Faculty Spotlight: Marianne Bradford
Explore Professor Marianne Bradford’s journey from growing up with a CPA father to becoming a leading educator in accounting and ERP systems. In this Q&A, she shares memorable classroom experiences, tips on staying current with tech trends, and advice for students exploring versatile career paths in accounting and beyond.
What inspired you to pursue a career in accounting?
My dad was a CPA and I was good at numbers.
Share a memorable teaching moment or experience that significantly impacted one or more students.
There are lots, but a recent one was spring of 2024. Parker Steele, a student of mine in ACC440, presented to the Americans SAP Users Group (ASUG) meeting the case I developed in conjunction with UiPath. We built a bot to interact with SAP for purchasing.
How do you stay current in your field and bring that knowledge into the classroom?
I go to IT meetings and learn a lot through networking with professionals. I keep my Modern ERP textbook current and research a lot for that. The 5th edition is coming out in 2025.
What advice do you have for students interested in pursuing a career in accounting?
An accounting degree is versatile. Think outside the box. Maybe public accounting is not for you. Maybe you might be interested in a career in IT consulting, for instance. ERP consulting is booming and there are many firms that would like to hire someone with your expertise especially if you have a solid IT background as well.
“An accounting degree is versatile.”
Outside of teaching and research, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy?
I recently took up scuba diving and just finished my Advanced Open Water and Nitrox certifications. I also enjoy biking, yoga, and pickleball.
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