PH.D. ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
BRIGHT ASANTE-APPIAH
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Although he grew up in a rural cocoa-farming community in Ghana, where most children supported their families on the farm, he was the first in his extended family to earn a bachelor’s degree and the only student from his junior high class to do so. After attaining an MBA from Eastern Illinois University accumulating over a decade of experience in public accounting and industries across Ghana and the United States, he transitioned into academia through the AACSB Bridge Program as a Lecturer at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Bright had set his sights on a teaching-focused academic career and entered the Coles College nontraditional doctoral program. However, that trajectory changed following the mentorship of Dr. Divesh Sharma. Inspired by his own journey, also a village boy from humble beginnings in Fiji to becoming a leading audit scholar with publications in top-tier journals, Bright envisioned a research-intensive path. Under Divesh’s guidance, he pursued a rigorous dissertation and developed a deep commitment to high-impact research.
PUBLICATION Akamah, H., and Asante-Appiah, B. (2025). Are Audit Committee Disclosures of Auditor Reappointment Factors Legitimacy Enhancing? Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory . This transformation proved pivotal. Dr. Asante-Appiah joined Lehigh University, an R1 institution, where he has attained tenure and promotion to associate professor, and has published four A* journal articles including two in the top six accounting journals; a first for a Coles doctoral student. His passion for teaching earned Bright recognition as one of the top business school professors in the U.S. in 2023. Bright credit’s his success as follows: “Prof. Sharma’s mentorship not only shaped my academic direction but also instilled the discipline and ambition that continue to define my career.”
TARON RAGAN, SENIOR FINANCE MANAGER, MICROSOFT
Taron is a sought-after keynote speaker who shares his story of overcoming adversity, demonstrating resilience and determination. In addition to his external service, he serves on the School of Accountancy Advisory Board and regularly returns to campus to mentor students, contributing his expertise to help shape the next generation of leaders.
KSU has recognized alumnus Taron Ragan as one of the 2026 40 under 40 honorees. The recognition program celebrates KSU and Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) alumni who are under 40 and are making bold strides in their professions and their communities since graduation. Taron graduated from KSU in 2021 with a degree in accounting and has done some amazing things, including holding roles for Deloitte and Microsoft, and being the founder and CEO of The Future Executives Initiative, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to helping less fortunate students achieve high paying careers in business and providing scholarship dollars.
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KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY
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