DENTON (UNT), Texas - G. Brint Ryan of Dallas, a University of North Texas accounting graduate who
founded Ryan & Co. - America's largest independent state and local tax consulting firm - has
donated $1 million to the UNT Foundation.
The gift will create a permanent endowment fund that is expected to generate approximately $40,000 a year in discretionary
spending for the Accounting Department in UNT's College of Business Administration.
"The Accounting Department in UNT's College of Business Administration laid the foundation for my success today," Ryan said.
"It is a strong program and offers students the skills they need to succeed professionally. I am proud to be associated with
the program and know this support will add to the strength and reputation of the school."
Ryan's gift is the largest donation ever given for the benefit of the university's Accounting Department.
"Brint Ryan's generous gift is providing critical resources to boost the accounting program's future offerings and, at the same
time, jump-starting the outreach program for the college as a whole," said Dr. Kathleen Cooper, dean of UNT's
College of Business Administration.
After completing the university's combined 150 semester hour bachelor of science and master of science program in accounting,
Ryan earned both degrees in 1988.
Since his graduation, Ryan has taken many opportunities to demonstrate his ardent support for his alma mater and the
department that granted his degrees.
He is a member and former chair of the UNT Accounting Advisory Board. In that capacity, he has served on the search committee
for a department chair and supported the department's internship program.
Prior to his $1 million donation, Ryan gave gifts totaling more than $74,000 to the university and the Accounting Department.
Additionally, he has recruited other UNT accounting graduates for Ryan & Company. Two current principals on the firm's management
team - Randy W. Donald and Ginny Buckner Kissling - are UNT accounting alumni.
"Brint Ryan's gift of $1 million - the earnings of which may be used where the department's needs are
most critical - will not only help the department maintain its standards of excellence,
but enhance the department's national profile as well,"
said Dr. Finley Graves, professor and chair of the Accounting Department.
"Brint has long been a supporter of the department," Graves said. "He has funded as many as 10 scholarships a year for
outstanding sophomores who declare accounting as their majors. Also, two years ago, he funded the renovation of the
department's office suites, which were sorely in need of updating. And he furnished the department's conference room,
which we have named the ‘G. Brint and Amanda Ryan Conference Room.'"
In 2003, UNT honored Ryan with an Outstanding Alumnus Service Award. The Accounting Department recognized him as Alumnus of
the Year in 1997. And the UNT chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an honorary organization for financial information students and
professionals that provides encouragement and recognition to scholastic and professional excellence in the business information
field, has honored him as a Distinguished Alumnus.
Ryan built his firm from the ground up. Today, with more than 600 professionals and associates in 26 U.S. locations,
it serves many of the world's most prominent Fortune 1000 companies. Ryan & Company services include defense, tax recovery,
tax decision automation, dispute resolution and strategic planning.
UNT News Service Phone Number: (940) 565-2108
Contact: Roddy Wolper (940) 565-2943
Email: rwolper@unt.edu