Things I have learned (thus far)…reflections of an accounting academic

• This paper provides self-reflections of the author, in six categories.
• The paper shares with readers experiential insights garnered from the author's personal and professional life.
• The paper asserts the value of experiential sharing to the process of faculty development.
• The paper issues a call for future autobiographical sharings, as well as recommendations for implementing this recommendation.
• The paper encourages other accounting faculty to engage in a systematic process of self-reflection.

The potential value of critical self-reflection in helping us (as educators) to monitor and assess aspects of our professional development is asserted by Brookfield (1995). As implied by the title, in this paper I share with readers self-reflections (or insights) regarding “things I have learned” over the course of both my professional and personal life. At a fundamental level, the paper asserts the merits of reflecting on and sharing one's own pursuits, and the potential value this sharing has on others in the academy – particularly younger accounting faculty (for development and mentoring purposes) as they themselves engage in critical self-reflection. Critical reflections are offered in each of six areas: importance of doing (seemingly) “little things” in life; forming and meeting expectations; focusing on the truly important things in life; insights from my role as a teacher; insights from my role as an administrator; and a lesson in humility. The paper includes a call for the future sharing of self-reflective insights by other accounting educators, including those of younger faculty, along with thoughts as to how this experience-sharing might be accomplished.