Mahnaz Mahdavi

Mahnaz Mahdavi is a Professor of Economics at Smith College and Faculty Director of the Global Finance Concentration. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a B.A. in Finance from N.I.O.C.

• Research focuses on exchange rate determination, financial markets, and financial literacy
• Recipient of 2008 Distinguished Professor of the Year and inaugural Sherrerd Teaching Award (2004)
• Founder and former director of Smith’s Center for Women and Financial Independence (2001–2017)

Her scholarly work bridges empirical finance and behavioral economics, emphasizing financial confidence metrics and gender-specific financial education gaps. She has served on multiple advisory boards including Cooley Dickinson Hospital and the Institute for Global Finance Research and Management (INGRAM).