The newest crop of Carroll School faculty have landed on the Heights. Their backgrounds and work experience are diverse, with wide-ranging research on topics like maternal mental health in the workplace, the impact of advertising on consumer financial decisions, and the role of non-bank financial intermediaries in markets. The 12-member group also includes former civil servants, avid travelers, and sports fanatics—one is even a former ballerina. What do they all have in common? They’re all esteemed scholars excited to share their knowledge with the next generation of business leaders.
Angela Ma
Assistant Professor, Seidner Department of Finance
Ph.D., Harvard University
What will be on your research agenda this year?
My broad research interests are in corporate finance and financial intermediation. One goal of my work has been to understand the role of non-bank financial intermediaries in different markets. Why do non-bank intermediaries arise alongside banks and what roles do they play that are not performed by banks? I’m excited to continue working in this vein and also to explore other directions through conversation and collaboration with the finance group at Boston College.
What is something your students might be interested to know about your professional background or perspective?
At different points in time, I have been serious about becoming a professional ballerina, a software engineer, and an investment banker. I hope to bring some of those experiences to the classroom and to connect with students over paths taken and not taken.
What was your favorite class in undergrad and why?
I loved Behavioral Finance, a junior-year research seminar. The class pushed us to think critically about research for the first time, rather than treating papers like set-in-stone textbook material. We were also challenged to propose our own research project and follow through. This felt like a small but powerful step towards becoming a producer, not just a consumer, of information. I think the class was my favorite because it helped me discover creativity and capability that I didn’t know I had. It was a reminder of the importance of growth mindset and how you don’t know what you don’t know.
Douglas (DJ) Stockbridge
Assistant Professor, Accounting Department
Ph.D., University of Michigan
If you could give one piece of advice to a current management student, what would it be?
Find at least one extracurricular activity or cause you are passionate about and devote time each week to this. It can be anything, just pick something and stick with it. You’ll meet people with a common interest, you’ll learn to better manage your time and academic requirements, and you’ll have fun!
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
One of my odd quirks is that I enjoy studying maps. Recently, I’ve been playing this online game GeoGuessr. It’s a geography game where players need to identify their location from a Google street or “birds-eye” view. It can drop you anywhere in the world! It’s fun to pick up on different terrains, architecture, and city layouts. These are things I would not notice otherwise.
What is something most people don't know about you?
When I applied to undergraduate programs, I was planning on being a history major. In fact, I applied to the Carroll School of Management accidentally! I figured I would give business school one year, but ended up loving it. I really enjoyed learning about companies and their histories in particular. I realized that investing is kind of like applied history. You need to know a company’s past and present to have a guess about its future prospects.
Jamie Ladge
Professor, Management and Organization Department
Ph.D., Boston College
What will be on your research agenda this year?
I'll be continuing to work on research related to the intersection of maternal mental health and work. I also have some projects related to fathers working in the tech field, relationships in gig work, and cross race and gender relationships in the workplace.
What are your favorite pastimes and hobbies?
I enjoy spending time with my family and exercising, including walking or running around my neighborhood and near campus—I have even competed in two Tough Mudder races.
What should the Carroll School community know about you?
I am a Double Eagle—my Master’s Degree and Ph.D. are from Boston College—and my oldest son, now 21 years old, went to the Boston College preschool.
I also have identical twin boys who are just starting college. I was pregnant with them when I was a Ph.D. student at the Carroll School more than 18 years ago.
Zining Wang
Assistant Professor, Marketing Department
Ph.D., University of British Columbia
If you could give one piece of advice to a current management student, what would it be?
Don't get caught up in comparing yourself to others. Instead, celebrate your achievements, both big and small, and remember that your journey is uniquely yours.
What is a topic or concept you plan to share with your classes?
In my class, I plan to demonstrate the power of Big Data analytics, emphasizing that its true value lies not in the tool itself, but in the meaningful research questions it allows us to address.
