Students in John Carroll University’s Boler College of Business are gaining firsthand experience with the technologies shaping the accounting profession through an elective course taught by Dr. Mark Sheldon, Associate Professor of the Kramer School of Accounting and Information Sciences.
The course is designed to help students build skills in areas that are rapidly changing business practices. Throughout the semester, students are introduced to technologies like large language models, machine learning, generative AI, vibe coding, cryptocurrencies, cybersecurity, process mining, and more. Dr. Sheldon’s innovative approach to teaching these tools led to a recent publication in the Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, a national recognition of his course’s forward-thinking design.
“I developed our Emerging Technologies in Accounting class to make sure our students have a strong foundation with the technologies that are disrupting the accounting profession, and to train them how to critically think about and evaluate new technologies as they continue to emerge throughout their careers.”
As part of the course, students build their own simple applications using large language models. They begin with small projects like basic games before applying similar logic to accounting tasks, such as depreciation modeling and automated calculations. These hands-on exercises are designed to give students a practical understanding of rapidly evolving AI tools, focusing on their use cases, support mechanisms, ethical implications, and inherent limitations.
Students like Mackenzie Ryan '27 are already thinking about how these tools will shape their future careers.
“Dr. Sheldon’s class completely changed the way I think about accounting by showing how AI and emerging technologies are already reshaping the profession,” Ryan shared. “I feel a lot more prepared for my future career because I now understand both the risks and opportunities that come with these tools.”
Expanding Learning Beyond the Classroom Through a Partnership with Zenex International
This fall, four students in Dr. Sheldon’s class had the opportunity to deepen their learning through a partnership with Zenex International, a Cleveland-based industry leading provider of brand and private label aerosols, hand cleaners, liquid products, and hand and surface wipes. Through Dr. Sheldon’s professional relationship with CEO Clayton Smith, Zenex invited students to explore how AI could improve employees’ productivity, streamline processes, and position the company for future growth.
Hayden Herman '26, Hayley Humphries '26, David Ljubi '28, and Mackenzie Ryan '27, conducted site visits, met with Zenex’s leadership team, and performed independent market research. Their work culminated in a seventeen-page report featuring fifteen actionable recommendations on how the company could integrate AI to enhance efficiency and empower employees in their roles.
“Having the opportunity to apply these lessons with an AI consulting experience at Zenex International really helped bridge the classroom to the real world, and I'm hoping more companies will be eager to offer our students a similar experience,” said Dr. Sheldon. “Experiences like this bring classroom learning to life, and the Zenex team was a phenomenal educational partner throughout the process.”
Students met with CEO Clayton Smith and other C-suite executives from Zenex, toured their manufacturing facilities, and concluded the project with a business dinner where they presented their findings.“Collaborating with Dr. Sheldon, and his talented students, on how AI could support our strategic goal of providing quality chemical products to our customers could be a real game changer. I was impressed with the professionalism and passion of the John Carroll team, and their findings provided specific, real-world recommendations that me and my team will study how to implement into our strategic plans. I applaud John Carroll for its efforts in encouraging academic and commercial collaboration and would highly recommend future endeavors.”
For Hayley Humphries ’26, the experience demonstrated just how powerful it is when theory meets real-world problem solving.
“It was such an insightful opportunity to meet with Zenex leaders to develop recommendations on how they can leverage AI to create long-lasting value,” said Humphries. “I found it especially valuable being able to take what I learn in class and apply it to real-world scenarios. Experiences like these stand out in the curriculum and I hope to see similar opportunities offered in the future.”
