Bridging Campus and Career: Bradley University’s Path to Industry-Ready Graduates

In this episode of Banking on Growth, our host Mike Graham welcomes Dr. Stephen Kerr, Chair of Accounting at Bradley University, and Kennedy DeWitte, a junior double majoring in accounting and finance at Bradley and current summer intern with Midwestern Securities. Together, they highlight how Bradley University prepares students to thrive in today’s financial services industry through practical learning, faculty expertise, and programs like the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ track.

Our conversation underscores the challenges of higher education in producing industry-ready graduates and how Bradley bridges the gap between academic learning and professional expectations. With advisory boards, practitioner faculty, and strong industry partnerships, Bradley ensures students gain both knowledge and real-world readiness.

What You’ll Learn from This Episode

Industry-Ready Graduates with Real Experience

Bradley University recognizes that employers today demand more than academic knowledge—they expect graduates to enter the workforce prepared. Dr. Kerr explains how Bradley revamped its curriculum with feedback from active advisory boards, ensuring programs reflect industry needs. Students learn from licensed practitioners who bring years of field experience into the classroom, making lessons immediately applicable.

Building a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Program

Our episode explores the creation of Bradley’s CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ program, designed to meet rising demand in financial planning. Unlike many schools that only offer it at the graduate level, Bradley structured its undergraduate finance degree so students graduate both with a degree and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ exam eligibility. This positions graduates for immediate career impact while showcasing a commitment to professional standards and lifelong learning.

A Student Perspective: Kennedy’s Journey

Kennedy shares her experience of Bradley’s supportive environment, where small class sizes foster close connections with professors and opportunities like etiquette dinners and job fairs open doors to internships. She reflects on courses such as Accounting 290, where industry professionals visit to share real-world insights, helping students see career paths more clearly. She also stresses the value of designations and the drive among Bradley students to push themselves in competitive, supportive environments.

Lifelong Learning and Professional Standards

Dr. Kerr and Mike Graham emphasize the importance of professional designations like CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Certified Public Accountant. Unlike degrees that reflect a point-in-time competency, these designations require continuing education, signaling a commitment to staying current in a fast-changing industry. By instilling this mindset early, Bradley equips students to remain lifelong learners and trusted advisors.

Bradley University’s Path to Industry-Ready Graduates

Bradley University’s intentional mix of practitioner faculty, industry-connected curriculum, and innovative programs like the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ track demonstrate a clear commitment to preparing students for the workforce. Students graduate not only with degrees, but with professional readiness, practical experience, and a mindset of continuous growth.

To learn more about Bradley University’s accounting and finance programs, connect directly with the faculty for guidance.

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