Class of 2021: Meet the Foster School’s new full-time faculty

The Foster School of Business welcomed six new faculty members this fall: Charlie Donovan, Jennifer DeWhitt Graves, Lee Hochberg, Jordan Nickerson, Esther Uduehi and Matthew Van Winkle. Each brings a wealth of expertise and accomplishments—and even greater promise—to Foster this year. Here’s a closer look.

Charlie Donovan
Visiting Professor of Finance and Business Economics

Education
DBA (business administration), IE Business School (Madrid), 2012
MBA (corporate finance), Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management, 2001
BA (psychology), University of Washington, 1995

Experience
Professor of Practice, Imperial College London, 2020-2021
Executive Director, Centre for Climate Finance and Investment, ICL, 2017-2021
Academic Director, MS in Climate Change, Management and Finance, ICL, 2020-2021
Principal Teaching Fellow, Imperial College London, 2013-2020
Co-Founder and Director, Cleandrone, 2015-present
Head of Structuring and Valuation, BP plc, 2006-2010
Commercial Manager, Enviros Consulting Ltd., 2001-2005
Energy Policy Specialist, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1997-1999

Expertise
Corporate finance; corporate venturing; risk management; sustainability; climate tech
Most fascinating or impactful research discovery: “Climate change is shaping value in financial value in financial markets, today.”

Accolades
Academic Council Co-Chair, Coalition for Climate Resilient Investing, 2020-present
Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence, Imperial College Business School, 2019
ICAEW/Deloitte Finance for the Future Award, 2019

Teaching at Foster
Introduction to Sustainable Finance
Climate Change and the Capital Markets

Extracurricular
If not a business professor, I would be: UW basketball coach—they need help!
Something surprising about me: I spent a month in a Zen Buddhist monastery
When not at work, I enjoy: skiing, climbing, swimming and wrestling with my kids
Favorite book: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn (how to learn from a gorilla)
Favorite movie: Rushmore by Wes Anderson (a perfect character)
Favorite television series: Mozart in the Jungle (great music!)
Favorite podcast: pass—I’d rather listen to music
Favorite technology/gadget: self-winding Swiss watch
Favorite company: Riskthinking.ai (how businesses deal with radical uncertainty)
Top of my bucket list: backcountry skiing in Japan!

Jennifer DeWhitt Graves
Assistant Teaching Professor of Operations Management

Education
MBA, Harvard University
BA (finance and marketing), University of Washington

Experience
Lecturer of Finance and Operations, University of Washington, 2019-2021
Principal and practice head, Strategic Digital Operations, Keystone Strategy, 2019-2021
Senior Program Manager (US Operations), Starbucks Corporation, 2018-2019
Senior Manager (Food Concepts & Innovation), Starbucks Corporation, 2016-2018
Case Team Leader and Consultant, Bain & Company, 2009-2016
Co-Founder and Board Member, Montlake Consulting Group, 2008-Present

Expertise
Operations management; inventory management; personal finance

Teaching at Foster
Personal Finance (FIN 205)
Operations Management (OPMGT 301)
Statistics for Business (BA 501)
Project Management (OPMGT 550) 

Extracurricular
If not a business professor, I would be: CEO of Graves Family Adventures
Something surprising about me: I’m the author and illustrator of a children’s book titled Jervis the Best.
When not at work, I enjoy: spending time with my four sons, painting and hiking.
Favorite book: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Favorite movie: Almost Famous
Favorite television series: Twin Peaks
Favorite podcast: This Sounds Serious
Favorite technology/gadget: old-fashioned ear plugs
Favorite company: MOD Pizza
Top of my bucket list: Visit the ancient city of Petra

Lee Hochberg
Assistant Teaching Professor of Marketing and International Business

Education
MA (communication), Stanford University, 1980
BA (political science, history), Rice University, 1979

Experience
Lecturer of Business Communications, University of Washington, 2008-2021
Visiting Professional in Residence, Seattle University, 2008-2009
Special Correspondent and Producer, PBS NewsHour, 1984-2010
Senior Producer/Reporter, KCTS Seattle, 1986-1991
Assistant News Director, KING-AM Seattle, 1983-1984
Instructor, University of Washington, 1983-1984

Expertise
Business communication

Accolades
George Foster Peabody Award
American Religious Broadcasters Award
Corporation for Public Broadcasting Award
Emmy Award 

Extracurricular
Journalism highlights: Among more than 25 years of reporting and producing, his NewsHour investigative reports:

• found Seattle Public Schools illegally failing to identify and properly accommodate homeless students, leading to significant reforms;
• uncovered politically driven restrictions on EMTs in Washington State from using essential lifesaving procedures, prompting life-saving policy updates;
• exposed the trucking industry’s practice of “backhauling,” illegally transporting food items in the same tanker trucks that carry toxic chemicals, leading to tighter regulations and a Peabody Award;
• revealed the lack of regulation in the mountain guide industry, bringing about reform and an Emmy Award.

