Gies Business News and Stories
Explore the ideas, people, and impact shaping Gies College of Business. From faculty research and student experiences to alumni achievements and donor impact, these stories highlight how our community is advancing business knowledge and creating real-world change.
Mollner uses mathematical theory to solve real-world problems
Sep 18, 2026
New Gies finance professor Josh Mollner uses mathematical theory to study how modern trading systems affect market liquidity, pricing, and retail investors. After a decade at Northwestern, the award-winning teacher joins Gies to expand his market-design research and collaborate with its finance scholars.
Rise of alternative credit adds another layer to US household debt concerns
Sep 17, 2026
Rising US credit card debt tells only part of the story of household financial stress. Gies Business finance professor Avantika Pal says consumers are increasingly supplementing traditional borrowing with alternative credit products such as online installment loans and short-term cash advances.
The Always-On Professor: How Gies Business uses AI avatars
Sep 16, 2026
Gies College of Business has best testing AI-generated faculty avatars for four years to update lectures quickly, translate content, answer course questions, and provide interactive practice and coaching. The goal is to give students current, accessible, around-the-clock support while freeing professors to focus on advising, research, and personal interaction.
PODCAST: How Gies Business scales experiential learning to every student
Sep 15, 2026
Dean Brooke Elliott joined the Changing Higher Ed® podcast to discuss how Gies Business scaled experiential learning from a selective offering into a curricular requirement across every program, and what it cost on the staffing, funding, and governance side to make it hold.
Podcasts Student Accountancy Alumni Business Administration Finance Faculty
PODCAST: Building a mission-driven culture of innovation
Sep 02, 2026
Dean Brooke Elliott joined the Higher Ed Geek podcast to discuss how a mission-driven culture, intentional innovation, and a commitment to expanding access have helped Gies grow its impact while preparing students for an increasingly dynamic workforce.
Podcasts Student Accountancy Business Administration Alumni Faculty Finance
Byrnes brings real-world experience to Reichard Real Estate Academy
Aug 31, 2026
Gies Business alumna Sarah Byrnes is returning to the College to lead the Reichard Real Estate Academy after more than 20 years in commercial real estate, where she completed more than $2.4 billion in financing.
Brokemond hired to helm Orange & Blue Ventures
Aug 27, 2026
Veteran investment banker Shay Brokemond is joining Gies Business to co-direct Orange & Blue Ventures, a new student-led venture capital initiative where students will invest real money in startups.
Jiekun Huang honored with Richard S. Williams Endowed Professorship of Finance
Aug 26, 2026
Huang’s research focuses on how economic agents—including investors, corporate executives, and political figures—and the interactions among them shape the informational role of financial markets and corporate decision-making.
At 2026 Cozad Lecture, Kent Dauten shares insights on the investing field
Aug 14, 2026
Private equity veteran Kent Dauten drew on more than 40 years in investing to share career and leadership lessons with Gies Business students, encouraging them to approach networking with curiosity, seek early-career roles with steep learning curves, and value diverse perspectives when making major decisions.
Student Accountancy Alumni Business Administration Faculty Finance
Agentic AI Build-a-thon delivers systems innovation for Gies Business operations
Aug 06, 2026
The intensive 24-hour “build-a-thon” attracted 72 undergraduate and advanced degree students who formed teams to create agentic AI solutions alongside industry mentors.
Student Accountancy Alumni Business Administration Faculty Finance