PhD Program 40th Anniversary Alumni Profile: Meet Kris Hoang, ‘13

As the Alberta School of Business PhD program celebrates its 40th anniversary, we spotlight alumni whose journeys exemplify the program’s transformative impact. Alumna Kris Hoang, ‘13 — who is now an associate professor of accounting at Culverhouse School of Accountancy at the University of Alabama and an associate editor at Behavioral Research in Accounting — has built an impressive career exploring auditor-client relationships and workplace well-being.

With a research portfolio that blends social psychology experiments, field data analysis and collaborations across continents, Hoang exemplifies the program’s commitment to fostering innovative and practical scholarship. From her initial spark of interest in accounting research — inspired by another Alberta PhD alumnus — to presenting groundbreaking work on global stages, Hoang credits the program's close-knit community, a vibrant city, and rich mentorship for shaping her path as a researcher and educator.

What motivated you to pursue a PhD at the Alberta School of Business?

An Alberta PhD alumnus, Alan Webb, supervised my Master of Accounting research thesis at the University of Waterloo and sparked my interest in accounting judgment and decision-making research. He shared how much he valued his PhD training and enjoyed his time at Alberta. In addition, I was fortunate to meet Karim Jamal while he was on a visit to Toronto (my hometown), and I was intrigued by his and other Alberta faculty members’ research. Edmonton was also a very appealing location for me and my husband. We were newly married, and the city had a lot to offer for work opportunities, affordable living, and entertainment and culture.

Can you describe an experience during your PhD that had a lasting impact on you?

In my fourth year of my PhD program, I had the opportunity to present research (co-authored with my PhD supervisor Karim Jamal, fellow Alberta PhD student Krista Fiolleau, and Shyam Sunder at Yale University) at the International Symposium on Auditing Research in Singapore. I met a number of auditing research legends during the conference’s research sessions and social activities. A highlight was exploring Singapore’s food scene with them. These initial connections led to academic job interviews and mentoring relationships. 

I am grateful that Karim supported this international opportunity at that stage of my academic career. I remember being terrified to present to this audience, and then feeling much more comfortable and confident when I learned that these folks had a healthy sense of humor. The senior scholars wholeheartedly encouraged emerging scholars and helped me feel a sense of belonging in the auditing research community. 

How has your experience in the PhD program influenced your career path and research focus? How did the program help shape your understanding of contemporary accounting issues?

I found several mentors among the faculty at Alberta who were generous with their time, advice, and encouragement. I also had many opportunities to meaningfully connect with scholars during their visits to Alberta. I benefited greatly from time spent with job candidates, research presenters, sabbatical visitors, and conference attendees. These meetings helped me envision the life of a scholar in different universities and regions, and led me to apply to positions across North America. Another strength of the PhD program was the availability of seminars on diverse research methodologies and paradigms, which equipped me to tackle ambitious research questions through multi-method research. Karim also opened up numerous connections to audit practitioners so that I could learn about top-of-mind issues, access novel data, and conduct studies with practical relevance.

The program is known for its small class sizes and close-knit community. How does this dynamic environment contribute to the success of the students and the overall program?

The seminars, workspaces, and PhD conference encouraged extensive interaction with students across the business disciplines and helped us all think expansively about research.

We often had conversations about what the world could be and how we could nudge it. There are many demands that come with pursuing a PhD, but it is energizing to be around smart, curious, hard-working people. 

This chapter of life was not only about getting a PhD, but also about exploring a new city, developing friendships, and encountering life’s milestones. The relationships that I formed during the program shaped my personal definition of a successful and satisfying life.

What advice would you give to current or prospective PhD students?

Try a lot of things–especially things you’re uncertain about–so that you can discover what you’re good at and what you’re not good at, and what you like and don’t like. Research is collaborative work and collaborators can fill in the gaps, but they will only want to work with you if you are excellent at some things and you can convey your contributions.

What’s the most unusual or surprising place your research has taken you?

My 2024 sabbatical was hosted by the University of Antwerp in Belgium. I am part of a team of Belgian and Dutch researchers studying companies that recently changed external auditors to learn about their process of selecting a new auditor–a topic that I first studied during my PhD at Alberta. Our project was awarded a grant and access to data from the Dutch Foundation for Auditing Research, and it’s been a tremendous opportunity for connection between research and practice. As a fun team building exercise, we waded through the sewers of Antwerp to get a unique view of the city’s history. Research does get messy at times, but this was my physically messiest work situation!