Dr. Reinstein invites
Jewish News readers
to the WSU School of
Business Administration's

from 2-3 p.m.
March 27, 2012, on
campus at the
McGregor Memorial
Conference Center.

This year's speaker is
Helen Munter,
Director, Division of
Regulation and Inspection,
Public Company
Accounting Oversight
Board,
whose topic will be
"Inspections and Relevance
for Independent Auditors,
Audit Committee Members
and Other Parties in the
Attestation Process."

To attend, RSVP by
March 19 to 313-577-4530.

144,40
-W6 *4434 off

jggirg

The George R. Husband
Distinguished Lecture
Series is an annual program
commemorating the life, career
and influence of one of the
most respected and beloved
accounting professors in the
nation. Professor Husband, a
member of the faculty of Wayne
State University from 1926 to his
untimely death in 1958, and chair
of its Department of Accounting,
authored six standard accounting
texts and continues to rank
among the dozen most frequent
authors in The cAccounting
ckview. He also served as
president of the American
Accounting Association from
1955 to 1956.