It’s Getting to Know You Tuesday! Today’s interview is with Professor Steven Willis who teaches at the University of Florida School of Law.
A call on my blog (and nicely promoted on TaxProf blog) for the nation’s coolest tax professors resulted in a nomination for Professor Willis by an anonymous “Palm Beach T&E attorney.” Professor Willis graciously accepted my invitation and voila, here you go:
1. Where are you now?
I am in my kitchen in Gainesville, Florida.
2. What’s your official title and what does it mean?
Professor of Law and Graduate Record Professor. The first indicates “full Professor” status, which for colleges of law, typically coincides with tenure. It means that, theoretically, I have academic freedom and cannot be fired. Recent events at UF call the academic freedom part into question. With the second title, I am a member of the Graduate Faculty and can thus sit on Ph.D. committees throughout the University.
3. What books are on your night stand?
Ann Coulter’s Treason.
The Dangerous Book of Boys.
About Time, Einstein’s Unfinished Revolution by Paul Davies
Strunk and White on the Elements of Style
Dutch by Edmund Morris
Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz
June B. First Grader: One-Man Band by Barbara Park
4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?
The guy who works for the weather channel and stands outside in all the storms to report the conditions.
5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?
Jackie Chan’s The Myth
6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest?
Time Value of Money.
Tax Exempt Organizations.
7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?
Do whatever you can to keep your client out of jail; however, if someone must go to jail, make certain it is the client.
8. Coffee or tea?
Neither. Diet Mountain Dew Code Red.
9. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).
Aretha Franklin.
Vanessa Williams.
Fontella Bass.
Tina Turner.
Josh Groban.
10. What would I be surprised to know about you?
I would rather clean toilets in the bus station than practice law for a living. I have practiced in two states, big firm, small firm, and solo. I hated every second of it. I am happy to do pro bono work; however, paying clients make me nervous. Dealing with lawyers is worse. Don’t even ask my opinion of most judges.
Also, I drive an Escalade ESV to do my part to combat Global Cooling.
11. What college did you attend (in what subject)?
L.S.U. for a B.S. in Accounting.
L.S.U. for a J.D.
N.Y.U. for an LL.M. (Taxation).
12. If you had the opportunity to make one change in the tax code tomorrow – an extra credit, a disallowed deduction, whatever – what would it be?
I would change 467(g) to mandate operative regulations. Effectively, this would reverse the silly, wrong, and outrageous Albertson’s decision.
13. What’s the best thing on TV right now?
Other than sports and nature programs, I rarely watch TV. At this instant, it would be a hi-def National Geographic special.
14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT?
AMT.
15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?
I’d pay off some loans, I’d buy my wife some decent pearls, and I’ve give the rest to the Boy Scouts for scholarships to summer camp.
16. Biggest tax newsmaker: KPMG, Jenkens Gilchrist or Richard Hatch?
No opinion.
17. And, other than taxgirl, what’s your favorite tax related web site?
taxanalysts
To find out more about Professor Willis, check out his web site.
If you agree with his nomination as a “coolest taxprof” leave your comments below.
To nominate your favorite tax professor, leave your comments at the original post.
“I would change 467(g) to mandate operative regulations. Effectively,
this would reverse the silly, wrong, and outrageous Albertson’s
decision.”
LOL. I cheered at reading this. I guess I really am a geek.
Hi Taxgirl
I was mired in taxland and managed to get a breather this weekend. So I hopped over here and to my other fav blogs. Glad to see that this series is going well. Good to meet you Prof. Like your tax advise, thanks for sharing.
Best
Lubna
I had Prof. Willis at Florida. I was fairly successful in his class so I can say this without sour grapes, he is a terrible professor. He is intelligent and a nice man. He may be a good researcher but he was the second worst lecturer and educator I had at the law school.
As I’m sure people can tell from his interview, Willis can be a polarizing prof. Some love him, others hate him. Personally I loved having Willis. His classes were excellent (the material is accessible) and he’s pretty good at lecturing. I do admit his classes go on for a long time (he goes over the limit constantly) and he has a tendency to go off on tangents.