The 2026 Northeast Decision Sciences Institute (NEDSI) conference in Philadelphia featured the research of three groups of School of Business students earlier this month.

Eleven impressive business students had their research accepted for presentation at this year’s conference. The 2026 conference theme, Future of Decision Sciences: Complexity, Innovation, Sustainability, encouraged students to reflect on and examine how the field of data science is evolving and how it can address today’s organizational and societal challenges. The attending students took part in the conference as well, attending workshops and panel discussions, which offered a great opportunity for professional development and networking.

CUSB students developed their own topics and presented some fascinating research:

• “Analyzing Customer Response Patterns to Optimize Bank Marketing Strategies,” presented by: Kamiza Brown, Esther Bagombeka, Farai Ngwarati, and Tanatswa Hwindingwi.

• “Predicting Credit Card Default Clients,” presented by Steve Pellissery, Zubaish Ashiq, Noor Ahmed, and Tinotenda Muzvongi.

• “Comparative Financial Performance Analysis: Tesla vs General Motors (2010–2024),” presented by Benard Mubayiwa, Mustbe Matiwone, and Xiang Wan.

“I’m incredibly proud to see these students’ hard work rewarded with the opportunity to present their research at NEDSI,” business school dean, Dr. Jing Zhang, noted.

Kamiza Brown, Esther Bagombeka, Farai Ngwarati, and Tanatswa Hwindingwi.

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APRIL 2026

> Dr. David Tang had a paper accepted for publication in the Journal of Business Ethics (FT 50, ABCD A). The title is, “CSR and Founder Legacy Dynamics around Succession: An Intertemporal Choice Perspective.”

> Drs. Jisoo Park and Kyunghee Yoon had a paper titled, “Stretched Too Thin? Multi-office Assignments and Earnings Management from a Within-partner Perspective,” accepted for publication in the Journal of Business Ethics. 

> Dr. Fei Fang‘s paper titled, “Biodiversity Mutual Funds and ETFs: Characteristics, Performance, Risk, and Fees” was accepted by the International Journal of Financial Studies, an ABDC-B journal.

MARCH 2026

> Dr. Jin Fang had two papers accepted for presentation at the Northeast Decision Sciences Institute (NEDSI) 2026 Conference in Philadelphia. The second paper is a collaboration with Dr. Jing Zhang and Professor Emeritus Will O’Brien, JD, MBA.

Hanpeng Zhang, Yijie Huang, and Jin Fang (Presenting Author), “Data-driven Rolling Optimization for Equitable Medication Allocation in Epidemics.”, Northeast Decision Sciences Institute (NEDSI) 2026 Conference, Philadelphia, PA, Apr. 2026.

Jin Fang, Yanjing Wang (Presenting Author), Joseph Sarkis, Tricia Mahoney, Scott Perry, Jing Zhang, and Will O’Brien, “Avoiding Carbon Emissions: The Unique Business Model of Twisted X.”, Northeast Decision Sciences Institute (NEDSI) 2026 Conference, Philadelphia, PA, Apr. 2026.

> Drs. Hamid Ahady Dolatsara and Abdullah Asilkalkan co-authored a paper accepted for publication in the Journal of Decision Analytics. The paper is titled, “A Data-Guided Analytical Framework for Assessing the Value of Additional Variables in Heart Transplant Decision Making.”

> Dr. Yue Gao had a paper titled, “Analyzing Healthcare Attrition using Machine Learning and Traditional Statistical Techniques” published in January in the international journal of management & information technology, co-authored with her collaborators.

> Dr. Kyunghee Yoon had one of her working papers, “Examining the Role of Social Media Analyst Coverage in Mitigating Information Asymmetry: Evidence from Earnings Calls,” selected for the Best Paper Award at the 2026 Joint Midyear Meeting of the AIS and SET Sections of the American Accounting Association. She will also serve as an associate editor for the 5th International Conference of the Journal of Information Systems, which will be held in conjunction with the Korean Accounting Association Annual Meeting at Gangneung, South Korea.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

> Dr. Jin Fang will serve as the track co-chair for “Decision Support Systems (DSS), Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence” at the Northeast Decision Sciences Institute (NEDSI) 2026 Conference, which will be held in Philadelphia in April.

> Dr. Jisoo Park has been elected as a Representative-at-Large for the Behavioral Strategy Interest Group in the Strategic Management Society.

DECEMBER 2025

> Dr. David Tang was invited to join the editorial review board of Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice (ABDC A*, FT 50).

