Campus Connection

New gift helps prepare students for evolving careers in accountancy 

As the emergence of artificial intelligence and new technology reshapes the accounting profession, a gift from a UW-La Crosse alumnus is helping students and faculty stay ahead of the curve. 

Scott Odahl, ’93, and his wife, Amie, recently established the Scott & Amie Odahl Faculty Support Fund through the UWL Alumni & Friends Foundation. The fund advances faculty development, instructional innovation and the adoption of new technology in UWL’s Accountancy Department — initiatives Odahl views as crucial to keeping accounting education responsive to industry needs. 

“UWL provided me with a rock-solid foundation to start my career,” says Odahl, who currently serves as partner and global head of tax for Eldridge, an asset management and insurance holding company.  

“UWL had amazing accounting faculty when I attended; I felt they were very forward-thinking, innovative and student-focused,” he explains. “As the way communities fund education changes, and with the fast-paced changes in accounting technologies and AI, I think it is more important than ever that faculty can tap into training and technologies that allow them to teach students to be career-ready at graduation.” 

A La Crosse native and Logan High School graduate, Odahl was drawn to UWL for its quality faculty, high CPA exam pass rates and strong reputation among employers.

As a student, he balanced full-time coursework with various roles at Norwest Bank (now Wells Fargo), allowing him to apply classroom concepts in a professional setting.  

At the urging of faculty, Odahl also participated in the Volunteering Income Tax Assistance program, through which he gained valuable experience working with clients. 

La Crosse is also where Odahl met his wife, Amie, at English Lutheran Church. The couple has been married for more than 30 years. 

Now, through the support fund, the Odahls are giving back by creating new opportunities for students and faculty. 

TJ Brooks, dean of UWL’s College of Business Administration, says the fund provides resources that will empower accountancy instructors to remain at the forefront of their field, enhancing the education they deliver and better preparing students to succeed in a dynamic profession. 

Funding will support technology purchases and subscriptions, professional development opportunities, summer stipends for course redesign, costs associated with professional licensure, and more. 

Odahl's success demonstrates what can be achieved with a UWL accountancy degree, a strong support system and personal drive.

Upon graduating from UWL and earning his master’s degree from UW-Madison, Odahl began a distinguished career at Ernst & Young, where he rose through the ranks and supported the growth of the firm at various locations across the country. 

After 30 years with Ernst & Young, he retired as the firm’s west region financial services tax market leader and began his current position with Eldridge.  

Looking back, Odahl says much of what he was able to achieve can be traced back to the foundation he built in La Crosse — in school, in work and in life. 

“I have built on that foundation to enjoy a wonderful professional life that has also afforded Amie and I the ability to raise three children, see the world, and focus some of our time and resources on service-based organizations and activities that we have a passion for,” he says.