Welcome to the Utah Finance Diversity and Inclusion Program, created by doctoral students and staff in Finance at the University of Utah.

The Utah Finance Diversity and Inclusion Program works with rising Finance scholars to foster a community that fully reflects a belief in anti-racism, non-discrimination, diversity, equity, and belonging for all seeking a lifelong pursuit of learning and academic excellence.

We recognize that people in groups such as women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities face unique challenges in pursuing doctorate-level education, and we are committed to supporting them in their journey. 

We aim to provide a space where members can connect with one another, share their experiences, and build a supportive community. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to the success of the Finance industry and to the advancement of knowledge in the field. We believe that a diverse and inclusive community of scholars is necessary to produce high-quality research and to create innovative solutions to complex problems in finance. 

We are committed to promoting the awareness of issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in professions within Finance and to contributing to the development of more inclusive practices and policies in academia as a whole. 

We aim to achieve this mission by: 

1. Providing a supportive community for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in Finance academia. 

2. Encouraging and promoting research that advances the understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in Finance. 

3. Providing mentorship and networking opportunities for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in Finance academia. 

4. Advocating for policies and practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within Finance academia. 

5. Partnering with other organizations to advance our mission and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in Finance academia. 

Overall, our vision is to foster a community of scholars who value and prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of Finance research and teaching, and to create a more equitable and just academic environment for all.

The Utah Finance Diversity and Inclusion Program is comprised of doctoral students and staff from the University of Utah. 

Council

Amy Cyr-Jones

Yang Jie

Yuchen Zhang

Jixing Li

Committee

Fan Li

Vasudha Nair

Paige Nelson

Ryan Voges

In accordance with our mission statement, we aim to provide the following services to the community.

Mentorship

Members of the Utah Finance Diversity and Inclusion Program support mentees in their pursuit of obtaining higher education in Finance. Members draw from their diverse backgrounds and trainings to advise prospective Finance scholars from under-represented groups and to maximize their probability of success in higher education programs.

Outreach

The Utah Finance Diversity and Inclusion Program takes an active role in recruiting the next generation of Finance scholars from minority groups throughout our community. We make an effort to decrease barriers to entry for these groups by disseminating information that increases the chance of application and acceptance to graduate-level Finance programs. We also relate knowledge and experience that improve the chances of retainment and success in high-level, high-stress programs in order to improve the diversity of the pool of developing Finance researchers and scholars. 

Please contact us if you have mentoring or outreach service opportunities.

Jonathan Brogaard, Director

E-mail: brogaardj@eccles.utah.edu 

Phone: 801-587-7325

Mail: 1655 East Campus Center Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-8939