NOVEMBER 2025

> Dr. Siti Parida had a publication titled, “Do Position Limits in Single Stock Derivatives Benefit Equity Markets?”  accepted for publication at the Australasian Accounting, Business and Finance Journal (AABFJ), an ABDC B journal.

OCTOBER 2025

> Drs. Fei Fang and Siti Parida published a paper titled “Do Active Sustainable Equity Funds Outperform Their Passive Peers?”  Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic” in Journal of Risk and Financial Management, an ABDC-B ranked journal.

> Dr. Parida also had a solo-authored paper, “Early-Pandemic Repricing of Housing Attributes: Evidence from Middlesex County, Boston Suburbs,” accepted for publication in Finance Research Letters (ABDC A).

> Dr. Vasilia Vasiliou had two articles published earlier this year:

Pololi, L. H., Civian, J. T., Brimhall-Vargas, M., Vasiliou, V., Evans, A. T., Ninteau, K., Cooper, Lisa, A., Gibbs, Brian, T., Brennan, R. T. (2025). Implementation and evaluation of a group peer mentoring and leadership development program for research faculty in academic medicine. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 9(1), e63. doi: 10.1017/cts.2025.37.

Bloom-Feshbach, K. (co-first author), Vasiliou, V. (co-first author), Laird, L., Civian, J. T., Pololi, L., H. (2025). Pandemic Impact on Research Faculty in Academic Medicine: A Mixed Method Study. Women’s Health Reports. 2025 Jan 8;6(1):21-28. doi: 10.1089/whr.2024.0091.

SEPTEMBER 2025

>Dr. Atefeh Yazdanparast had a guest editorial for the special issue on “Future Trends in Consumer Behavior” published in the Journal of Consumer Behaviour. This is an A level journal according to ABDC ranking. This special issue was co-edited by Dr. Yazdanparast and Prachi Gala, Associate Professor of Marketing at Kennesaw State University.

Dr. Yazdanparast also had a paper titled “Color Saturation and Perceived Sensory Intensity: An Account of Psychological Proximity“ published in Psychology & Marketing, an A level journal according to ABDC.

Lastly, Dr. Yazdanparast co-authored a guest editorial titled, Beyond tech gimmicks: omni-digital touchpoints for products and brands,” published in the Journal of Product and Brand Management, an A level journal.

>Drs. Fei Fang and Siti Parida published a paper titled, “Mutual Fund Investor Response to Climate Activism: Evidence from the 2019 Global Climate Strike on Economic Modelling,” in the ABDC A-ranked journal, Economic Modeling.

>Drs. Fang and David Tang, along with two coauthors, published a paper in Finance Research Letters, also an ABDC A-ranked journal, titled, “Insider Risk Aversion and Trade Informativeness.”

> Dr. David Tang published a paper titled, “CEO Social Media Activity and Insider Trading” in Journal of Financial Research, an ABDC A-ranked journal.

> Dr. Ray Wang coauthored a paper titled, “Are Short Sellers the Vanguards of SEC Investigations?”, which was accepted for presentation at the 2025 Financial Management Association Meeting. 

> Dr. Jin Fang was co-author on the following journal articles published during the summer break:

• The Synergy Impact of Private Vehicle Restrictions and Public Transportation Improvements on Commuters: A Case Study of Chengdu, China. Published in:  Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, an ABDC A*-ranked journal.
• A Data Envelopment Analysis-Based Methodology for Ranking Cities and Prioritizing Urban Criteria. Published in: Information Technology and Management, an ABDC B-ranked journal.
• Analyzing Sequential Purchasing Behavior and Prioritizing Brands in Loyalty Programs. Published in Journal of Product & Brand Management, an ABDC A-ranked journal.

> Dr. Rita Wang co-authored a paper accepted for publication at Accounting and Finance titled, “CEOs’ Political Ideology, Social Capital, and Corporate Tax Avoidance.”

> Dr. Jisoo Park had a book chapter titled, “The Double-Edged Sword of Failure Experiences: The Inverted-U Relationship Between Individuals’ Failure Experience and Learning” published by Oxford University Press. Dr. Park will also be presenting a research project titled, “Resilience in Adversity: Adverse Events and the Evolution of Physician Collaborations,” at the 2025 Strategic Management Society Annual Conference. This work has also been nominated for the Responsible Research Paper Prize.

> Dr. Will Wu presented his research at the 2025 American Accounting Association Annual Meeting this past August. His paper is titled: “Seeing through a New Lens: The Impact of Initial Critical Audit Matter Reporting on Audit Delay Across Audit Seasons.”

