Doctoral candidate pairs award-winning research with student-centered teaching

Matt Peterson, a KU School of Business doctoral candidate whose research already has earned national recognition, is establishing himself as a notable scholar. A recipient of the 2025 Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Emerging Scholar Award, the school’s Constance B. Ducey Doctoral Student Teaching Award and two Best Paper awards, Peterson will graduate from KU in May 2026 with goals to continue advancing industry-relevant research as an accounting faculty member.

Peterson, originally from Des Moines, Iowa, completed his bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance at Truman State University before later pursuing his Master of Accounting at Drake University. He spent five years working as an accountant, experience that now informs the questions he explores in his researcher and the perspective he brings to teaching.

“I did like what I was doing as a job, but it wasn’t satisfying all the things I wanted to do,” Peterson said. “I wanted the flexibility of what this profession offers, [which is] being able to explore various accounting topics and do research that helps improve accounting. I teach Intermediate Accounting II — it also helps to have a lot of anecdotal examples of how things manifested in practice.”

From day one at KU, his experience has consisted of hands-on research, a close mentorship with his two doctoral co-chairs, Adi Masli and Eric Weisbrod, and working with other members of his cohort. He’s become close with classmates through solving problems and figuring out difficult classwork together. His time teaching in the program has allowing him to see concepts click for students in real time.

To create the best possible learning environment for his students, Peterson says it’s crucial to bring a positive attitude to the classroom. He aims to create a welcoming space for students to feel comfortable asking questions and to focus on group work while encouraging curiosity.

“Sometimes you will explain something one way and it will click for some students, and then sometimes it won’t and you’ll have to think,” Peterson said. “The rewarding part is thinking of another way to explain something so that everyone can understand.”

Peterson’s accounting research topics include how analyst research is discussed on social media and how that data helps investors and the statement of cashflows. His dissertation aims to answer which types of cash flow information investors actually rely on and explores potential ways to reorganize the statement or to disclose information to be more useful for investors in decision-making.

“I sent [my dissertation] to the FASB, and they found it really helpful, and said ‘hey, this is the kind of research that we’re looking for,’” Peterson said. “That was meaningful feedback. That’s really rewarding to hear that the regulators who you intended to help out did find what you’re doing useful.”

Peterson says his experience in the KU School of Business has helped him hone his researching and teaching skills, citing frequent collaboration with and mentoring by faculty members.

“Our research is intended to set you up well for [later] research where we learn the methods to do the archival research,” Peterson said. “You are also trying to do your own independent research while being mentored and advised by faculty throughout. I think that structure really helps you become an excellent researcher.”

After graduating in May, Peterson will join the University of Alabama as an assistant professor of accounting, a role that will allow him to expand on his research and shape future leaders in the field.