The newest group of Carroll School faculty members are settling into their work on the Heights. Their backgrounds and work experience are diverse, with research on topics like management of corporate cybersecurity risks, the impact of new policies at the intersection of commercial banking and central banking, and the role of data in algorithmic decision making. The six-member group also includes globe-trotters, an avid home chef, and an enthusiastic youth sports coach. What do they all have in common? They all have a deep passion and curiosity for their disciplines that they can鈥檛 wait to share with their students.
David Kim听
Assistant Professor, Accounting Department
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
BA and MS, Seoul National University
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What was your favorite class in undergrad and why?
My love for accounting started long ago. I was fascinated by how accounting could translate complex corporate activities into a clear, structured story using just a stack of documents. My interest really began with a part-time job I had at a large corporation. I was tasked with reviewing accounting documents, which might sound dry, but I found it captivating. I realized I was piecing together a puzzle and I could see the entire narrative of the company鈥檚 operations unfold right from my desk鈥攊t was like discovering the company's story written in the language of transactions.
Later, when I took Financial Accounting 101 in college, everything clicked into place. Accounting is the 鈥渓anguage of business鈥� and something every future business leader should learn, but that class provided the grammar for that language, teaching me how business activities are measured, structured, and communicated. I hope my students find the same excitement and value in accounting that I did as an undergraduate.
What will be on your research agenda this year at md传媒国产剧 College?
I plan to expand my research in information economics within the technology domain, particularly with artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. I am keen to investigate how AI is reshaping corporate information strategies and communication with stakeholders. As the economy becomes increasingly digitized, corporate cybersecurity risk is rapidly evolving, making management of that risk an important and urgent area of study.
What are you looking forward to the most about working at md传媒国产剧 College and the Carroll School?
I am excited to join the research community at md传媒国产剧 College, distinguished by its intellectual rigor and genuine collegiality. I鈥檓 also eager to engage with curious, motivated students. Combined with the beauty of the Chestnut Hill campus, I can鈥檛 imagine a better place to grow as a researcher, teacher, and mentor.
Zijin Zhang
Assistant Professor, Business Analytics Department
Ph.D., University of Michigan
BS, Nanjing University
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What are you looking forward to the most about working at md传媒国产剧 College and the Carroll School?
The people! I鈥檓 very excited to become part of this vibrant and supportive academic community. I was drawn to md传媒国产剧 College for its top-tier research environment and strong academic values, and I greatly admire the school's emphasis on research that combines analytical novelty with real-world impact. It feels like a great place where I can grow as a scholar, teacher, and colleague.
What is something that is inspiring you as a researcher lately?
What truly fascinates me is a quote from a podcast appearance by Alexandr Wang [now Meta鈥檚 chief AI officer]. Wang, the co-founder and former CEO of Scale AI, said, 鈥淭he bottleneck for AI development isn鈥檛 the algorithm or anything more technical." Rather, the bottleneck is around data, and specifically the availability of useful data.
In the next year, I plan to continue deepening this understanding of the role of data in algorithmic decision making and its broader implications across business and public sectors. My research explores the many dimensions of data: how to make better decisions with data, what quality of data is 鈥済ood enough鈥� for effective decision making, and how data practices influence societal outcomes, including fairness, ethics, and well-being.
What are some of your favorite pastimes and hobbies?
I鈥檝e been playing squash for many years and still actively hit the court a few times a week. I also enjoy hiking around the world鈥擨've explored more than 20 countries so far, with more on the list. A particular favorite hiking trip was to Patagonia, Chile. The weeklong trek there, with various landscapes and rapidly changing weather, was one of the most stunning and physically challenging hikes I鈥檝e ever experienced. I highly recommend it!
John Driscoll听
Senior Lecturer, Accounting Department
MS, md传媒国产剧 College and Suffolk University
BS, Fairfield University
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What is something your students might be interested to know about your professional background?
I never expected to be a professor. After a decade working as a CPA and building a family, I pivoted my profession and found this new career that provides me with great fulfillment teaching students and supporting them in their own professional pursuits.
What drew me to md传媒国产剧 College is that I truly believe in what Jesuit education can do for its students. The University is a launchpad for individuals who want to learn, grow, and develop. The opportunity to play a small role in that growth was too good to pass up. For me, md传媒国产剧 College is also a family tradition鈥�16 of my family members have graduated from BC, and I received my MSA from the Carroll School in 2007.
If you could give one piece of advice to a current management student, what would it be?
As you begin your professional career, seek out all potential opportunities to develop in, and beyond, your role. As a young professional, I found seeking out new projects, trainings, or challenges helped expand my skill set, grow my network, and position me for new opportunities.
