Finance Department
Our faculty prepare students for success in finance with a rigorous curriculum — and advance our knowledge through groundbreaking research.
The NC State Poole College of Management Finance Department prepares the next generation of finance and business leaders through excellence in cutting-edge research, challenging coursework and high-impact learning experiences.
Our faculty teach financial theory and then put it into practice. Through opportunities like a student-managed investment fund, Bloomberg Terminal access and coursework that uses market data and the latest quantitative methods, our students graduate with strong analytical skills and practical experience that employers value.
Finance Department Leadership
Mark Walker, Ph.D. serves as Finance Department Head and brings extensive expertise in corporate finance to his leadership role. He focuses his research on corporate financial decision-making, informing his teaching and mentorship of both undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Walker earned his Ph.D. in Finance from Purdue University.
Faculty Excellence
Poole College finance faculty conduct world-class research across key areas of finance while maintaining strong connections to industry practice.
To further support student success, the Finance Advisory Board helps expand opportunities for students to engage with alumni and industry professionals, enhancing their marketability in a competitive job landscape.
OUR NEWEST FACULTY
Academic Programs
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Finance Concentration
Our comprehensive undergraduate program provides students with a strong foundation in business fundamentals while developing specialized expertise in financial analysis, investment management and corporate finance. Students complete core business courses alongside specialized finance coursework that explores financial analysis, capital markets, business valuation and international finance.
- Bloomberg Financial Markets Lab: Our state-of-the-art Financial Markets Lab features 9 Bloomberg Terminals in a 30-seat classroom, providing students with access to the same professional-grade financial data and analytics tools used by Wall Street professionals.
- Management First Year Experience: First-year students begin in our Management First Year program, providing time to explore different business areas before declaring their finance concentration.
- Business Administration Minor: Available to non-business students seeking foundational business and finance knowledge.
Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in Economics: Finance Concentration
Beginning fall 2025, undergraduate students majoring in economics can add an optional concentration in finance to their degree.
Master of Business Administration (MBA): Finance Core and Elective Courses
Available in both full-time and online formats, our MBA program includes advanced finance coursework and specialization opportunities.
Master of Economics and Master of Science in Economics: Financial Economics Concentration
Students in the Economics Graduate (Grad ECON) Program pursuing a terminal master’s degree in economics or a PhD prep master’s track may specialize their coursework in a financial economics concentration.
Graduate Certificate in Finance
Designed to provide professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed financial decisions and manage capital across firms and markets, the Graduate Certificate in Finance is available to NC State graduate degree-seeking students, or as a stand-alone offering.
Finance in Action: Bell Tower Capital Management
Thought Leadership and Impact
Our faculty publish in top-tier academic journals while ensuring their research addresses real-world financial challenges. Faculty research has been published in leading finance journals including the Journal of Financial Economics, Review of Financial Studies, and the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, and faculty regularly contribute to media outlets insights on pressing financial issues, translating academic research into practical guidance for businesses, policymakers, and individual investors.
Recent Thought Leadership
Overconfident CEOs Are Less Likely to Delegate Responsibility – Particularly When It May Help the Most
- A new study co-authored by Jared Smith finds overconfident CEOs are less likely to delegate responsibilities to underlings, particularly in settings that involve complex transactions – such as hammering out the details of high-stakes deals.
Jesse Ellis Explores Roots of Financial Misconduct on The Academic Minute
- Jesse Ellis, the Alan T. Dickson Distinguished Professor of Finance at the Poole College of Management, recently appeared on The Academic Minute – an NPR program based out of WAMC/Northeast Public Radio, highlighting professors from top institutions and their research. Ellis discussed his research on how childhood environments affect financial advisors’ ethical codes.
The BBB and Your Portfolio
- Barbara Fuzesi analyzes the real, sweeping, and consequential impacts of the passing of the One Beautiful Bill Act. With over $1 trillion in tax cuts, spending allocations and regulatory rollbacks, this bill touches nearly every corner of the American economy. Fuzesi says the most significant shifts may affect your personal finances and investment strategies, especially in three critical sectors: defense, cybersecurity and energy.
Recent Media Coverage (2025)
Market Analysis & Economic Insights
- Richard Warr provides expert analysis on market volatility amid global uncertainty and explains stock market fluctuations.
- Richard Warr examines how global trade wars impact U.S. stock markets.
Consumer Finance Expertise
- Srinivasan Krishnamurthy offers expert analysis on credit card market developments.
Contact Us
Contact Us
Finance Department
NC State Poole College of Management
Nelson Hall, Room 4128
Raleigh, NC 27695