David C. Brown

David C. Brown is an Associate Professor of Finance at the Eller College of Management, University of Arizona, holding the Brian and Clara Franke Endowed Chair in Finance. He joined the faculty in 2014 after completing his PhD at the University of Colorado Boulder. His roles include teaching Financial Modeling and Critical Thinking in Finance, and he is the founder of the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Finance, University of Colorado Boulder, 2014
• Master of Science in Finance (university not specified)

David Brown's research spans several key areas in finance, with a focus on institutional investors and asset management, early-stage financing through crowdfunding and IPOs, price feedback mechanisms, and tax implications in retirement planning. His work combines theoretical, empirical, and computational methods to address complex financial market phenomena, contributing significantly to understanding market efficiency, investor behavior, and corporate finance decisions.

His publication record demonstrates a strong trend in analyzing modern financial instruments and market structures, particularly ETFs, crowdfunding platforms, and retirement investment vehicles. His research often explores the interplay between market design, investor incentives, and regulatory frameworks, with a recurring theme of information asymmetry and its consequences for market efficiency and investor outcomes.

Among his notable scientific achievements are:

• NASDAQ OMX Group Ph.D. Dissertation Grant (2013)
• McGraw-Hill/Irwin Distinguished Paper Award (2013)
• Member of the Finance Theory Group (2019)
• Top 50 Undergraduate Business Professor by Poets&Quants (2022)
• Microsoft Excel MVP

David Brown actively mentors students through his finance courses and competitive events like the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge. He secured the NASDAQ OMX Group Ph.D. Dissertation Grant during his doctoral studies. His industry experience prior to academia, including high-frequency trading and private student lending, informs his practical approach to finance education and research.

He leads initiatives such as the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge and collaborates with the Finance Theory Group, fostering innovation in financial modeling education and research.