In recognition of more than fifteen years of professional commitment, leadership, and service to the Decision Sciences Institute, Southwest Region, Mary Fischer has been selected to receive the Distinguished Service Award. She has been a member of the Southwest Decision Sciences Institute (SWDSI) since 1988 and of the Decision Sciences Institute (DSI) since 1984.

Dr. Fischer has served the SWDSI as President (2003-04), President Elect (2002-03), Vice President for Programs (2001-02), Vice President-Finance (1994-99) and representative on the Federation of Business Disciplines (FBD) Board of Directors (2002-04). She also has served the SWDSI as Chair (2004) and a member of the Nominating Committee (1998-2000), as Chair (1989-90) and member of the Innovative Education Committee (1987-88), and as a member of Programs and Meetings Committee (1990-92) and Committee on Regional Accounting Practices (1999-2002).

Dr. Fischer's professional activities at both SWDSI and DSI conferences have included numerous paper presentations and participation in several workshops. In addition, she has been Track Chairman on several occasions and Proceedings editor (2002) for the SWDSI. She has participated as manuscript reviewer, session chair, and discussant for various conferences.  Dr. Fischer has published over fifty accounting research papers regarding cash flow recognition, financial accounting, accounting education, auditing and financial management of not-for-profit organizations. She writes a weekly accounting tutorial that is posted on the world wide web and is the co-author of an advanced accounting text book. Her research has appeared in Research in Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting, Critical Perspectives on Accounting, Accounting Horizons, Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, Internal Auditing, Oil, Gas & Energy Quarterly, and the Journal of Accounting Education, among others.

For her outstanding contributions to the organization, the Decision Sciences Institute, Southwest Region, proudly confers upon Mary Fischer its Distinguished Service Award.