FACULTY PROFILE
Background
"I am a Thalidomide victim. I was born with short arms that lack wrists and elbows. This was due to the medicine that my mother took when she was pregnant with me. My left hand has two fingers, my right hand has three fingers, and neither hand has a thumb. I could not independently carry out activities of daily living until I was 12 years old a couple of years after a major surgery on my right hand. Fortunately, I have been able to overcome most of the limitations that I was born with and can handle most of the objects and activities that were not designed for people like me. When I was a kid, I dreamed that one day I would have a life, an ordinary life, just like everyone else. I am so happy that I not only made my dream come true but have also accomplished so many things along the way.
I live by a quote from Helen Keller: ""The grandest and simplest law of the Oracle within us is to do the best of which we are capable in whatever situation we are placed. And every human being, however handicapped he may be, has capacity enough to obey it."" So, I always try to push students as hard as possible in the learning process. Hopefully, they are able to do as much as they can for their own good, not just for a grade."
Teaching and Research:
"My primary areas of teaching and research are in the accounting information systems. I have been teaching financial accounting and accounting information systems courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels at GSU. My research focuses on relational databases and pedagogies in accounting education."
Service:
"I have been involved in services in the University community, Accounting Information Systems professional community, and table tennis community. Currently, I am the coordinator for the undergraduate accounting program at GSU. I have been involved in many college committees. I also serve on the editorial board for the AIS Educator Journal. In 2009, I established table tennis team at GSU. I was the head coach for the team in 2010-2013. Our team was ranked 4th and 6th in the National Championships in 2011 and 2012, respectively. I was named the Coach/Manager of the Year in 2010 by the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association. I also helped organize the 40th-Year Ping Pong Diplomacy Celebration and the US Paralympic in table tennis in 2011."
- Ting Jie (TJ) Wang, Ph.D.
Curriculum Vitae