Class of 2020: Meet the Foster School’s five new faculty members
The Foster School welcomes five new members to its expanding faculty. Each brings a wealth of expertise and accomplishments—and even greater promise—to Foster this year. Here’s a closer look at the faculty class of 2020.
Darren Bernard
Assistant Professor of Accounting
John B. and Delores L. Fery Endowed Faculty Fellow
Education
PhD (accounting), University of Washington Foster School of Business, 2016
BSB (accounting, finance, entrepreneurial management), University of Minnesota, 2008
Experience
Assistant Professor of Accounting, London Business School, 2016-2020
Reviewer for multiple conferences and academic journals, 2013-2020
Certified Public Accountant, 2010
International Tax Consultant, Deloitte, 2009-2010
Expertise
The interplay of product market competition and financial reporting decisions
Most fascinating research discovery: “I get the impression that many people believe that the more corporate transparency, the better. But research doesn’t really support that view. Any debate about the ‘right’ amount of disclosure has to recognize the tradeoffs it imposes in product and financial markets.”
Teaching at Foster
Managerial Accounting (Hybrid and Evening MBA)
Extracurricular
If not a business professor, I would be: a park ranger
Something surprising about me: I love doing ’80s aerobics. No workout fixes a bad mood faster.
When not at work, I enjoy: traveling, eating well, betting on the ponies, and spending time with my partner and family.
Favorite book: A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Favorite movie: The Fifth Element
Favorite television series: Rick and Morty
Favorite technology/gadget: my blender (I legitimately think I could blend anything)
Favorite company: Netflix
Top of my bucket list: a trip to Japan in the wintertime
Shirsho Biswas
Assistant Professor of Marketing and International Business
Education
PhD (quantitative marketing), University of Chicago Booth School of Business, 2020
MBA, Indian Institute of Management (Calcutta), 2013
BE (Electrical and Electronics Engineering), Birla Institute of Technology and Science (Pilani), 2011
Experience
Kotak Mahindra Bank (Mumbai), 2013-2014
UBS Investment Bank (Hong Kong), 2012
Expertise
Advertising; digital marketing; media consumption
Most fascinating research discovery: “When consumers see an advertisement which includes discount information along with brand information, their evaluation of the brand is lower, compared to an alternate scenario where they see the same advertisement without discount information (i.e. only the brand information) and then learn about an identical discount at the store.”
Accolades
Eugene F. Fama PhD Fellowship, University of Chicago, 2020
Katherine Dusak Miller PhD Fellowship, University of Chicago, 2017-2019
Joseph A. and Susan E. Pichler PhD Summer Fellowship, University of Chicago, 2015
Chicago Booth PhD Fellowship, University of Chicago, 2014-2016
Commendations for Exceptional Service as a Teaching Assistant, Chicago Booth Executive MBA Program, 2017 and 2018
Teaching at Foster
Pricing Strategies
Extracurricular
If not a business professor, I would be: an investment banker
Something surprising about me: If you take me to karaoke, I can sing songs in six different languages.
When not at work, I enjoy: watching TV shows and movies
Favorite book: The Jeeves and Wooster books by PG Wodehouse
Favorite movie: Whiplash, Tamasha (Hindi)
Favorite television series: Rurouni Kenshin (anime), Game of Thrones
Favorite technology/gadget: the Internet
Favorite company: Amazon
Top of my bucket list: Visit Japan and South Korea
Ali Goli
Assistant Professor of Marketing and International Business
Education
PhD (Quantitative Marketing), University of Chicago Booth School of Business, 2020
MBA, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, 2020
MSc (Operations Research), University of Toronto, 2015
BSc (Mathematics, Electrical Engineering), Sharif University of Technology, 2013
Experience
Data scientist/economist, Pandora, 2019-2010
Expertise
Pricing; marketing and public policy; customer loyalty; behavioral economics
Most fascinating research discovery: “How consumers behave differently when paying with money as opposed to time (advertising) for media.”
