Professor Lumbattis represents education at its best. She has won the KPMG Peat Marwick Award for Outstanding Instructor in the School of Accountancy almost every year since 1995. Plus, she won the College of Business Outstanding Term Instructor for 2005 and 2006.

In 2003, Lumbattis was one of only two people university-wide to receive the Southern Illinois University Outstanding Term Faculty Teaching Award.

"She continually challenges students to think, and she is always searching for new, more effective teaching approaches," wrote Robert Welker, professor of accountancy, in his letter supporting her nomination for the award. "She maintains high evaluative standards, holding fast to the traditional bell curve of 10 percent, 20 percent and 40 percent for As, Bs and Cs. Students respond favorably to these high standards. Countless times, I have heard students say that she is one of the best teachers they have had while at SIUC."

Former student Steven J. Sears agreed, saying that her Accounting 321 class turned his career around. "She made me ... come prepared to learn and most importantly participate in her class each and every day," he wrote in his supporting letter. "If you were not prepared, you heard from her about it. I cannot thank her enough for that. She really helped me to change my study habits and learn the fundamentals of financial accounting, which have helped me get to where I am today."

Lumbattis teaches financial and managerial accounting. An SIUC lecturer since 1981, she is a two-degree graduate of SIUE, earning her bachelor's degree in 1974 and her master of business administration degree in 1975. Since 1996, she has also taught the CPA Review Course.

Lumbattis provides mentorship to students even after they leave SIU. “I have met many students through my classes with whom I still keep in contact.” She also volunteers her time to student organizations. “I have been to San Antonio, Reno, Toronto and Orlando with students and have always had a great time,” she said.

Lumbattis was born in Mt. Vernon and raised in East St. Louis and Belleville.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

“Development of Instructional Strategies for Large Group Introductory Accounting Class,” Journal of Business Education, November, 1983. Co-authored: D. Anderson

"The 1981 Tax Act: Effects on Two Earner Married Couples," The Goldsmith.

AWARDS

KPMG Peat Marwick Award for Outstanding Instructor in the School of Accountancy, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

SIU College of Business Outstanding Term Instructor, 2005, 2006

Southern Illinois University Co-Recipient of Outstanding Term Faculty Teaching Award, 2003