For example, marketers can use a deep neural network instead of a simple regression model to predict sales from influencer marketing, but the core issue remains: Do higher sales translate to higher profits? Not always. Mega-influencer collaborations can be costly and sales increases might cannibalize other channels. Understanding the holistic impact of sales growth is paramount, rather than solely focusing on predictive accuracy.
What are some of your favorite pastimes and hobbies?
I enjoy films, science fiction media, and detective stories like the ones written by Agatha Christie.
Arup Ganguly
Assistant Professor of the Practice, Seidner Department of Finance
Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
What are you looking forward to the most about working at Boston College and the Carroll School?
The opportunity to collaborate with esteemed scholars, engage with bright and inquisitive students, and contribute to the school's tradition of excellence in research and education—all of that excites me. I look forward to being part of an environment that values rigorous academic pursuit and the Jesuit principle of forming well-rounded individuals. The chance to shape future business leaders while advancing knowledge in my field at such a respected institution fills me with enthusiasm and purpose.
What is something your students might be interested to know about your professional background or perspective?
My journey in finance goes far beyond textbooks and theories. Before entering academia, I spent several years in the financial industry, working with investment banks and corporate finance departments. This hands-on experience provided me with invaluable insights into the practical challenges and decision-making processes that drive the financial world.
What excites me most about teaching is the opportunity to bridge the gap between academic concepts and real-world applications. I bring vivid examples from my professional experiences into the classroom, transforming abstract ideas into tangible scenarios that my students can relate to and understand.
What are some of your favorite pastimes and hobbies?
My favorite pastimes revolve around cherishing moments with my family, especially my wife—who teaches at Boston University—and our delightful young son. As new parents, we find immense joy in witnessing our little one's daily discoveries and milestones. Whether it's reading bedtime stories, playing in the park, or simply sharing meals together, these moments are the highlights of my day.
Our recent move to Boston has added an exciting dimension to our family adventures. This city, with its rich history and vibrant culture, has become our new playground.
Donggwan (Don) Kim
Assistant Professor, Marketing Department
Ph.D., Washington University
What will be on your research agenda this year at Boston College?
I plan to continue my research on how advertising impacts consumer financial decisions. Consumers often make costly financial mistakes, such as not refinancing their mortgages when rates decline or doing so too early or too late. I am working on projects that examine how information and nudging through advertising can help consumers make better financial decisions (or avoid such mistakes).
What are you looking forward to the most about working at Boston College and the Carroll School?
I am very much looking forward to learning from the faculty at Boston College, who are known for their high-quality research, and engaging with the students. I am also excited to explore all that Boston has to offer!
What was your favorite class in undergrad and why?
My favorite undergraduate class was econometrics, where I learned to combine microeconomic theories, statistics, and programming. It was exciting to see how multiple courses came together to solve real-world problems. This ignited my interest in pursuing higher education after undergrad to learn more.
Bozidar Jovanovic
Assistant Professor of the Practice, Seidner Department of Finance
Ph.D., Boston University
What is something your students might be interested to know about your professional background or perspective?
I never settle for merely good results in my work. I strive for excellence and never shy away from challenging the prevailing wisdom. This is especially useful in investment management where going against the herd is particularly rewarding. I am staunchly opposed to stakeholder capitalism and ESG, and my investment advisory business is built around that theme.
What are you looking forward to the most about working at Boston College and the Carroll School?
I’m looking forward to bringing my practical experience to students so that they gain the skills to hit the ground running when they reach the marketplace.
What is something most people don't know about you?
I have a passion for learning which is not confined to just finance. I was a competitive skier in my youth and it is still my favorite recreational activity. Additionally, I train in Aikido, sail, and scuba dive. I also enjoy traveling around the USA and the world visiting historical sites.
Kanishka Misra
Professor, Marketing Department
Ph.D., Northwestern University
What will be on your research agenda this year at Boston College?
My research for this year will be focused on two areas: algorithmic collusion and retail food waste. The algorithmic collusion research is about understanding when and why pricing algorithms can collude with one another causing prices that are supracompetitive. My goal is to help governments define regulation that is reasonable and fair. With retail food waste, I have been working on using pricing (and discounting) to reduce perishable food waste for retail stores.
