Dr.Sean Stein Smith

Sean is an Associate Professor at the City University of New York – Lehman College. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance, where he chairs the Accounting Working Group. Sean also serves as an Advisor to Crescent City Capital, a cryptoasset investment fund, and is also an Advisor to Hyperion, a crypto accounting startup. Sean is an award-winning researcher who has been recognized in both the United States and European Union for his contributions to the accounting field. He is a Certified Cryptocurrency Auditor, and has completed an Executive Education program in Artificial Intelligence at MIT. Sean is currently enrolled at the United States Artificial Intelligence Institute in the Certified Artificial Intelligence Scientist program.

Sean has developed and presented courses on Artificial Intelligence, Cryptoassets, and Blockchain for both the AICPA and IMA. He has also delivered presentations and training sessions for the PCAOB, the FDIC, the AICPA, multiple state accounting societies, and guest lectures at nearly 20 colleges and universities. He is the past chairperson of the NJCPA's Emerging Technologies Interest Group (#NJCPATech), is a Past President of the NYSSCPA Manhattan-Bronx Chapter, and is a member of the NJCPA Board of Trustees. Sean also serves on the Board of Governors of Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Sean is a widely recognized expert in the areas of blockchain, cryptoassets, and artificial intelligence, especially as they connect to accounting and financial services. His thought leadership is sought after by academic and industry organizations, and includes his efforts to develop and teach the first ever courses focusing on blockchain and crypto at Lehman College beginning in 2021. Sean has developed multiple courses, a certificate program, and an undergraduate minor focusing on blockchain and cryptoassets at Lehman College.

His award-winning research has been recognized and honored both in the United States and internationally, and he is a frequent guest on media outlets discussing blockchain, cryptoassets, AI, and accounting technologies. Sean has published multiple books, and dozens of academic and practitioner articles connected to these topics including books with Springer, Emerald, and Routledge publishing houses. 

Sean has also been named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting (2019 & 2023), and has been named a past winner of the NJCPA Ovation Award for Innovation. He has also been named a 40 under 40 in the accounting profession from 2017-2023 by CPA Practice Advisor and the NYSSCPA in 2021. Sean was named on the NJBIZ Power 50 in Accounting in 2021 & 2022. He was also awarded the Outstanding Young CPA of the Year Award by the AICPA in 2022. Sean was also included on the ROI-NJ Accounting Influencer list in 2024. 

Prior to his pivot to academia and research Sean was employed as a CPA and held roles of progressive responsibility at multiple organizations in the for-profit and non-profit sectors. He earned his B.S., M.S., and M.B.A. from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a DBA from Capella University. In 2022, Sean also earned the Certified Cryptocurrency Auditor certificate offered by the Blockchain Council, and in 2023 completed an Executive program in AI Strategy at MIT.