Celebrating Faculty Excellence: Three Rutgers School of Business–Camden Faculty Members Earn Promotions

RSBC is proud to celebrate three outstanding faculty members whose recent promotions recognize their exceptional contributions to scholarship, teaching, and service. 

Congratulations to Dr. Deeksha Singh and Dr. Yuliya Strizhakova on their promotions to Professor, and to Dr. Karti Puranam on earning tenure and promotion to Associate Professor. 

Dr. Singh is an internationally recognized scholar in international business and strategy whose research explores corporate governance, firm internationalization, and organizational strategy across diverse institutional environments. Her award-winning scholarship has been published in many of the field's leading journals and has earned recognition both at Rutgers and within the international academic community. 

Since joining RSBC in 2009, Dr. Strizhakova has established herself as a leading researcher in global marketing and consumer behavior. Her work on branding, cultural identity, and consumer behavior across developed and emerging markets has received international acclaim and continues to shape the field through influential research, teaching, and editorial leadership. 

Dr. Puranam's interdisciplinary research advances decision-making under uncertainty while addressing real-world challenges through operations research, optimization, and algorithmic fairness. His work has generated meaningful public impact, from improving blood inventory management to supporting economic development initiatives throughout New Jersey. 

These well-deserved promotions reflect each faculty member's dedication to academic excellence and their lasting impact on students, the Rutgers community, and their respective disciplines. We congratulate Drs. Singh, Strizhakova, and Puranam on this significant milestone and look forward to their continued contributions to RSBC. 

Dr. Zeyao Luan joins RSBC as an Assistant Professor of Finance in Fall 2026. He earned his Ph.D. in Finance from the Rutgers Business School. Previously, he received his Master’s in Quantitative and Computational Finance and a B.S. in Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Luan’s research focuses on empirical asset pricing, behavioral finance, big data, and AI. He published an article in the Review of Accounting Studies, which also won the 2024 PanAgora Asset Management Crowell Prize. He also has several works in progress and has made several conference presentations. He currently serves as the Editorial Assistant for Emerging Markets Review. Additionally, he has held corporate positions as a Quantitative Analyst. 

Join us in welcoming Dr. Luan to RSBC! 

According to a recent research study by Dr. Tengfei Zhang and co-author’s Kai Li, Feng Mai, Gabriel Wong, and Chelsea Yang, forthcoming in Management Science, female analysts play a meaningful role in encouraging companies to improve their environmental and social (E&S) practices, and firms tend to perform worse in these areas when they lose female analyst coverage. The study shows that women analysts discuss E&S issues more often, react more strongly to negative E&S events, and influence investor responses in ways that ultimately shape corporate behavior. 

Read the Full Article Here!

Behind every business launched and every entrepreneur served by the New Jersey Small Business Development Center (NJSBDC) at Rutgers University–Camden is a dedicated team committed to helping South Jersey's small businesses succeed.  

Led by Regional Director Dr. Akeel Gaines, the Center serves Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem counties, providing one-on-one counseling, training, and resources that help entrepreneurs turn ideas into thriving businesses. 

Over the past year, the Center has advised 582 clients through 1,766 consulting hours, helping launch 68 new businesses, secure $3.45 million in financing, and support more than $71 million in client sales. The team also hosted 44 training sessions for more than 1,100 entrepreneurs, contributing to the creation of 90 new jobs while helping retain dozens more. 

What sets the Camden Center apart is its hands-on approach. Workshops emphasize practical application, giving participants the opportunity to develop business plans, marketing strategies, and financing plans in real time while building meaningful connections with fellow entrepreneurs. 

The Center's success is strengthened through partnerships with organizations including Fulton Bank, M&T Bank, the Camden Urban Enterprise Zone, and The Enterprise Center, expanding access to capital, mentorship, and business resources. 

Among the 10 NJSBDC centers across New Jersey, the Camden Center continues to distinguish itself, ranking #1 statewide in jobs saved/retained and events hosted, while exceeding several annual performance goals. 

These accomplishments reflect the dedication of the NJSBDC team, whose work empowers entrepreneurs, strengthens local businesses, and fuels economic growth throughout South Jersey. 

Rutgers and NJBPU Launch Innovative Utility Regulation Certificate Program 

Rutgers School of Business–Camden is partnering with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) to launch the Utility Regulation Ratemaking Professional Certificate Program—a first-of-its-kind workforce development initiative designed to prepare professionals for careers in utility regulation, ratemaking, and public service. 

As the utility industry undergoes rapid transformation driven by grid modernization, clean energy initiatives, and an aging workforce, the need for skilled regulatory professionals continues to grow. This fully online, one-year certificate equips participants with practical expertise in utility rate design, cost-of-service analysis, revenue requirements, regulatory policy, and the intersection of utility finance and the public interest. 

Developed in collaboration with the NJBPU, the program combines applied learning with real-world regulatory practice, preparing professionals for advancement in utility finance, regulatory affairs, consulting, and public-sector leadership. Flexible online coursework, networking opportunities, and available scholarships make the program accessible to working professionals looking to expand their impact. 

This innovative partnership reflects Rutgers commitment to addressing critical workforce needs while strengthening New Jersey's utility infrastructure for the future. 

Learn more about the Utility Regulation Ratemaking Professional Certificate Program and how it can advance your career.