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Protothon is a multi-step competition whereby students develop innovative product solutions to real-world problems. Having been encouraged by Ray’s finance professor, Dr. David Tang, to be proactive in seeking out competitions, the two “thought Protothon would be a good opportunity for us to get exposure in the product management space.”   

As Ray and Sethi focused on identifying a meaningful challenge to address, they landed on an issue many students experience: access to resources for students with disabilities. To better understand the problem, the team conducted market research, speaking with students from both Clark and Northeastern about their experiences navigating student support options.

Their solution was an app called Claro, which is designed to simplify how students with disabilities access academic accommodations.

“Claro is a Latin word derived from Clarus which means ‘clarity’ or ‘clear’”, Ray explained. “We essentially created an easy pipeline that connects students with disabilities, DAS (Disability Access Services) or Student Accessibility Services, and professors into one unified system, eliminating the student as the manual middleman between disconnected offices.”

Students complete an onboarding process through Canvas where they can describe their disability and upload documentation. The app then creates a permanent “accommodation passport” that stays with them throughout their academic career. Each semester, information is automatically sent to appropriate campus services and staff, with professors and other offices, such as housing, only seeing student needs relevant to their areas. “One tap from the student triggers everything,” Ray added.

The students feel Claro can also help students discover support options they may not know existed. Universities such as Clark offer dozens of possible accommodations; however, often only a small number are used by students. A discovery tool on the app can map a student’s needs with the entirety of the college’s available resources to help ensure they receive the right support. The app also includes an anonymous review feature allowing students to share feedback on the effectiveness of the services.

“To come in third among fifty teams is something we are proud of,” the students agreed. “And if this app can someday help other students, that would be even better.”

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“Some of you will fail. But at least you know you made the journey.”

These words from the former CEO of Ticketmaster, Clark alumnus Fred Rosen, echoed throughout our conversation. Fred is responsible for the company’s massive growth and now complete dominance as a ticket provider in the entertainment industry.

Fred was not what I expected. Honestly, I thought he would dominate the conversation with maybe a touch of arrogance after all his accomplishments. Instead, as the conversation progressed, he showed us an understanding side that knows how difficult it is to grow into yourself. He was open to any dialogue and made it clear he was here for our questions. His story would resonate through conversation with us as Clark students.

Fred was honest from the start.

“I’m kind of proof of the fact that getting great grades doesn’t exactly mean anything,” he said. “I was a terrible student in law school, I was a terrible school student at Clark. But…I learned enough to play.”

“All I’m telling you is, each of you are unique, intelligent, human beings, with a big runway in front of you.”

While a student at Clark, Fred worked multiple jobs, including at Sharfmans Jewelers in Worcester (which is still open today), selling encyclopedias in Lowell, Massachusetts, and doing taxes to make enough money to go to school. Fred graduated from Clark in 1965, then attended Brooklyn Law school, and after a few years working as an attorney, Fred saw an opportunity to purchase a struggling company called Ticketmaster.

From my personal perspective and knowing Ticketmaster as the major retailer where I purchase concert tickets, I laughed when he noted he wasn’t very interested in music at the time, explaining, “I thought Def Leppard was an animal with a hearing problem.” Instead, his reason for building Ticketmaster was because “the economics were different… I created it as a heat shield because the artist didn’t want the public to know what the real price of tickets was. That’s a hard fact.”

Being an entrepreneur is not easy, and Fred touched on that. “Building a business owns you. All day long, you’re thinking about business. And all of that has an impact on relationships.”  Fred talked about his time in the early days of Ticketmaster cold calling and promising secretaries tickets for a spare minute with their bosses. This approach led to 70% of the CEOs he talked to becoming business partners. He learned that you need to push through and be innovative in approaches to create the connections you need to make a name for yourself. “And we kind of changed the world,” he added.

While Fred talked about his business, it was clear that his snippets about what made his career successful carried over to how to live a meaningful life.  Part of the search to understand yourself is going through the tension of what you can handle. Through that, you pressure test yourself and realize what you are capable of.  That journey can feel like a lonely one, but that fear makes you alive.

“Be a sponge. Learn as much as you can from other people. And don’t be afraid. That’s hard to do, because there are nights when you go home, and you’re by yourself in your head, and your stomach is somewhere around your ankles. If you’ve never experienced that, you haven’t lived.”

Like many other students, there are moments where I feel wrapped up in the stress of growing up, so much so I feel like life is passing me by. Yet, I’m only 23. Fred was the needed reminder that we have so much life ahead of us, and that now is the time to try and fall and try and fall again.

