Sebahattin Demirkan joins Suffolk University as an assistant professor of Accounting.

Demirkan is teaching Intermediate Accounting I and II at the undergraduate and graduate levels. These courses provide solid foundation for students to build understanding of the principles, concepts and methods of financial accounting and reporting.

The focus of financial accounting and reporting is on the information needs of investors and creditors i.e. capital markets. They play a critical role in a nations’ economy. Students explore the economic, political, and cultural factors that affect accounting nationally and globally. Students will also learn about the valuation and reporting of investments and stockholders’ equity for successful decision-making processes.

Demirkan became interested in teaching shortly after he earned a bachelor of arts in Economics/Management at Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey. He worked as research assistant at the University of California Berkeley and Koc University while he was pursuing his undergraduate degree.

After working in accounting and finance for an international consulting company, he realized he was not finding the challenges he was looking for. He wanted to be in academia, where he could teach and mentor students, collaborate with faculty members, publish research in high-quality academic journals, and give presentations at international conferences and universities. He believed these contributions would make a positive difference in people’s lives.

With a passion for education, Demirkan went on to earn his Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Management and Administrative Sciences, MBA, and PhD in Accounting at the University of Texas, Dallas. While earning his degrees, Demirkan served as a teaching assistant and research assistant.

Demirkan values the support he received from professors during his college career. In fact, his decision to choose accounting was largely inspired by conversations he had with the Dean of the University of Texas Naveen Jindal School of Management Hasan Pirkul and Ziya Onis from Koc University in Turkey. Demirkan strives to offer that same encouragement and commitment to his students and people who ask advice from him.

Demirkan has previously taught at Northeastern University, Binghamton University, and Bentley University. His areas of expertise include financial accounting, international accounting, auditing, and strategic management. His research has been published in several prestigious academic journals, such as the Journal of Management, Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Finance, and Accounting Research Journal.