Welcoming Our Newest Faculty Members to the E. J. Ourso College of Business
August 19, 2024
The LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business is pleased to welcome a wide array of new faculty members for the 2024-2025 academic year. These new additions bring renowned expertise to the college in a variety of areas, including economics, finance, management, marketing, entrepreneurship and information systems.
"I am thrilled to welcome an exceptional group of educators with diverse backgrounds to our college," said Jared J. Llorens, dean of the E. J. Ourso College of Business. "Each new hire brings unique industry, research, and educational backgrounds, enhancing our commitment to delivering a world-class learning environment that prepares our students for lifetime success in today’s ever-changing global economy."
Meet Our New Faculty
Browse the tabs below to meet all the new faces joining our college.
Eunju Lee
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics
Eunju Lee recently received her PhD in Economics from the University of California at Davis, where her research focused on health economics and the impacts of health interventions. She earned her BS in Mathematics from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and her MA in Economics at Seoul National University. Lee's research agenda centers on improving the health of children, adolescents and mothers. Through her research, she aims to contribute to designing effective and efficient policies for promoting health and human capital.
Research Interests
Health economics, human capital management, policymaking
What excites you the most about coming to LSU?
"I am thrilled to become a part of the LSU community and look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues and students! I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to research that can improve health policy and outcomes. I am also looking forward to engaging with students, inspiring their interest in economics, and supporting their academic and professional journeys."
Maya Mikdash
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics
Maya Mikdash is an applied microeconomist with research interests in law and economics, health economics, and economics of education. Her work leverages causal inference methods to study policy-relevant questions within these fields. In previous work, Mikdash focused on studying policing in the United States, and her work on indigent defense has shown that race plays an important role in the legal representation of low-income defendants. Currently, she is focused on understanding the impact of access to free Pre-K on long-term labor market and educational outcomes. Prior to joining LSU, Mikdash received a PhD in Economics from Texas A&M University and both her BA and MA in Economics from the American University of Beirut.
Research Interests
Applied microeconomics, law and economics, labor economics
What excites you the most about coming to LSU?
"I am excited to inspire the next generation of economists at LSU! I look forward to contributing to the vibrant community and to fostering new ideas that can shape future economic thought."
Seungyub Han
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics
Seungyub Han comes to LSU from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned both his MA and PhD in Economics. He previously participated in an internship program at the International Monetary Fund, and served as a research scholar for the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate. He attained his BA in Economics from Yonsei University (Seoul, South Korea) in 2017.
Research Interests
Exchange rate dynamics, housing markets, product life-cycles, aggregate productivity
What excites you the most about coming to LSU?
"I look forward to meeting and learning from all the talented colleagues and students."
Qinqsong Yao
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics
Qinqsong Yao was born in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, China, and later immigrated to the United States to pursue his PhD studies in Boston College.
Research Interests
Statistics and econometrics, microeconometrics, machine learning applications in economics
What excites you the most about coming to LSU?
"I’m a sports fan, so one of the most exciting things about LSU is its great passion and achievements in sports!"
Yingmei Cheng
Lloyd F. Collette Endowed Chair of Financial Services
Professor, Department of Finance
Yingmei Cheng is a renowned scholar in financial economics who previously served as the Patty Hill Smith Eminent Scholar in Finance at Florida State University’s College of Business, where she led the college’s PhD program in finance and taught undergraduate, MBA, and doctoral courses in finance and economics.
Research Interests
Corporate culture, stock repurchases, executive compensation, cash holdings, capital structure, mergers and acquisitions, seasoned equity offerings, buy-side and sell-side security analysts, market efficiency
What excites you the most about coming to LSU?
"My visit to LSU in January 2024 left me profoundly impressed by the welcoming and nurturing culture of the college. The beautiful and vibrant campus immediately made me feel at home. I am eager to serve the students, faculty, staff, and the broader LSU community with unwavering dedication and determination."
Nikolaos Artavanis
Assistant Professor, Department of Finance
Nikolaos Artavanis comes to LSU after teaching appointments at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Virginia Tech, and Tulane University. His research has been published in premier finance and economics journals, including the Quarterly Journal of Economics, the Review of Financial Studies and the Journal of Financial Intermediation.
Research Interests
Financial intermediation, household finance, public finance, asset pricing
What excites you the most about coming to LSU?
"I am very excited to join LSU Finance in a time of great momentum for the college and the university. I look forward to working with LSU's incredibly dedicated and talented faculty and staff to enhance the college's program and to grow its academic footprint with focus on honors education, interdisciplinary synergies and research excellence."
Luke Cashen
Senior Instructor, Rucks Department of Management
Luke Cashen joins the LSU faculty full-time after serving in an adjunct role with the Flores MBA Program for 15 years. He peviously spent 20 years on the faculty of Nicholls State University's College of Business, worked in the New Orleans office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and holds three degrees from LSU. In his spare time, he engages in pro-bono consulting for non-profits and individuals.
