Douglas Stevens

Dr. Douglas Stevens admits he once was more interested in playing his bass guitar than picking up an accounting book.

Wooed by music during his undergraduate days, Stevens unabashedly avoided following in his father’s business professor footsteps.

Then, reality hit. Writing jazz music wasn’t going to pay his bills. And, working as a bank loan officer just wasn’t challenging enough for him.

Stevens decided to pursue a master’s degree in management, then a Ph.D. in accounting. Now he teaches the core financial accounting course for FSU’s MBA program.

“I can always relate to my MBAs,” Stevens said. “I know the startup costs. I know how hard it is. I struggled. It didn’t come easy to me.”

Yet understanding financial statements is so fundamental to succeeding in business, Stevens said. It’s a message he sells to his students from day one.

“It’s really foundational. Some people dig in their heels. Once they understand it, I see the light come on. That’s what happened to me.”

The reward, he said, follows MBA graduates into their chosen career.

“If they work hard and learn these fundamentals, they will be in high demand.”