Caitlin Landy, PhD ’27 Awarded $25,000 Deloitte Foundation Doctoral Fellowship
Caitlin Landy, a doctoral candidate in Bentley’s PhD in Accounting program, has received a $25,000 Deloitte Foundation Doctoral Fellowship. The prestigious award recognizes the top 10 PhD candidates in accounting doctoral programs across the U.S. who plan to pursue academic careers.
A certified public accountant (CPA) and 2016 graduate of Providence College, Landy previously worked in assurance services at PwC, a member of the Big Four (the nickname given to the world’s four largest professional services networks). “I chose Bentley because of the PhD program’s proven track record of helping accounting professionals leverage their practical experience into a strong research pipeline,” she says of embarking on a career in academia. “I was encouraged by the success of alumni who came before me and knew the program would be able to help me develop the necessary skills to succeed as a scholar and educator.
“I was also drawn to the culture of collaboration and sense of community here, which is truly something special,” Landy continues. “Seeing firsthand how connected Bentley PhD graduates are with each other and with current students reinforced my decision. It was especially encouraging to see how many professors actively publish research with PhD students and invest in their development. Bentley is a community of scholars dedicated to learning, with a deep commitment to mentorship and collaboration. Pursuing my PhD in this kind of supportive environment was very important to me.”
Candidates across all the university’s doctoral programs — which include a PhD in Business (with concentrations in Business Analytics, Information Systems, Management and Marketing) and Executive PhD in Business — are mentored by and form lasting relationships with university faculty. “I have been very fortunate to learn from esteemed scholars both at Bentley and through the alumni network,” Landy shares. “I am especially grateful for the support of professors Kerri-Ann Sanderson and Shankar Venkataraman, and alumna Denise Downey, PhD ’13 [an associate professor at Villanova University] who have provided me with invaluable guidance both professionally and personally. Their mentorship has been instrumental in my development as a researcher and educator.”
While most doctoral programs focus heavily on research, Bentley’s programs place equal emphasis on teaching. “Our goal is to develop confident and competent educators,” explains Kerri-Ann Sanderson, associate professor of Accounting. Doctoral candidates teach classes alongside current faculty, learning how to connect with students and integrate their own areas of research into classroom instruction. This preparation is essential for success in academia, Sanderson says, noting that “many of Bentley’s graduates go on to earn tenure in their very first jobs.”
That’s welcome news for Landy, who will graduate in 2027 and aspires to a tenure-track position that will allow her to pursue her passions for research and teaching. “My goal is to work at an institution with a strong behavioral research presence and focus on impacting practice,” she says. “Having had the privilege of working with Bentley students in our introductory accounting course, I’ve been inspired by their inquisitive spirit and intellectual curiosity — and I look forward to preparing the next generation of accountants for success in the profession.”