While working at KPMG, I volunteered to help prepare presentations on relevant technical and technology updates related to tax and present them to other associates, senior associates, and managers to educate every professional on the latest developments. At the time, I raised my hand to improve my visibility within the firm, but these were my first steps toward realizing how much I enjoyed educating others. Ultimately, that led me to teaching and to the Carroll School!
What are some of your pastimes and hobbies?
Outside of the classroom, I enjoy spending time coaching my three children鈥攁ges 10, eight, and six鈥攊n various sports. On weekends you can often find me on the bench or sidelines, coaching their hockey or lacrosse teams.
Stefan Walz
Assistant Professor, Seidner Department of Finance
Ph.D., Columbia University
BA, New York University
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What will be on your research agenda this year at md传媒国产剧 College?
My research interests lie in the intersection of commercial banking and central banking. Many policy questions are currently being debated, ranging from the traditional stance of interest rates and updating bank regulation, all the way to enabling new forms of financial intermediaries. I am excited to continue studying the effects of these new policies on our understanding of the role of banks.
What is something that your students might be interested to know about your professional background or perspective?
My research is often motivated by real-world policy questions, like how the Fed鈥檚 decisions affect credit markets or how bank regulation shapes the broader economy. I try to bring that same perspective into the classroom, connecting theory to the institutions and incentives that actually drive financial outcomes.
In undergrad at New York University, my favorite class was a seminar that focused on financial crises. It was the first time I saw how abstract models could be used to explain real-world breakdowns鈥攈ow bank runs or policy mistakes could be captured in a few equations. That class lit the spark that ultimately led me to study financial intermediation and monetary policy, and it gave me a framework I still draw on in my own research today. I鈥檓 excited to share my passion for financial markets with my students.
What is something most people don't know about you?
Most people don鈥檛 know that I鈥檝e always had a strong interest in languages. I studied Spanish, Portuguese, and German in college, and still try to keep them up when I can. I鈥檝e always found that learning a language trains you to pay attention to structure, logic, and nuance鈥攕kills that turn out to be surprisingly useful in many settings.
In the early stages of a new language, I often don鈥檛 understand much of what is being said, and rely on clarifying questions and the repetition of core ideas. That repetition and the search for the most straightforward explanation are the building blocks for deeper understanding. I use the same approach in my research and in the classroom to ensure comprehension.
Xiaojie Li
Assistant Professor, Marketing Department
Ph.D., University of Rochester
MSc, London School of Economics and Political Science
BA and BS, md传媒国产剧 College
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How would you describe your teaching philosphy?
My teaching philosophy centers on creating an inclusive classroom environment that embraces and leverages students' diverse backgrounds. I believe that drawing from varied perspectives enriches classroom discussions and enhances the learning experience for all students. To support this inclusivity, I adapt course materials and examples to resonate with students' different cultural, academic, and professional backgrounds.
I believe that gaining hands-on experience is also essential. While theoretical knowledge provides the foundation, real-world application is where deeper understanding develops. In-class projects serve as valuable bridges between theory and practice.
What are some of your favorite pastimes and hobbies?
I鈥檝e been practicing Taekwondo since I was eight years old. I also enjoy running and cooking dishes like braised lamb, big plate chicken, and hand-pulled noodles.
Is there anything else the Carroll School community should know about you?
I attended md传媒国产剧 College for undergrad, studying mathematics and economics, and graduated in 2017. During my sophomore year, my friends and I [now called the Strakosch Venture Competition] for our app connecting students with tutors on demand.
David Cerveny
Assistant Professor of the Practice, Business Law and Society Department
JD, md传媒国产剧 College
BS, Marquette University
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What is your favorite place you've ever worked?
I expect that my answer to this question quickly will be "teaching at md传媒国产剧 College." I started teaching part time at md传媒国产剧 College last fall and loved it. I enjoy the energy of the students, the life of the campus, and the intellectual work of challenging sharp, young minds. I鈥檝e been lucky to experience a broad range of professional challenges during my career, and teaching at the Carroll School is an opportunity to focus those experiences on helping serve the next generation.
How would you describe your teaching philosophy?
Practicing and teaching law relies on high order skills, such as the ability to analyze objectively while looking at all sides, to create meaningful arguments, and ultimately to persuade minds. Those skills are useful beyond professional contexts, such as practicing law or negotiating business deals. They are also useful in everyday human interactions in order to find common ground and create understanding. I try to prioritize these skills as learning objectives so that students can engage and experiment, and hopefully apply them more broadly in their lives.
What is something your students might be interested to know about your professional perspective?
I believe in the importance of continuous self-reflection and growth. I want feedback from my students and ideas from my colleagues. Similarly, I want my students to grow. I am less worried about right and wrong answers. I鈥檓 more impressed by steady growth and improvement.
