About the Academy of Finance

The Academy of Finance is the sponsor and publisher of the Journal of Finance Issues.  The Academy of Finance is one of the 12 member organizations of the Midwest Business Administration Association International and meets each spring under the MBAA International administrative banner in Chicago Il.  The 2026 meetings and conference will be held at the historic Palmer House Hilton March 25-27, 2026.  The Academy of Finance conference welcomes all types of financial research, case studies, and panels as well as student research presentations. It also sponsors an annual teaching excellence award and recognizes research excellence with various Best in Track Awards.  

Academy of Finance Officers and Directors, 2025-2026

Executive Director: Don T. Johnson, Professor Emeritus, Western Illinois University

President: Wenjing Ouyang, University of the Pacific
Program Chair and President-Elect: Seongsu David Kim, California State University, Dominguez Hills
Secretary: Bhanu Balasubramanian, Western Michigan University
Treasurer: Padmaja Pillutla, Western Illinois University
MBAA Representative for Finance: Amit Sinha, Bradley University

Board of Directors:
Deborah Beyer (2025-2028), University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point
Paul Choi (2023-2026), Howard University
Steve Fan (2024-2027), Southern Utah University
Susan Ji (2024-2027), Christopher Newport University
Ramin Maysami (2023-2026), California State University Los Angeles
Yuntaek Pae (2025-2028), University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign