Professor Andrew Bargerstock and PhD student Ye Shi won an award for writing the best article in the peer-reviewed journal Strategic Finance. They formally accepted the Lybrand Gold Medal Award at the annual conference of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) on June 20 in Denver, Colorado.

The IMA Lybrand Awards Committee determines the top three peer-reviewed articles based on their outstanding contributions to the accounting and finance literature, awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals.

Titled “Are We Leaning Away from Standard Costing? Reconciling Lean Accounting Theory and Practice,” the article appeared in June 2016, and it examines an inconsistency in lean accounting theory and practice.

Specifically, it examines U.S. manufacturers that continue to use standard costing even though they have adopted Toyota-style process-improvement techniques. According to Dr. Bargerstock, lean manufacturing is increasingly being adopted in the U.S., but research shows that when those companies don’t also adopt lean accounting, it results in waste and inefficiency.

The article sheds light on possible reasons why: lack of knowledge about lean accounting, deeply entrenched institutional histories of standard costing, and inertia sustained by legacy enterprise resource planning systems.

This is just the latest award received by Dr. Bargerstock and Ms. Shi. In 2014, they were awarded IMA’s Menconi Award for Best Accounting Ethics Article. In addition, they are both two-time national award winners for their lean accounting accomplishments. Dr. Bargerstock also recently co-authoredMastering Leadership Alignment: Linking Value Creation to Cash Flow, published by Business Expert Press.

The Institute of Management Accountants was formed in 1919. Currently there are more than 85,000 members in 140 countries. The Institute offers the Certified Management Accountant certification, examinations, and a variety of support and educational programs.

MUM’s MBA Accounting Program includes classes in lean accounting and offers training for students to take the Certified Management Accountant and Certified Public Accounting exams. Students also compete in online business simulations, where they regularly place in the top 10.

Maharishi University of Management celebrated its 42nd commencement on June 24, graduating 579 students, including 460 graduate students and 119 undergraduate students (48 from Maharishi Invincibility Institute in Johannesburg, South Africa)—the most in MUM’s history.

U.S. Congressman Tim Ryan from Ohio’s 13th District delivered the commencement address. Congressman Ryan has served eight consecutive terms in the House of Representatives since 2003 and has taken a national leadership role in improving access to healthcare, promoting ways to make college more affordable, and expanding renewable energy. He has also raised awareness about the benefits of the Transcendental Meditation technique^® and is working to make it accessible to hundreds of thousands of veterans.

In his speech, Congressman Ryan challenged the graduates to find innovative solutions to the seemingly intractable problems facing the world by first developing the full creative potential of their consciousness. He then encouraged them to become leaders in creating an equitable economy, a prevention-based health care system, a sustainable environment, and to become promoters of peace.

“Graduates, we are living in a moment that calls out for you, because you are those rare positive disruptors—creative, open, smart, self-driven, resilient, fearless,” Congressman Ryan said. “You are the modern-day explorers. Your meditation practice will assist you in navigating the turbulent waters of modern society. Your Consciousness-Based education has prepared you to take your place among those leaders who are redefining the rules and changing the way we all see things. Our nation and the world desperately need you now.”

Congressman Ryan also urged graduates not to get distracted by the perpetual, and often divisive, noise of the media that can disconnect them from their environment, their neighbors, and themselves. ”We’ve become so in love with our distractions that we’ve forgotten one simple, important truth: underneath all the noise, we’re all the same.”

Following Congressman Ryan’s speech, MUM president Dr. John Hagelin presented him with the University’s Doctor of Laws honoris causa degree.

“On behalf of the entire Maharishi University of Management community, we are honored to celebrate your great achievements in government and your wise leadership in helping to create a healthier, happier, more peaceful and prosperous nation and world,” Dr. Hagelin said. “We know that you are at the beginning of a brilliant career of impactful leadership, with many far greater national and global achievements yet to come.”

In addition, Dr. Hagelin presented Carl Stone with an Honorary Doctorate in Maharishi Vedic Science^SM for his work over the past 25 years helping to revive the knowledge of the Maharishi Vedic Observatory, including the design, construction, and funding of a Maharishi Vedic Observatory on the Maharishi University of Management campus.

Dr. Hagelin also announced MUM’s decision to join the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitment, which he signed on stage during the Commencement ceremonies. In addition to energy conservation and transition to a solar-powered campus, MUM is now prepared to offer its new Regenerative Organic Agriculture Program to farmers in the Midwest and throughout America, to re-stabilize the earth’s climate through cutting edge soil and agricultural science.

Watch a video of the graduation ceremonies here.

Art faculty member Gyan Shrosbree is cementing her reputation as an artist with a half-dozen individual and group shows around the country. Her work is currently on display through June at the Yellow Door Gallery in Des Moines along with works by her father, Jim Shrosbree, who is also an MUM faculty member.

Also showing through June is an exhibit at Grapefruits in Portland, Oregon. A group exhibit that includes her work is now on display through August at ArtStart in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. In addition, a group show will open in July at Western Exhibitions in Chicago.

