Professor of Accounting 
and Professor of Law.

Assistant to the President for University Planning

I currently have a joint appointment in the College of Business Administration and the School of Law.  I have been at Creighton, in one form or another (student, part time instructor in accounting, full time faculty member), almost continuously since September, 1967. The absolute joy of this position is being able to combine both of my professional passions - serving students and serving the community.  I find much synergism in sharing my talents (tax law, strategic planner, community leader) with my students and in incorporating my community service with them.  I am building more and more service learning into my courses.  To me it is the essence of the Jesuit message of finding God in all things and being in service to those you encounter. 

My wonderful wife and I have been married for over 33 years, and she knows me better than I do myself. We have three children - the oldest two have graduated from Creighton and one currently is at Creighton - who are so different while being so alike. They are a true blessing. I like to garden and try to be handy about the house, read whenever and whatever I can, and fight the ravages of age through exercise (but so far I have resisted the diet part!). I know it is a losing battle, but I don't want to go easily. You can find more on me if you are interested at the College of Business Administration and Law School web sites.

My own spirituality has been influenced heavily, as you might expect, by the Jesuit tradition.  In recent years I have explored Fr. Tony deMello's works, and find them to be very helpful.
 

I am humbled by the opportunity to share my reflections with you through this vehicle.  I start every class with a prayer or reflection, and so I am comfortable sharing where I am with my own spirituality.  But to be on-line, for the whole world to access, is incredible.  I approach these as a sharing of daily life.  I don't try to be anything more than who I am, and how the readings resonate with me when I prepare them.  And so I think what I am doing is sharing with you how I hear God's word - you will hear it differently than I, but how I have interpreted the message I receive may in some way help you.  If it does, then I think that is God's grace working through me, and this is why I am humbled by this whole experience.
 

e-mail: tpurcell@creighton.edu
web page:http://www.creighton.edu/business/faculty/accounting/purcell/index.php