Two Professors Honored with Endowed Faculty Positions

Hossein B. Kazemi, a professor of finance at Isenberg, and Christopher P. Agoglia, chair of Isenberg's Department of Accounting, have been named to endowed professorial positions. Kazemi is the new Michael and Cheryl Philipp Professor of Finance. Agoglia is the inaugural Richard Simpson Endowed Professor in accounting.

"Professor Kazemi and Professor Agoglia are leaders on the Isenberg faculty along virtually every dimension-their research record, their ability to mentor and educate students at all levels, and advancement of their disciplines," notes Isenberg's dean, Mark Fuller.  "I believe endowed position holders need to be not only individually successful scholars and teachers, but also leaders who are committed to moving the school forward through their contributions.  Hossein and Chris have demonstrated that level of commitment through their respective leadership positions as Director of our Center for International Securities and Derivative Markets, and as Chair of our Department of Accounting."

Kazemi, who succeeds Isenberg emeritus professor Thomas Schneeweis in the endowed position created by Isenberg MBA graduate Michael Philipp '82 and his wife Cheryl in 2000, is director of Isenberg's research center, CISDM, the Center for International Securities and Derivative Markets. His own research on hedge funds, capital asset pricing, and alternative investments has consistently appeared in the finance discipline's top-tier journals.

Kazemi is the editor of the Journal of Alternative Investments and is founder of Alternative Investments Analyst Review, a journal for practitioners. He helped establish CAIA-the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association--which promotes best practices, education, and credentialing among alternative investment analysts. A professor at Isenberg since 1986, Kazemi earned his doctorate in finance the same year from the University of Michigan.

Agoglia, whose research focuses on auditor judgment and decision making, recently ranked in a tie for first in the nation for refereed papers published in that category. The ranking, which appeared in a survey by Brigham Young University, was based on published work in the top six journals that covered that category over a six-year span. In the same survey, Agoglia tied for third in published work for auditing research overall.

As department chair, Agoglia has led an ongoing initiative to attract world-class faculty in behavioral audit research. In the Brigham Young survey noted above, Isenberg tied for first in the nation and second in the world in that category. The Isenberg accounting program's disciplinary strength has brought some of the nation's top Ph.D. students to the school.  In that enterprise, Agoglia has excelled in the classroom as a mentor.

A professor at Isenberg since 2008, Agoglia was a faculty member at Drexel University from 1999 through 2005. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1999.

Created through collective support from Isenberg alumni, Agoglia's professorship honors legendary Isenberg accounting professor, Richard Simpson. "It's an honor to be the inaugural Simpson Professor," notes Agoglia. "For fifty years, Dick Simpson has had an incalculable impact on generations of Isenberg students-who affectionately refer to them as their living legend. I am truly humbled to have my name connected with an educator who has dedicated his life to making a difference in the lives and careers of others."