Associate Professor Nick Seybert’s research highlights the impact of “rule-bender” language in job postings on applicant quality. Employers using keywords like “ambitious” and “thinks outside the box” may attract narcissistic applicants prone to unethical behavior, especially in accounting.

NPR's Marketplace spotlighted an accountant shortage, leading Professor Rebecca Hann to study its impact. The study highlights how prolonged vacancies increase financial reporting errors, stressing the critical role of accountants in maintaining robust internal controls.

Smith School professor Sean Cao, director of the AI Initiative for Capital Market Research, has authored a free textbook on AI for accounting and finance. The book simplifies AI learning by focusing on data application rather than programming, making AI accessible to business students.

Finance professor Agustin Hurtado’s AI research highlights racial disparities in mortgage lending, while Information Systems researchers study AI chatbots' impact on mental health counseling. Marketing professor Michel Wedel explores predicting decisions via eye-tracking, and accounting professor Rebecca Hann examines AI’s evolving role in the accounting industry.

Smith School faculty and students are dedicated to making a community impact, providing free forensic accounting for fraud victims, supporting small businesses, and offering business and entrepreneurship education to high school students in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

When Carina Ruyter, Class of ’25, stumbled upon an online quiz suggesting a career in accounting, it felt like a perfect match for her lifelong love of math and puzzles, setting her on an unexpected yet fulfilling path at the Smith School. Now, enrolled in the Plus 1 program, she’s on track to graduate with an MS in accounting in 2026.