AQ Bridge Class of 2009

Qualifications of the entering class:

From the sizeable pool of interested candidates, we offered admission to twelve candidates, all with PhDs in Economics and all holding academic positions. Six of the candidates accepted our offer and six deferred their enrollment to a later year. All six enrolled candidates successfully graduated and were awarded the AQ certificate by AACSB qualifying them for tenure track positions in Finance. The entering qualifications of the class of 2009 are listed below:

• Dr. Jacqueline Agesa: PhD in Economics, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
• Dr. Kishor Guru-Gharana: PhD in Economics, Southern Methodist University.
• Dr. Hiroyuki Imai: PhD in Economics, Johns Hopkins University.
• Dr. Scott Kjar, PhD in Economics, Auburn University.
• Dr. Frank Moseley, PhD in Economics, Colorado School of Mines
• Dr. Scot Stradley, PhD in Economics, University of Utah.

Quotes from the class upon graduation:

“In this program I transformed from an educator with very little knowledge of Finance to one who is comfortable teaching and researching in Finance.  What an amazing experience!”

“The Virginia Tech Bridge to Business Program/Finance Track met my goal of developing content knowledge and my research portfolio.”

“Before this program I was an economist who looked down upon Finance as an area of more institutional and accounting details and less theory. Now I consider Finance as my own area, rich in theory and practical implications and research potential.”

Current placement status of the AQ graduates as of October 2009.

Since academic recruitment takes place about six months in advance of the start of the appointment, some graduates of the August 2009 cohort are now looking for jobs that begin in fall 2010. However, others have returned to their home schools in Finance Departments/Functions. Below is the current placement status of the 2009 class:

• Dr. Agesa was reassigned as Associate Professor of Finance from her position in the Economics Department at Marshall University.
• Dr. Guru-Gharana has accepted a position as Associate Professor of Economics at Texas A&M University – Commerce, where he teaches Finance courses.
• Dr. Hiroyuki Imai has returned to his position as research fellow at Pennsylvania State University.  He is currently seeking employment in a Finance Department.
• Dr. Scott Kjar is currently seeking employment in a Finance Department.
• Dr. Frank Moseley has returned to his position as Professor of Economics at Minot State University.  He is currently establishing a minor in Energy Finance at his University.
• Dr. Scot Stradley was reassigned as Professor of Finance from Professor of Economics at Concordia College.