Julie Petherbridge

Dr. Julie Petherbridge serves as Dean of Mercer University's Stetson-Hatcher School of Business and Associate Professor of Accountancy, assuming the deanship on July 6, 2021, after roles as interim dean and associate dean of graduate programs.

Her academic credentials include:

• Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Clayton State University (1993)
• Master of Professional Accountancy (M.P.A.) from Georgia State University (2002)
• Ph.D. from Georgia State University (2010) with dissertation on auditor behavior in Public Company Accounting Oversight Board inspections

Her research examines accounting regulatory policy, internal auditing practices, nonprofit financial governance, and cognitive biases in professional judgment. Publications appear in the Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Southern Business and Economic Journal, and Academy of Accounting and Financial Studies Journal, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with regulatory frameworks and organizational ethics.

Prior to academia, she worked full-time in public accounting until 2001 while maintaining Georgia CPA licensure since 1995. She sustains active professional connections through accounting organizations, bridging scholarly work with industry practice.