“The reality is this, why be safe at 22? This is the time to fail. The great thing is, you’re at the beginning of a journey. That journey’s exciting because the book isn’t written. You got a book that’s an empty page, and the only thing in your book is your name on the first page.”

Fred’s reconstruction of Ticketmaster was guided by sharp intuition and a vision so clear it naturally drew others into his orbit. His meeting with us set the tone for any and all Clarkies that our only limitation is ourselves, because by challenging convention we can change our world.

PS: And if you are complaining the ticket prices are too high, in the words of Fred Rosen, “it’s not life, liberty, and pursuit of concert tickets.” Thanks for the laugh, Fred!

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Students Prajwal Balaji, Akhil Kumar, and Steve Pellissery – all MBA students concentrating in finance – examined the company Wayfair Inc, evaluating its financial performance, competitive positioning, and ESG-related risks to support the team’s investment recommendation. They began their research back in September of 2025, meeting regularly to work on their analysis and report until early January when they presented. At the competition, teams were then judged on their analytical, valuation, report writing, and presentation skills.

The Clark students shined, defeating teams from Boston University, Northeastern University, Merrimack College, and Endicott. As a result, they will be heading to the CFA Society Boston Chapter in February where they will share their research during the Local Finals Presentations, and compete against teams from Babson, UMass, and Western New England.    

“As a team, this experience was an incredible learning opportunity and a meaningful way to connect with industry experts,” Kumar said. “We collectively contributed over 250 hours to produce a professional equity research report for the competition.”

“We could not have achieved this without the guidance of our mentor, Professor David Tang, who supported us throughout the process,” he added.

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We’re spotlighting the leadership of our business school, and we’re excited to start with our fantastic Dean, Dr. Jing Zhang!

Before stepping into the role of Dean of the School of Business, Dr. Zhang spent over two decades as a beloved professor and respected faculty member. Dr. Zhang has played a pivotal role in shaping the School of Business’ growth and success. She is also dedicated to research, which focuses on Management Information Systems (MIS), highlighting interorganizational knowledge sharing and networking.  

Dr. Zhang has been a prominent figure at CUSB, serving as a professor, Academic Associate Dean, Director of the Master of Science in Business Analytics program, and now Interim Dean of the School of Business.  

Dr. Zhang on What Excites Her About This Role:  

“Student success is at the center of everything we do at CUSB. I am most excited about working on initiatives that will put us on the right track for student success.”  

Dr. Zhang on What Sets CUSB apart:  

“We are committed to developing professionals, who will lead with integrity, who understand the broader impact of their decisions, and who are equipped to drive meaningful impact in their organizations and community.”  

Her Favorite Thing About Clark:

“Clark is small place with big heart, challenging convention and changing the world. I like the fact that we locally engaged and globally connected.”

Fun Fact:  

Did you know our Dean is a six-time Boston Marathon finisher?  

Dr. Zhang’s Priorities and Aspirations for CUSB:  

“One of the priorities is to make sure the relevance of our program offering that is AI infused and AI empowered. CUSB is nimble and adaptable, working with a group of collaborative faculty, staff, and students is something I mostly looking forward to”.  

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Read on for some personal student reflections on their summer 2025 internships: 

Name: Rachit Munjal
Major: MBA – Business Analytics 
Company/Position:  Red Rabbit Games; Business Intern 

What’s a highlight or a memorable moment from your internship?  

The highlight was working closely with the CEO and COO to set up Agile practices for the game development team. Seeing the team adopt these changes and becoming more efficient was very rewarding because it showed me how even small process improvements can have a big impact. Another memorable moment was helping with the Kickstarter campaign planning, where I worked on brainstorming reward tiers and marketing ideas. This gave me a real sense of how product and marketing must work hand-in-hand to reach customers, and it was exciting to see how creative ideas could directly shape how a product is received by the community. 

What advice would you give to students currently searching for internships?  

Start early, use your network, and don’t be afraid to reach out to people. Be open to opportunities that may not look traditional at first, because they can give you valuable hands-on experience and often teach you more than you expect. I’d also say to stay positive during the search, because the right opportunity often comes when you least expect it. For me, being open-minded helped me land an internship in the gaming industry, which I hadn’t originally considered, but it turned out to be one of the most rewarding and eye-opening experiences I’ve had. 

Name: Sooki Davies 
Major: BS in Business Management, 2025; MBA, 2026
Company/Position: Martin’s Point Health Care; Accounting Intern 

Highlight or memorable moment? 

