Profile Information

Profile

Kara Harris McAlister, Ph.D., CPA, is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Accounting in the School of Accountancy within Clemson University’s Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business. She teaches Accounting Information Systems and brings nearly three decades of experience in accounting, financial leadership, and higher education to the classroom.

Her teaching and research interests include accounting information systems, artificial intelligence in accounting education, professional judgment, entrepreneurship, and experiential learning. Her scholarship examines entrepreneurial decision-making, risk, gender, and innovative approaches to business education.

Dr. McAlister is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and a member of the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Specialist Roster for 2025–2028. Her recent work includes peer-reviewed publications and a 2026 American Accounting Association Global Connect presentation focused on bridging artificial intelligence and professional judgment in accounting education.

Prior to her academic career, Dr. McAlister held positions in public accounting and financial leadership, including Senior Auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Vice President of Finance and Reimbursement for a healthcare organization.

A two-time Clemson graduate, Dr. McAlister earned her Ph.D. in Business Administration–Executive Leadership and her MBA from Clemson University. She is passionate about connecting accounting, technology, and real-world business decision-making to prepare students for the evolving accounting profession.

Research Interests

• Dr. McAlister’s research interests lie at the intersection of accounting education, technology, entrepreneurship, and decision-making. Her current research focuses on artificial intelligence in accounting education, accounting information systems, professional judgment and decision-making, experiential learning, and the evolving role of technology in the accounting profession.
• Her research also examines entrepreneurial behavior and decision-making, with particular emphasis on risk propensity, risk and loss aversion, gender, entrepreneurial success, and venture performance. A continuing focus of her scholarship is translating research findings into practical applications for accounting and business education.
• More broadly, Dr. McAlister is interested in innovative teaching and learning practices that integrate emerging technologies with professional competencies. Her work seeks to explore how technology, including generative artificial intelligence, can enhance accounting education while preserving the critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and professional judgment essential to the accounting profession.

Research Publications

• McAlister, K. H., & Moore, G. D. (2026). From calculator to copilot: Bridging AI and professional judgment in accounting education. Effective Learning Strategies Interactive Session, American Accounting Association Global Connect, CTLA, and Ethics Symposium.
• McAlister, K. H. (2026). Beyond risk scores: How entrepreneurs interpret risk, loss, and decision-making. Journal of Management and Marketing Research, 29, 1–29.
• McAlister, K. H. (2026, forthcoming). From villain to visionary: Gendered portrayals of female risk-takers and entrepreneurial leadership. Business Education Innovation Journal.
• McAlister, K. H. (2025). Challenging gender stereotypes: Evidence for risk-taking similarities between male and female entrepreneurs. Journal of Management and Marketing Research, 28, 1–9.
• McAlister, K. H. (2025). Reframing risk: Gender and entrepreneurial success in business education. Business Education Innovation Journal, 17(2), 160–170.

Links

• Clemson University Doctoral Dissertation – Gender and Entrepreneurial Success
• LinkedIn – Kara Harris McAlister, Ph.D., CPA