Department of Economics, Finance, and Quantitative Analysis at KSU

Professor Spotlight:
Meet Dr. Serena Rhee, Assistant Professor of Economics at Kennesaw State University.
Her latest research sheds new light on the connection between Social Security and Disability Insurance with revealing how these programs work together and how DI serves as a critical safety net in the wake of major policy reforms.
Drawing on detailed micro-level data and advanced modeling, Dr. Rhee and her coauthor uncover how past Social Security changes reshaped benefit claiming and significantly increased Disability Insurance enrollment. Their findings highlight the broader, long-term impacts these programs have on both fiscal outcomes and individual well-being.
Read the working paper: https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdrive.google.com%2Ffile%2Fd%2F1sjuISv4VufntoKk1LSXmd53iNuJO-nCV%2Fview%3Fusp%3Dsharing&data=05%7C02%7Cccarver2%40kennesaw.edu%7C6a71d74c38e3434966b008ded0889798%7C45f26ee5f134439ebc93e6c7e33d61c2%7C1%7C0%7C639177482255705691%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PHss%2FqAMPUp20vc9IkELy1Ev7LT99vTUv5h3BhBwveo%3D&reserved=0

🎉 Big news for KSU Economics!
We’re excited to welcome Dr. Borhan Sayedy as a full-time Lecturer of Economics at Kennesaw State University!
With experience living in five countries and a background in both industry and academia, Dr. Sayedy brings a truly global perspective to our students. Known for being knowledgeable, supportive, and inspiring in the classroom, he’s already made a lasting impact.
Beyond teaching, he’s passionate about helping students build real-world financial skills and achieve long-term success.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Sayedy to his new role!

New research spotlight from KSU
Abhra Roy & Leo MacDonald examine how inequality, media influence, and government policy interact to shape social stability.
Their research shows how misinformation and unequal resource distribution can increase the risk of conflict—offering timely insights into today’s economic and political landscape.
🔗 Read more: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/227210016/
✨ Featured in Coles Research Magazine

We’re proud to highlight Dr. Benjamin Scafidi and Dr. Matthew Lee for their recent contributions to national conversations on education policy.
Earlier this month, Dr. Scafidi presented research co-authored with Dr. Lee at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Program on Education Policy and Governance School Choice Conference. Their work examines how shifting enrollment trends are impacting funding and resource allocation in public school districts.
Dr. Scafidi also recently joined The Education Exchange podcast to share key insights from this research—including a surprising finding that districts with declining enrollment often experience increased funding and staffing per student.
🎧 Listen here:
https://www.educationnext.org/the-education-exchange-school-districts-with-declining-enrollments-have-higher-funding-more-staff-per-pupil/
We’re excited to see KSU faculty contributing to important national discussions shaping the future of education.

The Education Exchange: School Districts with Declining Enrollments Have Higher Funding, More Staff Per Pupil Paul E. Peterson interviews Ben Scafidi, Professor at Kennesaw State University

Dr. Kelani has earned her PhD in Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University, marking the culmination of years of dedicated research and scholarship.
Her dissertation examines how generative AI influences decision‑making in high‑stakes conflict environments, finding that trust in AI can shape cognitive effort and help decision‑makers reach conclusions more efficiently under uncertainty.
We are proud to celebrate this significant milestone and the meaningful contributions Dr. Kelani will continue to make in her research and teaching.

We also extend our appreciation to her dissertation committee for their guidance and support throughout this process, including Dr. Greg Phelan (EFQA), along with Dr. Volker Frank (Chair), Dr. Aaron French, and Dr. Darina Lepadatu.

Dr. James Tompkins, Professor of Finance at Kennesaw State University, has published a paper titled “Why Do Bank Boards Have Risk Committees?” in the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis (JFQA), co‑authored with Rene Stulz, Rohan Williamson, and Shelly Ye.

JFQA is one of the leading journals in finance and is part of the Financial Times Top 50 (FT50) list, a global benchmark for top research in business schools.

The paper explores an important question in banking and corporate governance: why some banks establish dedicated risk committees at the board level, and how these committees influence oversight of risk taking. The study adds to our understanding of how governance structure shapes financial decision making and risk management.

Congratulations to Dr. Tompkins and his coauthors on this outstanding achievement!

You can read the paper here:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-financial-and-quantitative-analysis/article/why-do-bank-boards-have-risk-committees/800ADC51D2E67E6132E571C2B602DC21

KSU EFQA faculty were proud to join the Coles College of Business graduation this afternoon, honoring the hard work, dedication, and achievements of our students. Congratulations to the Class of 2026—we can’t wait to see all that you accomplish!

What can a map of Texas tell us about national policy debates?
New research by Timothy Mathews, Professor of Economics at Kennesaw State University, offers a fresh perspective.

In a recent Expand Democracy piece co‑authored with Brendan Ruskey (University of Illinois Chicago), the authors examine how statehood proposals for Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. intersect with representation, political incentives, and institutional design.

The analysis draws on a broader research collaboration with Art Laffer, James Boudreau, Brett Katzman, and Jesse Schwartz, and highlights how geographic and political constraints shape the range of feasible policy outcomes.

Read the full piece here:
https://expanddem.substack.com/p/puerto-rico-and-dc-statehood-texas

This is a great example of EFQA research engaging directly with real-world policy debates.

Puerto Rico and D.C. Statehood: Texas Holds the Key By Timothy Mathews and Brendan Ruskey

Great way to wrap up the semester!

On May 4, faculty and staff from the EFQA department gathered at Mellow Mushroom for our Spring Party. It was a nice chance to step away from the busy end-of-semester schedule, catch up with colleagues, and enjoy some time together.

Moments like this remind us how strong our community is. The collaboration and support we see every day are built on connections like these.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. Always good to see so many familiar faces in one place.

Big congratulations to our 2026 Outstanding Students in the Department of Economics, Finance, and Quantitative Analysis at Kennesaw State University!

Outstanding Student in Economics: Jennifer Remer

Outstanding Student in Finance: Daniel Halliday

Jennifer and Daniel have truly made their mark during their time at KSU. From leadership roles in the Student Managed Investment Fund to strong performances in the Federal Reserve College Fed Challenge and CFA competitions, both have consistently gone above and beyond.

Their work reflects not only strong analytical skills, but also a willingness to lead, collaborate, and support their peers. Faculty across the department highlighted their impact on student teams and the high standards they set for those around them.

We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and excited to see what they do next.

Please join us in congratulating Jennifer and Daniel!