Carroll Sierk began his professional career as a CPA. He earned an LLB from St. Mary’s University School of Law and a Master of Laws Degree from Southern Methodist University. He was a faculty member—and briefly Acting Dean—at St. Mary’s and taught at Mercer College of Law before joining the faculty of Cleveland-Marshall Law School in 1968. Sierk was instrumental in the successful merger of the law school with Cleveland State University in 1969. Specializing in tax law, he was appointed assistant dean in 1972 and associate dean in 1988, holding the latter position until his retirement in 1996.