Accolades
Dean’s Recognition Award for Outstanding Service as a TA, Chicago Booth, 2018, 2019
Katherine Dusak Miller PhD Fellowship, Chicago Booth, 2017-2019
Chicago Booth PhD Fellowship, Chicago Booth, 2015
Teaching at Foster
Customer Analytics
Extracurricular
If not a business professor, I would be: a data scientist
Something surprising about me: I enjoy ketchup on pizza
When not at work, I enjoy: watching movies
Favorite book: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Favorite movie: Inception
Favorite television series: Friends
Favorite technology/gadget: Barcodes
Favorite company: SpaceX
Top of my bucket list: Travel to Central and South America
Tayfun Keskin
Associate Teaching Professor of Information Systems
Education
PhD (information systems), The University of Texas at Austin, 2010
MS (management information systems), The University of Texas at Austin, 2009
MBA, Sabanci University (Turkey), 2004
BS (electrical and electronics engineering), Bogazici University (Turkey), 2001
Experience
Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems, The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, 2017-2020
Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems, University of Washington at Bothell, 2010-2017
Assistant Instructor, McCombs School of Business, The University of Texas at Austin, 2004-2010
Marketing Data Analyst, Kraft Foods Group, 2004
Project Manager, Oracle, 2003-2004
Process Engineer, Procter & Gamble, 2001-2002
Expertise
Information goods pricing; internet of things; data analytics; cloud computing; gamification; behavioral modeling and simulation; collaborative information technologies; enterprise systems strategies; strategic alignment; transactive memory systems; electronic commerce; IT economics
Most fascinating research discovery: “Demonstrating the role of internet-of-things in contemporary business models.”
Accolades
Flipped Classroom Blueprinting Award, UT Rio Grande Valley, 2020
ICIS Junior Faculty Consortium, Association for Information Systems, 2014
MIS Camp – AMCIS Junior Faculty Consortium, Association for Information Systems, 2014
OCIS Doctoral Consortium Fellow, Academy of Management, 2007
Teaching at Foster
Programming Essentials
Introduction to Information Systems
Business Data Analytics
Systems Analysis and Design
Extracurricular
If not a business professor, I would be: an electronics engineer designing microchips or an architect (because I love drawing)
Something surprising about me: I visited Grand Canyon eight times and camped there twice.
When not at work, I enjoy: being outdoors with my son
Favorite book: One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Solzhenitsyn
Favorite movie(s): Groundhog Day, The Godfather, The Matrix
Favorite television series: Psych
Favorite technology/gadget: Mouse
Favorite company: Amazon
Top of my bucket list: I want to visit more countries than my age count
Doron Levit
Associate Professor of Finance and Business Economics
Marion B. Ingersoll Endowed Professor
Education
PhD (finance), Stanford University, 2011
MA (financial economics), Hebrew University, 2006
BS (computer science and economics), Hebrew University, 2004
Experience
Assistant Professor of Finance, University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, 2011-2020
Lecturer of Finance, University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, 2010-2011
Research member, European Corporate Governance Institute, 2018
Expertise
Business valuation; corporate finance; corporate governance; dividend and payout policy/stock splits; financial economics; mergers and acquisitions; private equity
Most fascinating research discovery: “Shareholder democracy, where shareholders of public companies influence corporate decision making by voting their shares, may lead to suboptimal outcomes when shareholders can trade.”
Accolades
Marshall Blume Prizes in Financial Research, 2015
Distinguished Referee, Review of Financial Studies, 2015
Cynthia and Bennett Golub Endowed Faculty Scholar Award, Stanford GSB, 2015
Stanford GSB Fellowship, 2006-2010
Distinguished PhD Student, UBC Finance Summer Conference, 2009
Outstanding (Graduate) Academic Achievement Award, Hebrew University, 2006
Teaching at Foster
Mergers and Acquisitions (MBA and Undergraduate Programs)
Corporate Finance (PhD Program)
Extracurricular
If not a business professor, I would be: a cook
Something surprising about me: I almost became a fighter pilot
When not at work, I enjoy: family, friends, being outdoors and smoking meat
Favorite book: World Without End by Ken Follett
Favorite movie: Fight Club
Favorite television series: Shtisel
Top of my bucket list: learn to play a guitar