Research Interests
Strategic management, industrial-organizational psychology, debt management, retirement, building wealth
What excites you the most about coming to LSU?
"Joining the faculty on a full-time basis feels like a homecoming for me. I am excited about sharing my strategy knowledge with the graduating seniors and MBA students. I look forward to making valuable contributions to the college and the university."
Zhengjun Wang
Visiting Instructor, Rucks Department of Management
Zhengjun Wang previously served as an assistant professor of management at the College of Saint Rose for five years and as an associate professor of management for four years. He has taught a range of management courses at the University of Southern Mississippi and Louisiana State University.
Research Interests
Corporate governance, strategic decision-making, entrepreneurship
Brianna Escoe, Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor, Department of Marketing
Brianna Escoe completed her PhD in Marketing from the Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati and later served as a Senior Lecturer in Marketing in the Owen Graduate School of Business at Vanderbilt University, where she taught Marketing Communications and Pricing Strategies to Master of Marketing and MBA students. Her dissertation work focused on defining and understanding the emotion of cringe and how the experience of cringe shapes human behavior.
Research Interests
Consumer social interactions, consumer emotions, social signaling, interactions with non-sentient agents (i.e., artificial intelligence)
What excites you the most about coming to LSU?
"I am thrilled to be joining such a vibrant community at LSU. I am looking forward to being on campus this fall and seeing the passion and excitement of the student body."
Ted Waldron
Professor, Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems
Ted Waldron joins the Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems holding the Alvin C. Copeland Professorship. He earned his BS and MBA from Villanova University and his PhD from The University of Georgia. In addition to his academic career, Ted has worked in hospital administration and management consulting, engaged in executive advisement for clients ranging from startups to multinationals, and published widely read thought leadership works in Harvard Business Review and Entrepreneur & Innovation Exchange.
Research Interests
Value creation in entrepreneurship, how new ventures enter and survive in established markets, investor / stakeholder control
What excites you the most about coming to LSU?
"Who wouldn’t want to call LSU their professional home? As the flagship institution of a great state (with equally great people), LSU offers a lagniappe compared to other universities in the SEC and beyond. I look forward to working with amazing colleagues as we continue to build a premier entrepreneurship program, one capable of creating value for the university, Baton Rouge, and state communities. Entrepreneurship rests at the heart of our free-market economy. It provides a vehicle for people to solve commercial, social, and environmental problems while improving quality of life for themselves and others. Our aspiration is to create and share knowledge that makes this vehicle usable by all Louisianans. As folks have long said around here, laissez les bons temps rouler!"
Ali Ahmed
Assistant Professor, Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems
Ali Ahmed joins the LSU faculty after a previous appointment at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. He obtained his PhD in Information Systems from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Research Interests
Ethical hacking, bug bounty programs, data mining, machine learning, econometrics
What excites you the most about coming to LSU?
"I am looking forward to meeting students and also very excited about the games in Tiger Stadium."
Jonathan Preedom
Assistant Professor, Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems
Jonathan Preedom earned his PhD in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship from the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business at Clemson University. Before pursuing his PhD, Jonathan founded two entrepreneurial ventures. His first venture was a consulting firm dedicated to addressing the business, management and compliance challenges faced by rural, independent healthcare providers. His second venture was a technology startup focused on the outdoor industry, specifically targeting the archery sector. These entrepreneurial experiences have significantly influenced his academic, research, and teaching interests.
Research Interests
Investor decision-making, Market and venture emergence, Entrepreneurial storytelling, Entrepreneurial cognition
What excites you the most about coming to LSU?
"Joining LSU as my first position after earning my doctorate is an exciting opportunity, especially within the Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship and Information Systems at the E. J. Ourso College of Business. There are three key reasons that make this experience particularly meaningful to me."
"First, upon sharing the news of my new role with family, friends, and colleagues, the overwhelming response was, "Wow - that is an incredible program and a fantastic place." This affirmation has further solidified my enthusiasm for being part of such a highly regarded institution.
Second, the faculty within the department have embraced both my wife and me with genuine warmth and kindness. This welcoming environment has created a strong sense of inclusion and support, reinforcing their confidence in my potential to contribute to the department's success.
Third, the entrepreneurial ecosystem at LSU and within the broader community is truly dynamic. As an entrepreneurial scholar, the chance to make a positive impact for both the students and the community, is deeply motivating.
Together, these factors create a powerful synergy ensuring I am joining a team dedicated to excellence—a winning combination that perfectly aligns with the spirit of the department. Geaux Tigers!"
About the E. J. Ourso College of Business
Since its establishment in 1928, the LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business has served as the flagship business college of Louisiana, playing an essential role in uplifting the economy of the state and the well-being of its citizens. Through its undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs and professional educational offerings for the business community, the college is committed to preparing future business leaders for success. The college's dedicated faculty engage in innovative research that directly and positively addresses the ongoing and emerging concerns of our state, national, and global economy.