By Lacie Blankenship
Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management is excited to announce that the 2023-2024 Academic Year will begin with 3 new full-time faculty members.
“It’s a pleasure to welcome these remarkable scholars to the Owen community,” says Thomas J. Steenburgh, Ralph Owen Dean and Professor of Marketing. “We are excited to see the valuable contributions they make, in terms of both their innovative teaching and creative research.”
New Full-Time Faculty
Finance
Wendy Liu, Associate Professor of the Practice of Finance and Faculty Director for the Master of Finance Program
Wendy Liu, Associate Professor of the Practice of Finance and Faculty Director for the Master of Finance Program, earned a PhD in Finance at Indiana University and an MBA at Wake Forest University. Liu comes to Vanderbilt from the University of Kentucky, where she was instrumental to the student experience; she recruited a panel of industry experts to mentor students and created programs (Wall Street Scholars and the Wall Street Experience) to position students for success in the job market. Before the University of Kentucky, Liu worked at American University and Texas A&M University. Liu has taught a variety of finance courses, including Investments, International Finance, Introductory Corporate Finance, Intermediate Corporate Finance, and Fixed Income Securities. Liu’s research interests include portfolio management and investment derivatives, corporate governance and forecasts, and more. She will teach Bond Markets and Financial Economics II for daytime programs and Principles of Finance for the Hoogland Undergraduate Business Program at Vanderbilt.
Marketing
Jen Riley, Senior Lecturer of Marketing
Jen Riley, Senior Lecturer of Marketing, earned a PhD in Business Administration, Marketing from Kennesaw State University, a Master of Marketing from Georgia State University, and an undergraduate degree in Marketing Communications from Oglethorpe University. Riley joins Vanderbilt from Purdue, where she served as Assistant Professor at the Purdue Center for Professional Selling. Riley has instructed over a dozen different courses in various formats, consistently earning positive feedback and evaluations, including several teaching awards. Her research focuses on sales, the integration of technology, social media marketing, and entrepreneurship. She consults with businesses, colleges, and universities for sales training, marketing strategy, and business pedagogy. Her corporate marketing consulting helps companies and small businesses in sales, marketing, and business development. She also has a certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace. Riley will teach New Product Development and Digital Marketing Strategy for our daytime programs and Principles of Marketing for the Hoogland Undergraduate Business Program at Vanderbilt.
Eric VanEpps, Associate Professor of Marketing
Eric VanEpps, Associate Professor of Marketing, earned a PhD and MS in Behavioral Decision Research at Carnegie Mellon University and an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond. VanEpps joins Vanderbilt from the University of Utah, where he served as Assistant Professor of Marketing. VanEpps’ research leverages his training in behavioral economics to better understand consumer behavior related to self-control decisions (like health and financial decision-making) and impression management. VanEpps has published over 15 journal articles, many of which are in top marketing, management, and psychology journals. VanEpps also has a book chapter on food labeling and obesity. Additionally, VanEpps has served as a Fellow at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of the Investor Advocate. VanEpps will teach Consumer Insights and Health Care Marketing for our daytime programs.
New Postdoctoral Scholars
In addition to the 3 new full-time faculty members, Vanderbilt Business is excited to welcome 2 new postdoctoral scholars in finance and marketing.
Sang Rae Kim (Finance Postdoctoral Scholar) earned a PhD in Economics from Yale University. His research interests include macro-finance, fintech, and the economics of cryptocurrencies. Kim focuses on the role of money-like safe assets in the financial market and the macroeconomy. Kim will be working with Professor Berk Sensory, Hans Stoll Chair and Professor of Finance, while at Owen.
Guilherme Ramos (Marketing Postdoctoral Scholar) earned a PhD in Business Administration from Fundação Getulio Vargas, EBAPE (Brazil), with a focus on behavioral and decision sciences. Ramos’ research interests include judgment and decision-making, political polarization, inequality, sustainability, and public policy. Ramos will work with Professor Eric VanEpps during the next year.
