Karen Nelson
Professor
M. J. Neeley Professor of Accounting
M. J. Neeley Professor of Accounting
Accounting Department
Education
- PhD, University of Michigan
- BS, University of Colorado
Areas of Expertise/Research
- Financial disclosure and securities regulation
- Earnings quality
- Voluntary disclosure
- Economic consequences of accounting choice
Selected Publications
- “What Does the Auditor Say? Auditors’ Disclosures of Material Misstatement Risks and Audit Fees” with Jeff Zeyun Chen, Yanyan Wang, and Lisheng Yu, Accounting Horizons, (December 2024), Vol. 38, No. 4, 51-70.
- “Data Visualization in 10-K Filings,” with Theodore E. Christensen, Karson E. Fronk, and Joshua Lee, Journal of Accounting and Economics (February 2024), Vol 77, No. 1, Article 101631.
- “Explaining Accruals Quality over Time” with Theodore E. Christensen and Jenna D’Adduzio, Journal of Accounting and Economics (August 2023), Vol. 75, No. 1, Article 101575.
- “Mind the Gap: CEO-Employee Pay Ratios and Shareholder Say on Pay Votes,” with Steven S. Crawford and Brian R. Rountree, Journal of Business Finance and Accounting (January/February 2021), Vol. 48, No. 1-2, 308-337.
- “Carrot or Stick? The Shift from Voluntary to Mandatory Disclosure of Risk Factors,” with A. C. Pritchard, Journal of Empirical Legal Studies (June 2016), Vol. 13, No. 2.
Textbooks
- Financial Accounting for Undergraduates, James S. Wallace, Karen K. Nelson, and Theodore E. Christensen (currently in 5th edition), Cambridge Business Publishers (2023).
- Intermediate Accounting, Michelle Hanlon, Leslie Hodder, Karen K. Nelson, Darren Roulstone (currently in 3rd edition), Cambridge Business Publishers (2023).
Honors and Awards
- Editor, Accounting Horizons, 2024-present
- Neeley Undergraduate Teaching Award, 2023
- TCU Student Government Association, Neeley Faculty Member of the Year, 2023
- Associate Editor, Journal of Accounting and Economics, 2020-2024
- Poets & Quants Top 50 Undergraduate Business Professors, 2020
- Outstanding Discussant Award, AAA Financial Accounting and Reporting Section, 2018
- Editorial Board, The Accounting Review (2004-2017)
- MBA for Professionals Teaching Excellence Award (2015)
- MBA for Executives Teaching Excellence Award (2012)
- MBA for Executives Teaching Excellence Award (2008)
- Distinguished Resident Faculty, AAA Doctoral Consortium (2009)
- State Farm Companies Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Award (1995)
- Deloitte & Touche Foundation Doctoral Fellowship (1994-1995)
- Paton Fellowship (1991-1995)
- Dykstra Award for Excellence in Teaching (1994)