Two solo exhibits coming up include one at Haus Collective in San Antonio, Texas, that will run September and October, and one at Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin, in November and December.

Ms. Shrosbree grew up in Fairfield and received her BFA degree from The Kansas City Art Institute in 1998 and her MFA degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2000. She has exhibited in galleries all around the US and participated in numerous artist residency programs and fellowships.

While teaching at St. Philips College in San Antonio, Texas, Ms. Shrosbree became a guest teacher at MUM, and in 2011 she decided to move back to her hometown. “Working with the students is so different here,” she said. “You see them every day, you really get to know them, and you see their progress.” She is now assistant professor of painting and drawing and program director for the BFA track.

When she is teaching, it can be challenging to find time to work on her art, but Ms. Shrosbree tries to spend some time in her studio every day. The routine of returning to the studio daily, being engaged with the art consistently, and focusing on the creative process instead of its results is what has helped Ms. Shrosbree become a productive artist, and that is what she encourages her students to do.

She says that she has always valued her practice of the Transcendental Meditation^® technique, and it helps her maintain a disciplined creative process. “I think TM is an amazing supplement for a sustainable studio practice, which is what we try to teach the students how to cultivate.”

You can find out more about Ms. Shrosbree and view her work here.

A short film by Gregor Kresal, a graduate of the David Lynch Graduate School of Cinematic Arts, won four awards in April at the Iowa Motion Picture Association’s annual awards ceremony, including the top award for cinematography and three Awards of Achievement for editing, soundtrack, and long-form live-action entertainment.

His film, titled 8 1/2 Circles, is a semi-autobiographical psychological drama about a professional mountain climber who becomes so obsessed with an expedition in Pakistan that he loses interest in day-to-day life. The film is loosely based on Gregor’s life as a professional mountain climber, and is about why he stopped climbing mountains after 25 years.

“The practice of Transcendental Meditation has been very helpful in discovering and reconnecting with my personal story,” Gregor said. “It uncovered many suppressed feelings I had not dealt with because of the trauma I experienced due to losing so many friends to mountaineering accidents.” He also said the David Lynch program played an important part in the success of 8 ½ Circles by connecting him with a great crew to work with.

The film was shot in Fairfield, Iowa, the mountains of Slovenia, and on the high-altitude glaciers around Europe’s highest mountain — Mt. Blanc, in France. The film uses actors from around Fairfield and from Slovenia, as well as Joey Maida from California in the lead male role.

Gregor has also collected numerous other awards, including the first prize at the Alpi Giulie Cinema in Trieste, Italy, the Seven Summits Award at the Mountain Films Awards, the Award of Excellence at the Headline International Film Festival, and Platinum Winner at the International Independent Film Awards. Gregor is currently in a pre-production phase of turning his 32-minute film into a full-length feature.

Are you interested in many different things? Are you pretty good at a lot of them? Do you sometimes have trouble deciding what direction to pursue?

Then you may want to take a look at a new free online course titled Crafting a Life of Meaning, Significance, and Service.

Taught by Steve Langerud, a nationally recognized workplace culture strategist and consultant, the course offers a simple framework for how to identify, articulate, and act on your purpose.

“The course is for anyone who likes too many things, is good at too many things, and really doesn’t want to be pinned down to just one option — which seems to be most of us,” Steve says. “The fact is that our work matters. Finding meaningful professional and personal purpose drives our connection to others and contribution to the world. Understanding that this purpose is not just within our careers but across our lives is key.”

During the past 25 years, Steve has worked with over 15,000 people to discover and develop their purpose, identify their capacities, and guide their personal, professional, and organization development strategy. He is a contributor to media, including MarketWatch, Fast Company, New York Times, NPR, MSNBC, and Time magazine on issues of workplace and professional and career development.

“Anyone seeking personal and dynamic attention for their own growth, or that of their organization, should seek Steve’s insight and advice,” said a CEO from Cedar Falls, Iowa.

“I cannot think of a person more readily willing to help students pursue career opportunities, whether it be internships or full-time positions, than Steve,” said a college senior from Indianapolis, Indiana. “Steve knows how to highlight people’s strengths and transform them from students to highly qualified professionals.”

The context for Steve’s work comes from experiences as an archaeologist, street performer, carpenter, and president of a bicycle company. Prior to coming to MUM, Steve worked at Grinnell College (where he was dean of experiential education), the University of Iowa Law School (where he was assistant dean), and DePauw University (where he was director of professional development). He currently works as dean of Admissions at MUM. Steve also offers free career coaching to MUM alumni, including career goal setting, skills assessment, and job search strategies.

“I have learned that we know a lot about ourselves and little about where we can have a life and career that matches our needs,” Steve says. “Unfortunately, the best advice most people get is to ‘follow your passion,’ which is simply too vague and unhelpful. First you have to identify those things that matter most to you, then discover where people get paid to do those things — often a big surprise — and, finally, make a plan to act on your needs. When you focus on purpose, you can focus your needs in more meaningful and actionable ways.”

Find out more and watch an introductory video of Steve’s course here.