Sara E. Shirley

Dr. Sara E. Shirley is an Associate Professor of Finance and Director of the Data Science undergraduate program at the Jones College of Business, Middle Tennessee State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Finance from Southern Illinois University (2014), an MBA from Canisius College (2009), and a BS from Canisius College (2008). Her primary research focuses on mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs), with emphasis on investor behavior, fund strategies, and market dynamics. She is also a Faculty Fellow in the Data Science Institute, reflecting her interdisciplinary work in data-driven financial analysis.

Dr. Shirley teaches courses such as Financial Modeling (FIN 3110/6110) and introductory data science (DATA 1500). She has published in top journals including Journal of Financial Markets, Financial Management, and Journal of Banking and Finance, receiving multiple awards for her research. Her work explores topics like ETF integration in mutual funds, investor attention via social media, and climate risk implications in financial markets.

She has received notable awards including the FMA 2019 Top Ten Session and Southern Finance Association WRDS Outstanding Paper Award. Her research often bridges empirical finance with modern data science techniques, as seen in her role directing the Data Science program and leading initiatives in the Data Science Institute.