UM Today | Asper School of Business

May 19, 2022 — 

The Asper School of Business is proud to announce that Dr. Xiaofan (Steven) Zheng from the Asper School of Business has been selected for the Stu Clark Professorship in Financial Management. Dr. Zheng will begin the five-year Professorship term on July 1, 2022.

The Stu Clark Professorship will provide leadership in the introduction of financial concepts into the undergraduate and graduate finance and accounting curriculum; and will encourage and stimulate research and programming in finance and accounting at the Asper School and at the University of Manitoba. In addition, the Professorship will develop a research agenda and, where applicable, support graduate students.

Zheng, who graduated with a Ph.D. in Finance from the State University of New York at Buffalo, was unanimously recommended by the selection committee for this Professorship based on his performance at the Asper School of Business. As the Department Head in the Department of Accounting and Finance and the current holder of the Bank of Montreal Professorship in Finance, Zheng has been integral in leading the continuous improvements of the School’s Accounting and Finance programs, including undergraduate, MBA and MFin course updates to align with changes in the CPA and CFA curriculums.

Since joining the Asper School of Business in July 2002, Zheng has independently developed and taught a range of finance courses while also remaining an active researcher. He has 21 published papers in quality academic journals, has presented his research 23 times in peer-reviewed conferences and has been invited to present his research on 10 different occasions. It is noteworthy that more than half of the published papers are works he co-authored with either colleagues or graduate students at the Asper School of Business. 

Zheng’s research excellence has been recognized by The Associates and he was awarded The Associates Achievement Award in Research award in 2006 and 2019. Additionally, in 2021-22 he led a major overhaul of the undergraduate curriculum for Accounting and Finance majors, including adding innovative financial concepts to the curriculum.

“Steven is an excellent colleague who is willing to step up when called on,” said Dr. Zhenyu Wu, Associate Dean Research and Graduate Research Programs and IG Wealth Management Chair in Leadership Research. “I know he will carry the title with pride and will work to continue to invest in research and support graduate students in the coming years.”

The Stu Clark Professorship is named after esteemed Asper School of Business alum and entrepreneur, Stu Clark [BComm(Hons)/76, LL.D./2011]. In this Professorship, Dr. Zheng will assume a leadership position within the Business School, the University of Manitoba, and the broader community. This may include service on faculty and university committees, particularly those related to research and peer review, public lectures, involvement with professional organizations, and involvement with the business and broader community.

“Steven Zheng is an amazing professional and researcher who will enhance the profile of the Stu Clark Professorship in Finance,” said Dr. Bruno Silvestre, Acting Dean, I.H. Asper School of Business and Acting CPA Manitoba Chair in Business Leadership. “Congratulations to Steven for this well-deserved recognition and thank you to Stu Clark for his continued investment in the Asper School of Business.”

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A professorship is one of the highest academic awards that universities can bestow on a faculty member. The Stu Clark Professorship was previously held by Dr. Usha Mittoo before her passing in 2019.  This Professorship is one of six endowed professorships held by Asper School of Business faculty members. Visit the Asper School of Business research page to learn more about the School’s researchers.

 

Asper Staff