New Faculty Enrich the Stanford GSB Experience

Renowned economist Susan Athey, the first female recipient of the John Bates Clark Medal, will be joining the faculty of the Stanford GSB as a professor of economics starting in the 2012-2013 academic year. Stanford GSB faculty will also be bolstered by economics professor Guido Imbens and finance professor Joshua Rauh, as well as 5 assistant professors and 16 new lecturers and visiting faculty.

“We are always seeking new ways to enrich the learning experience for our students, foster a vibrant research community that informs the business world, and provide an environment where academics can grow and thrive in their careers,” said Stanford GSB Dean Garth Saloner. “Susan Athey’s return to Stanford, along with a roster of highly talented academics and lecturers, will help us continue to fulfill these ambitions.”

Athey, who comes to Stanford GSB from the department of economics at Harvard University, earned her PhD in economics from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1995. After receiving her degree, she taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for six years and Stanford University for five years, moving to Harvard in 2006.

Her current research focuses on the economics of the internet, online advertising and media markets, auctions, and marketplace design. She advises governments and businesses on the design of auction-based markets, and has also served as a consultant to Microsoft since 2007 in the role of chief economist. Athey is the first female recipient of the John Bates Clark Medal, awarded to the American economist under the age of 40 who is judged to have made the most significant contribution to economic thought and knowledge. In 2012, she was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors for a U.S. scientist.

Economics professor Guido Imbens also comes to Stanford GSB from Harvard University’s department of economics. Imbens’ primary field of interest is econometrics, and he has conducted influential research on a broad range of issues throughout the social sciences, greatly improving social scientists’ ability to assess the effects of interventions from both field and experimental data. He also works with governments and policy institutions on designing and evaluating economic policy interventions in areas such as education and labor. Imbens received his PhD in economics from Brown University in 1991. He is married to Athey.

Finance professor Joshua Rauh joins Stanford GSB from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern. An empirical researcher in corporate finance, Rauh has been influential in evaluating corporate and governmental pensions, using data on pensions to calculate hidden liabilities and inform policy makers and the public. Rauh received his PhD in economics from MIT in 2004. Rauh’s most recent work reflects his interest in venture capital and private equity, which further strengthens this programmatic area for Stanford GSB.

New Assistant Professors, Visiting Faculty, and Lecturers

Stanford GSB is also welcoming five new assistant professors: Shai Bernstein, Elizabeth Blankespoor, Kristin Laurin, Navdeep Sahni, and Takuo Sugaya.

• Shai Bernstein, assistant professor of finance, is a financial economist whose research focuses on entrepreneurial finance.
• Elizabeth Blankespoor, assistant professor of accounting, focuses on financial reporting issues primarily related to information processing and systems.
• Kristin Laurin, assistant professor of organizational behavior, is an experimental social psychologist who studies how people’s ideologies and beliefs influence the content and pursuit of their motivations.
• Navdeep Sahni, assistant professor of marketing, focuses on the effects of advertising and online persuasion.
• Takuo Sugaya, assistant professor of economics, is a game theorist who works on repeated games.

For the 2012-13 academic year, the faculty is rounded out by a diverse group of visiting academics and new lecturers from business and higher education communities as follows:

• J. Gregory Dees, visiting professor from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, has played a leading role in developing the academic field of social entrepreneurship. He will teach a seminar on Social Entrepreneurship and Global Poverty and a class about Creating High Potential Ventures in Developing Economies.
• Matthew Bannick is managing partner at philanthropic investment firm Omidyar Network. He will teach a new course titled New Business Models in the Developing World.
• Sven Beiker is executive director of the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford. He will co-teach Strategic Thinking in Action — In Business and Beyond with faculty member Robert Burgelman.
• Dan Cooperman is of counsel at the law firm of Bingham McCutchen LLP, previously serving as general counsel for Apple Inc. and Oracle Corporation. He will teach The Role of the Modern General Counsel.
• Nicholas Donatiello Jr. is president and CEO of Odyssey Ventures and a board member of several organizations, including Dolby Laboratories, American Funds, and Schwab Charitable Fund, as well as past chairman of the board of Northern California Public Broadcasting. He will co-teach Board Governance with Stanford GSB faculty member David Larcker.
• Dan Klein is a lecturer in the Stanford Drama Department, where he teaches improvisational theater. At Stanford GSB, he co-teaches Acting with Power with faculty member Deborah Gruenfeld, and he will also teach Generative Leadership for the Sloan Master’s Program in 2012-2013.
• Christopher Lehane is a partner at strategic communications firm Fabiani & Lehane. He will co-teach a class on The Art of Damage Control with Stanford GSB lecturer and Oscar-winning film director Bill Guttentag.
• Richard Lin is a partner in Three Arch Partners, which provides young companies with access to clinical and business resources. With an MD from Harvard and an MBA from Stanford, Lin will co-teach The Start-Up Garage: Design and The Start-Up Garage: Testing and Launch with faculty member Stefanos Zenios.
• Ann Livermore is a member of the board and former executive vice president at Hewlett-Packard, where she led the company’s enterprise business operations. She will teach a class in Managerial Skills.
• Kevin Mak, lab manager at the Rotman School of Management Financial Research Trading Lab, will join Stanford GSB as a lecturer in management and director of the Real-Time Analysis and Investment Lab.
• Kelly McGonigal is an instructor, program developer, and research consultant at the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. She will teach a course on Compassion and Leadership.
• Stephen Mellas is a principal at AQR Capital Management, previously serving with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. He will co-teach a class with JD Schramm titled Survive and Thrive: The Art of Navigating Crucial Conversations.
• Mark Nagel is a principal at GovWorks and currently starting a software company to develop a suite of performance management applications for government organizations. He will co-teach Managing to Outcomes in Education and Other Sectors with faculty member Paul Brest.
• Theresia Gouw Ranzetta is a partner with Accel Partners focusing primarily on internet and software investments. She will co-teach a class about Angel, Venture Capital, and Private Equity Financing with faculty members Ilya Strebulaev and Shai Bernstein.
• Jay Watkins is a managing director at De Novo Ventures and cofounder of Origins Medsystems, a venture-funded medical technology startup that was purchased by Eli Lily. He will co-teach Biodesign Innovation: Needs Finding and Concept Creation and Biodesign Innovation: Concept Development and Implementation with faculty member Paul Yock.
• Peter Ziebelman is cofounder and managing general partner with Palo Alto Venture Partners. He will co-teach Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital with lecturer John Glynn, founder and managing director of Glynn Capital Management.