Rafael Copat

Rafael Copat is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), affiliated with the Jindal School of Management. His research focuses on corporate governance mechanisms, proxy advisors' influence, executive compensation structures, and board dynamics. He teaches introductory managerial accounting to undergraduates.

Education includes a Ph.D. and M.A. in Business Administration from Rice University (2019), and prior degrees from Brazilian institutions: an M.S. in Business Administration (2009) and Specialist in Management Controllership (2007) from Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, plus a B.S. in Business Administration (2005) from Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul.

Research interests emphasize proxy advisors' role in shareholder voting, conflicts of interest in corporate decision-making, and how social unrest events like George Floyd's murder drive corporate diversity reforms. His work bridges governance theory with real-world executive compensation practices.

Key publications analyze proxy advisor methodologies, Latin American capital structure patterns, and post-social unrest corporate policy adjustments. He has no listed awards but maintains active research in governance and finance intersections.

Labs/Teams: Not explicitly mentioned, but research collaborations likely exist through UTD's JSOM department.