"Accountants advise businesses, navigate ambiguity and help shape financial decision-making. A liberal arts education prepares students to do that in a more thoughtful, well-rounded way."

It might be surprising to learn that an accounting professor with a CPA who researches tax policy majored in English. But for Professor James Lawson, accounting, that background is more than just an interesting footnote. It gives insight into how he approaches his work at Bucknell. 

As a professor in the Freeman College of Management, Lawson challenges students to think critically, communicate effectively and analyze issues from multiple perspectives — skills he honed while studying literature before pursuing a career in accounting.

"I was fortunate to have a helpful mentor who pointed out that I didn't have to major in accounting to become an accountant," he says. "I have always loved to read, so I decided to major in English. The writing and analytical skills I developed in those classes have been incredibly valuable, especially when I pursued my doctorate and started conducting research."

Lawson's academic journey began at Wingate University, a small liberal arts school in North Carolina, where he paired his English major with minors in economics and accounting. After earning his master's in accounting from Wake Forest University and passing the CPA exam, he worked as a tax associate at a nationwide accounting firm.

"I enjoyed the work, and I knew it was valuable, but I had always been drawn to teaching," he says. His interest in education — fueled by years of tutoring and mentoring — led him to pursue a doctorate at the University of Alabama, one of the country's top accounting research programs.

When it came time to choose where to teach, Lawson knew he wanted to be at a liberal arts institution.

"I appreciate the critical-thinking skills and big-picture approach that a liberal arts education instills in students," he says. "That's important, especially in accounting, because while there are technical rules to follow, much of the field requires judgment, ethical reasoning and the ability to interpret complex financial information in a broader societal context. Accountants advise businesses, navigate ambiguity and help shape financial decision-making. A liberal arts education prepares students to do that in a more thoughtful, well-rounded way."

In the classroom, Lawson weaves his interdisciplinary perspective into the courses he teaches, which include Bucknell's distinctive introductory accounting course (ACFM 104) and senior-level tax courses. "ACFM 104 isn't like a typical intro accounting class," Lawson says. "It was designed specifically for Bucknell students to be focused on ethical decision-making and the purpose of accounting information in society."

His upper-level tax courses dive deep into policy and ethics, encouraging students to analyze how tax laws shape financial behavior. His senior-level tax class has recently been approved as a W2 course — a second-level writing-intensive class at Bucknell. In this course, students don't just learn tax law; they critically evaluate tax policy and write analytical essays, ultimately developing and defending their own arguments about the fairness and impact of the U.S. tax code. "Requiring students to articulate their knowledge in the form of an essay requires a deep understanding of the subject matter," Lawson says.

According to Lawson, this deep learning pays off — a majority of Bucknell graduates pass the CPA exam on their first attempt after leaving Bucknell.

Lawson's research focuses on public policy and financial regulation, examining the impact of tax laws and government oversight on businesses and society.

"A lot of well-intentioned policies have unintended consequences," he says. "My research looks at how regulations shape the accounting profession and whether they achieve their intended goals."

He is particularly interested in the role of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the regulatory body created in response to major corporate scandals in the early 2000s. "Accounting plays a huge role in society," he says. "And the ethical considerations involved — understanding not just how to do the work, but why we do it — are critical."

For Lawson, the most rewarding part of teaching at Bucknell is the chance to connect with students — both in and out of the classroom. "I love getting to know students individually and seeing them grow," he says. "Bucknell students are engaged, motivated and eager to ask big questions. That's what makes it such a great place to teach."