2009 Headlines
New Faculty Broaden and Deepen Global Education
Experts in global finance and international business practices enhance MBA education and the Johnson School's global presence.
July 1, 2009 | Ithaca, NY | The Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University is pleased to announce that two experts in the global business arena have joined its faculty. George Andrew Karolyi assumes the new Alumni Professor in Asset Management chair and is professor of finance and global business, and Ya-Ru Chen is professor of management and global business.
These additions to the faculty directly support the strategic plan for the Johnson School, which includes an initiative to further develop the School's global-business curriculum and programming.
"We want our students to excel in a complex global business environment. We also want our research to make important contributions to improvements in global business practices," said Mark Nelson, associate dean for academic affairs. "Bringing these two talented faculty members to the school advances our global training of MBA students, and also will significantly advance the Johnson School's international business research program."
Karolyi is an internationally known scholar in the area of investment management, with a specialization in the study of international financial markets. His research has been published in top finance and economics journals, including the Journal of Finance, Journal of Economics, and Review of Financial Studies. His research has won several best-paper honors, and he also is an award-winning teacher.
Karolyi comes to the Johnson School after 19 years at the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University, where he taught business students and also led executive education programs in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia. He remains actively involved in consulting with corporations, banks, investment firms, and stock exchanges.
In assuming the newly created Alumni Professorship in Asset Management, Karolyi will contribute to the research and teaching mission of the Parker Center for Investment Research at the Johnson School.
"The Parker Center aims to produce research that is both of the highest academic quality and relevant to the needs and interests of investment professionals," said Sanjeev Bhojraj, faculty director of the center and associate professor of accounting. "With his focus on global investment research, Andrew will contribute to new investment knowledge coming from the center, as well as increase its visibility in the international investment community."
Ya-Ru Chen joins the Johnson School's management and organizations area, bringing her extensive research background in cross-cultural differences and similarities in employees' attitudes and behaviors. For example, her work has explored how workers in different cultures respond to performance feedback, react to status differences, and build business relationships.
"Professor Chen's research is shedding light on issues that are central to success in today's global business environment," said Nelson. "It is increasingly necessary to be able to effectively manage, collaborate, and negotiate with people from different cultures."
Chen has received faculty research awards at both Rutgers University and the Stern School of Business at New York University, where she previously served on the faculty. She also has received best paper honors from the Academy of Management.
"We are very fortunate to have a global faculty member of Ya-Ru's caliber at the Johnson School," said Randy Allen, associate dean for corporate communications and marketing, who is helping to guide the School's global initiatives. "With her, we have gained the unique combination of an organizational expert with an international focus in research and teaching."