Something surprising about me: I still drive the same 1983 Volvo 240 I bought new, when I moved to Seattle in 1983 (it now has 440,000 miles and looks great!).
When not at work, I enjoy: photography, sailing, biking, skiing, theatre, traveling
Favorite movie/TV/podcast: I’m a pretty active person so I don’t spend a lot of time watching, but I enjoy The Kominsky Method, never miss SIFF and review many of the Academy Award nominees with a colleague in the Academy. And I’ll always be a sucker for the “Dad, can we have a catch?” line in Field of Dreams.

Jordan Nickerson
Assistant Professor of Finance and Business Economics

Education
PhD (finance), University of Texas at Austin, 2014
MS (finance), University of Texas at Austin, 2011
BS (mathematics), University of Texas at Austin, 2009

Experience
Visiting Assistant Professor of Finance, MIT Sloan School of Management, 2020-2021
Assistant Professor of Finance, Boston College Carrol School of Management, 2014-2020

Expertise
Corporate finance; executive compensation; structured finance; credit ratings; household finance
Most fascinating research discovery: “The average person really struggles with real-world financial decisions, such as the decision to refinance a mortgage. One of the more significant factors is having a friend who refinances (and tells you about it). This effect is equivalent to an extra $5,000 in savings!”

Accolades
Rising Scholar Award, Review of Financial Studies, 2020
Teaching Star, Boston College Carrol School of Management, 2019
Pension Research Council/TIAA Institute Research Grant, 2018
Best Paper Award, Red Rock Finance Conference, 2016
Fred Moore Assistant Instructor Award for Teaching Excellence, UT-Austin, 2013 

Teaching at Foster
Introduction to Finance

Extracurricular
If not a business professor, I would be: a data scientist, or something machine-learning-related.
Something surprising about me: I’m almost certainly from a smaller city than you.
When not at work, I enjoy: exploring my new neighborhood, grabbing drinks with friends, doing something active outdoors, relaxing on my building’s rooftop
Favorite book: Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien; Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Favorite movies: Good Will Hunting and The Shawshank Redemption
Favorite television series: The Wire and How I Met Your Mother
Favorite podcast: Revisionist History and Hardcore History
Favorite technology/gadget: my iPhone
Top of my bucket list: Get my pilot’s license or skydive

Esther Uduehi
Assistant Professor of Marketing

Education
PhD (marketing), The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 2021
MSc (nature, society and environmental policy), Oxford University, 2013
BA (chemistry and mathematics), Indiana University at Bloomington, 2011

Experience
Emerging Leaders Council, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), 2019-2021
Mathematics Teacher, The Spence School, 2014-2016
Science and Mathematics Teacher, The Fay School, 2013-2014
Medical Science Teacher, Oxbridge Academic Programs, 2012-2013
Inorganic Chemistry Demonstrator, University of Oxford, 2012-2013
Medicinal Chemistry Academic Contractor, Eli Lilly and Company, 2011

Expertise
Diversity; stigma; branding; identity; consumer behavior; emotions
Most fascinating research discovery: “Highlighting personhood can lead to greater inclusion by people and brands” 

Accolades
Eli Jones Promising Scholar Award, 2021
Best Working Paper Award, Association for Consumer Research, 2020
Fellow, AMA-Sheth Foundation Doctoral Consortium, 2020
Baker Retail Center Research Grant, 2017, 2019
Mack Research Institute Research Award, 2019
Valuing Diversity Award, American Marketing Association, 2018
Rhodes Scholar, Oxford University, 2011-2013 

Teaching at Foster
Marketing Concepts

Extracurricular
If not a business professor, I would be: a television writer
Something surprising about me: I play the violin
When not at work, I enjoy: family, friends, TV, film, and fashion
Favorite movies: Parasite, Get Out, Black Panther, Hoop Dreams
Favorite television series: A Different World and Succession
Favorite podcast: The Read
Favorite technology/gadget: iPad
Favorite company: IKEA
Top of my bucket list: Being content not having a bucket list!

Matthew Van Winkle
Associate Teaching Professor of Accounting
Director of the Master of Public Accounting Program (MPAcc)

Education
PhD (business administration), University of Michigan Ross School of Business, 2011
MPAcc, University of Washington Foster School of Business, 2001
BA (accounting and information systems), University of Washington Foster School of Business, 2000

Experience
Portfolio Manager, Empyrean Capital Partners, 2015-2021
Director of Research, Founder and Principal, Voyant Advisors & Voyant Capital, 2007-2015
Clinical Assistant Professor of Accounting, Arizona State University Carey School of Business, 2011-2012
Associate, Audit and Assurance Services, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, 2000-2003
Internal Audit Assistant, PACCAR Inc, 1997-1999
Certified Public Accountant, 2001-2013

Expertise
Valuation; financial statement analysis; ESG (environment, social and governance); portfolio risk management

Teaching at Foster
Fundamentals of Managerial Accounting
Accounting, Audit and Assurance Regulation
Advanced Financial Statement Analysis

Extracurricular
If not a business professor, I would be: a golf coach
Something surprising about me: I spent most of my career looking for frauds as a short seller
When not at work, I enjoy: skiing
Favorite book: The Undoing Project by Michael Lewis
Favorite movie: Heat
Favorite television series: The Wire
Favorite podcast: The Grant Williams Podcast
Favorite technology/gadget: Foresight GCQuad Golf Simulator
Favorite company: Patagonia
Top of my bucket list: Backcountry skiing in Hokkaido