What are your favorite pastimes and hobbies?
I enjoy playing and watching sports. I loved working in London because I used to walk past Lord’s Cricket Ground (known as the home of cricket) every day while going to work. I also represented India as a competitive computer programmer in high school.
What should the Carroll School community know about you?
I love my coffee and research conversations. If you want to discuss research and have a cup of coffee, send me an email!
Raquel Kessinger
Assistant Professor, Management and Organization Department
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
What will be on your research agenda this year at Boston College?
I will be continuing research on employee activism, including how employees engage in activism and how organizational leaders respond to it.
The Management and Organization Department has cultivated a phenomenal group of faculty. I am looking forward to interacting with them and sharpening my work through their feedback and experience.
If you could give one piece of advice to a current management student, what would it be?
Think about the secondary consequences of organizational decisions at the individual, team, and company levels. Always stop to ask, “what didn't we consider and what data did we fail to collect?” Lead and listen with empathy!
What is something your students might be interested to know about your professional background?
My path to academia was not a traditional one. I had a government career that I loved before going to graduate school, and my decision to switch paths was complicated, so I can relate to feeling drawn to more than one career path or industry. Diverging interests can create rich and fascinating careers and cultivate a lot of resilience!
Daniel Chen
Assistant Professor, Business Analytics Department
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
What will be on your research agenda this year at Boston College?
The internet is full of strategic actors, from advertisers to platforms operating dynamic pricing algorithms to individuals creating AI-generated content. My research focuses on improving the quality of online platforms, including around price transparency and reducing the prevalence of ads, especially in settings where platforms and users have conflicting interests.
If you could give one piece of advice to a current management student, what would it be?
Learn a variety of new skills. Whether you choose technical skills or hobbies, simply learning new things will broaden your perspective and sharpen your mind.
What are your favorite pastimes and hobbies?
My favorite pastimes center around athletics and music, including playing tennis, basketball, and guitar. I also enjoy watching classic movies like Singin' in the Rain and My Man Godfrey.
Manuel Lancastre
Associate Professor of the Practice, Seidner Department of Finance
Ph.D., Nova School of Business and Economics
If you could give one piece of advice to a current management student, what would it be?
Immerse yourself in your studies as much as you can in order to optimize your learning experience. This includes preparing well for classes and doing your homework as soon as it is available.
What is something your students might be interested to know about your professional background?
I have a very diverse professional background, including having had the honor of serving in the government of Portugal as the Secretary of State of Economy.
What are your favorite pastimes and hobbies?
I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family, including my five children and amazing wife.
Stephen Mendelsohn
Assistant Professor of the Practice, Business Law Department
Ph.D., Boston College
What is something your students might be interested to know about your professional background or perspective?
My academic background is in philosophy, but before starting my graduate career I spent about two years in industrial project management. In my teaching I hope to share my first-hand experience of being engaged in business and being concerned with achieving both successful and ethical business outcomes.
What is something most people don't know about you?
When I was in high school, my plan was to pursue a career as a professional pilot. I completed my first solo flight out of the Worcester Airport when I was fourteen, before I could drive a car on my own.
If you could give one piece of advice to a current management student, what would it be?
Take full advantage of the University core here at Boston College. It provides you with the opportunity to explore a wide variety of courses and perspectives that will stay with you for the rest of your career and life. Having this breadth and depth of experience as an undergraduate will make you a more marketable candidate on the job market, and it will provide you with the tools you will need to think critically.
Mathias Hasler is now an assistant professor of the practice in the Carroll School’s Seidner Department of Finance. Hasler was previously a visiting assistant professor. In addition, three of the new faculty members are Boston College alumni: Douglas Stockbridge earned his BS from the Carroll School of Management; Jamie Ladge earned her MS and Ph.D. in Organizational Studies from the Carroll School of Management; and Stephen Mendelsohn earned his MA and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences; he is part of the Portico faculty.
