Bloomsburg Alum Joseph Jacques ’74 Invests $250,000 in High-Impact Learning, ZIPD, and Accounting Scholarships

From scholarship recipient to benefactor: Jacques continues his Bloomsburg legacy

by Luke Wilson '24

Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg (CU-Bloomsburg) alumnus Joseph “Joe” Jacques ’74 has made a transformative $250,000 commitment to the Zeigler College of Business, furthering his decades-long tradition of generosity and student engagement. This latest pledge brings Jacques’ lifetime giving to Bloomsburg to more than $600,000.

Through this gift, Jacques will fund two Professional Experience Grants (PEGs) and create 12 new scholarships, expanding opportunities for CU-Bloomsburg students to gain the financial support, recognition, and hands-on learning needed to succeed in business and beyond.

“Joe is a shining example of what it means to be a Husky,” said Jerome Dvorak, Executive Director of the Bloomsburg University Foundation. “His commitment to staying engaged on campus is a testament to his character, and this pledge will have a monumental impact not only on accounting students, but across the Bloomsburg network.”

Paying It Forward

A first-generation student who transferred to Bloomsburg after two years at Northampton Area Community College, Jacques knows firsthand the life-changing impact of donor support. Scholarships played a critical role in his own education, and he has carried that gratitude into his giving.

In 2011, he established the Joseph and Joy Jacques Scholarship to recognize the efforts of hardworking accounting students who demonstrate initiative, character, and accountability.

“I was an okay high school student,” Jacques recalled. “But I’ve always believed in effort. That’s what I want to reward.”

Now, through his most recent gift to establish the Jacques Financial Masters Scholarship and the Jacques Financial Public Accounting Scholarship, to which he has provided $100,000 and $50,000 respectively, he is expanding that support to further reflect his belief that dedication and integrity can change a student’s trajectory.

“Joe Jacques’ career is a testament to what happens when talent is guided by integrity, hard work, and a genuine desire to help others,” said Todd Shawver, Dean of the Zeigler College of Business. “From building one of the nation’s top wealth advisory firms to mentoring our students, Joe has shown that success is measured not just in accolades, but in the lives you impact along the way.”

From Husky to Industry Leader

After graduating from Bloomsburg, Jacques married his high school sweetheart, Joy, and the couple settled in Rockville, Maryland. Connections at Bloomsburg helped him land his first role with the General Accounting Office (now the Government Accountability Office) in Washington, D.C.

In 1978, Jacques launched Jacques Financial, which began as a small tax and investment practice and grew into one of the nation’s top wealth advisory firms. In 2025, Jacques Financial was ranked among Barron’s Top 100 Wealth Advisors and number one on Forbes’ Maryland Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list. Today, the firm remains family-run, with his son Jeremy and his cousin Bill carrying on the legacy.

“My philosophy has always been simple: it has to be something I would do for myself,” Jacques said. “That’s how I guide my clients—and it’s how I think about supporting Bloomsburg students.”

“Because of Joe and Joy’s generous support, we’ve been able to provide scholarships, fund internships, and send students to professional conferences,” said accounting professor Mike Shapeero, Ph.D. “But beyond the financial impact, Joe has come back time and again to share his story and advice. Our students are richer for Joe and Joy’s involvement.”

A Legacy of Impact

Beyond his financial generosity, Jacques has remained actively engaged on campus for decades. He has sponsored and attended the annual Zeigler Institute for Professional Development (ZIPD) conference, met with student organizations like the Student Accounting Association and the Bloomsburg Investment Group, and provided mentorship to countless students.

“Because of Joe and Joy’s generous support, we’ve been able to provide scholarships, fund internships, and send students to professional conferences,” said accounting professor Mike Shapeero, Ph.D. “But beyond the financial impact, Joe has come back time and again to share his story and advice. Our students are richer for Joe and Joy’s involvement.”

Building Bloomsburg’s Future

With this gift, Jacques continues to invest not only in students, but in the long-term strength of the Zeigler College of Business and Bloomsburg’s reputation as a hub for accounting and finance talent. His generosity also helps propel The Campaign for Bloomsburg: It Starts With Us closer to its $100 million goal.

“This university is a special place, a welcoming place that gave me a terrific education and opportunity,” Jacques reflected. “Giving back is my way of showing appreciation, and of making sure that future students have the same chance I did.”

To join Joe and Joy Jacques in supporting the next generation of Huskies, visit giving.bloomu.edu/the-campaign-for-bloomsburg-it-starts-with-us.