My favorite moment was doing an escape room day two with the other interns. We strengthened our teamwork and communication, and we were able to bond during this fun activity! I also really enjoyed the volunteering time the Accounting and Finance team had with Portland Trails — hanging out in an informal manner after working together for several months was really great, and I was able to learn a lot about my team members!  

Advice to students searching for internships?  

Reach out to your network and see what connections you have! I also recommend starting to apply early, around the fall semester. Don’t be scared to get rejected. 

Name: Lucas Cuda 
Major: BS in Finance 
Company/Position: DWS Asset Management; Internal Audit Intern 

Highlight or memorable moment? 

A highlight of my internship at DWS in New York was the final presentation of our intern case study. My group and I worked very hard all summer on a thematic analysis of one of DWS’s funds and a stock pitch on an addition we think would fit into the fund. It resulted in us winning the competition and putting an exclamation point on an amazing internship. 

Advice to students searching for internships?  

My advice is to keep an open mind during the search process. Sometimes the best opportunities are ones you might not have initially considered, and getting your foot in the door of the industry is the best way to end up where you want to be and also to learn about different facets of your field. Also, don’t underestimate the value of preparing well for interviews; being able to clearly communicate your story and interests is just as important as technical skills. 

Name: Kyle Jackson
Major: BS in Finance, 2025; MS-Accounting, 2026
Company/Position: CohnReznick; Audit Intern 

Highlight or memorable moment? 

Working with the Affordable Housing audit team on projects that have a direct influence on communities was one of the highlights of my internship. It was encouraging and fulfilling to be a part of a group that strives to improve the accuracy of affordable housing while also valuing professionalism and accuracy. 

Advice to students searching for internships?  

Act with initiative and an open mind because you never know what will ignite your enthusiasm, so spend time researching companies and sectors that share your interests. However, don’t be afraid to look into areas you may not have looked at first. Throughout the process, networking and posing intelligent queries can have a significant impact. In my experience, I gave all my time trying to get my foot in the door for something I had an interest in. 

Name: Vibha Srinivasa
Major: MS-Business Analytics
Company/Position: Hologic; Service Marketing Analytics Intern 

Highlight or memorable moment? 

A highlight of my internship at Hologic was attending the Scientific Product Support Cytology Lab ThinPrep demo. Seeing the ThinPrep processors in action and getting the chance to look at actual cell samples under the microscope was unforgettable. It was inspiring to see science at the cellular level and understand how this technology contributes to early detection and better patient outcomes. 

Advice to students searching for internships?  

Be open-minded and curious throughout your search. Even if a position doesn’t seem like a “perfect fit” at first, every internship can teach you valuable skills and open unexpected doors. Ask questions, use your network, and don’t be afraid to step into new spaces, you never know what opportunity will shape your path. 

Name: Sharmila Pentapalli
Major: MS-Business Analytics 
Company/Position: MaryRuth’s; People Experience Intern 

Highlight or memorable moment? 

Apart from savoring the satisfaction of completed reports, the product development project I was part of with other interns was a highlight of my internship! I learned a lot from my peers and their way of thinking. Any experience that gives a better perspective and the ability to think innovatively is worth it. 

Advice to students searching for internships?  

Almost everyone you work with will want to know your “why.” I would advise students to do their research about the places they are applying to, not just what you learn by looking at their website, but also things that the company is in the news for, initiatives, employee culture, the impact their products or services have made, and how you want to contribute to that, as well as how your own goals align with it. 

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Clark’s MBA placed 98th on the Best MBA Programs for 2026 published by QS. The organization considered various key ranking factors, including alumni outcomes, employability, value for money, thought leadership, and diversity.

“The School of Business is immensely proud to receive recognition for its MBA program from QS this year,” said Dr. Jing Zhang, interim dean. “The program’s placement in QS’ top 100 rankings is a testament to the positive impacts of our business education experience, as well as the commitments of our students, faculty, staff, and accomplished alumni in ensuring the MBA continues to align with the latest in-demand skills and emerging fields.”

Notably, the MBA also ranked highly with QS for its diversity, achieving a #5 ranking in the United States and #72 globally. The rankings reflect the trend thatClark University remains a destination of choice for students from around the world. Last year’s entering MBA class included students Clark from India, China, Nepal, and Thailand, among other countries.

The QS ranking complements other recognition that the Business School has received. The School ranked #96 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-2025 Best Business School – MBA list, and was included in The Princeton Review’s list of top business schools. To learn more about these and other graduate school rankings, visit the web.

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