Finance faculty excellence

Over the summer, Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business faculty earned awards and scholarships and contributed to the advancement of the finance industry. Among these members are three finance faculty: Elaine Worzala, Yueliang (Jacques) Lu and Lily Shen.

Elaine Worzala, clinical professor of finance

Worzala was recently named to the Economic Advisory Council of the of Counselors of Real Estate (CRE). CRE is known for cultivating a community of top professionals who excel in real estate and related disciplines. Through its community, the organization provides a platform for networking, professional growth and collaboration.

Worzala is deeply involved in the real estate industry, with over 130 publications in real estate journals, books and industry media. She is also the Academic Associate Editor of Real Estate Issues, Co-Chair of the Global Women in Real Estate Committee of the International Real Estate Society and Chair of the James R. Webb American Real Estate Society Foundation.

Lily Shen, associate professor of finance

Shen is a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta with research focuses on Fintech and Proptech. She uses Machine Learning and AI to help investors and policymakers better understand financial risks. This year, she was awarded the 2024 Cocoziello Institute Seed Grants, totaling $85,000 for research collaboration. She was elected as the American Real Estate Society (ARES) representative for the International Real Estate Society (IRES) and a Homer Hoyt Institute/Weimer School Advanced Studies in Real Estate honoree, the highest honor in the field of real estate research.

In addition to this, she was recently interviewed by SC Public Radio to discuss the South Carolina commercial real estate market outlook. Shen was also invited to co-author the latest edition of a real estate textbook, Commercial Real Estate: Analysis & Investments, 4th Edition, that has been adopted by Harvard, NYU Stern, UC Berkeley, MIT, Cornell and Cambridge.

Yueliang (Jacques) Lu, assistant clinical professor

Lu was awarded the CFA Professor Scholarship this summer. This award recognizes efforts to support the academic finance community through means of research and education, the integration of CFA curriculum and advancing the finance profession through instruction.

This scholarship will help support Lu while he earns his CFA designation. "As a current Financial Risk Manager (FRM) holder, this additional credential will allow me to bring a more comprehensive perspective to the classroom," says Lu. 'Enriching our students' educational experience and better preparing them for careers in finance is essential."