The Isenberg School of Management welcomed finance scholars from leading universities across the country on April 23–24 for its Second Annual Isenberg School of Management Finance Conference, further establishing Isenberg as a growing destination for academic collaboration and research excellence.
Hosted at the Campus Center, the two-day conference brought together presenters, discussants, and faculty to exchange ideas on some of the most pressing topics shaping modern finance. Research presented throughout the conference spanned a broad range of subjects, including corporate finance, asset pricing, behavioral finance, macro-finance, artificial intelligence, and machine learning applications in finance.
"This conference is designed to foster meaningful discussion among researchers and create opportunities for collaboration across institutions," said Fousseni Chabi-Yo, associate dean of research and PhD programs, Berthiaume endowed professor in business administration, professor of finance, and conference organizer. "By bringing together outstanding scholars working at the forefront of finance, we're helping build a vibrant research community while raising the national profile of Isenberg's finance program."
A highlight of the conference was the keynote address delivered by Wenxin Du, the Sylvan C. Coleman professor of financial management at Harvard Business School. An internationally recognized scholar whose research focuses on global currency and fixed-income markets, central banking, and financial regulation, Du shared timely insights on the evolving role of the U.S. dollar and U.S. Treasury markets in the global financial system.
The conference also reflected the breadth of expertise supporting the event. Its program committee included distinguished faculty from institutions such as Harvard Business School, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Yale School of Management, Cornell University, Rice University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Federal Reserve Board, alongside several members of the Isenberg finance faculty.
By convening leading researchers in Amherst, the Department of Finance continues to strengthen Isenberg's reputation as a center for high-impact research and teaching. As the conference enters its second year, it has quickly become a forum for advancing research, fostering new collaborations, and showcasing the school's commitment to academic excellence in finance.