Alumni Testimonial
| "The Nicholas Center for Corporate Finance and Investment Banking is a very specialized program with very few students, which is evidence of its high quality. My contact with the school - before being admitted - was with Cindie Adams, the director of the Nicholas Center, and our conversation only reassured me that I made a very good choice by applying to the Nicholas Center." |
 |
| Dilek Gurel Nicholas 2006 Macquarie Capital Advisers |
| "In my opinion, this is the best corporate finance program in the country. It may not have the name that University of Chicago or Wharton does...yet...but you cannot get this type of experience at any other school. I've talked to students from other schools while at interviews and not one of them gets to do the types of projects that we do here. Nor do they get the type of support that we do." |
 |
| Erin Schmidt Nicholas 2005 SAB Miller |
| What's Grown 800% Since 1999? Hint: It's Not the Stock Market. A Retrospective by Nicholas Center for Corporate Finance and Investment Banking (formerly ACFN) Academic Director Professor Jim Seward |
In the News
Nicholas Center Team |
|
 |
|
Barb Peterson (Program Coordinator), Jim Seward (Academic Director) & Cindie Adams (Center Director) |
|
The core courses in the first year have approximately 50-60 students per class. The finance courses have 25-30. All other electives are between 2-40 students. In the second year, Nicholas students work on consulting projects for companies, banks and consulting firms worldwide. Each team consists of four MBA students and two undergraduate research analysts per one faculty member. These teams also give MBA students the opportunity to manage and delegate tasks to the undergraduate research analysts. Each consulting engagement lasts approximately 7-8 weeks, providing a breadth of practical experience throughout the second year. Our highly regarded student/faculty ratio is one of our program's many strengths. |
|
|
James K. Seward Associate Professor in Finance, 608-263-2738 Areas of Expertise
|
| Associate Professor Jim Seward, was quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel regarding a proposed Milwaukee County pension bond deal. | |
 |
|
|
Associate Professor in Finance, Degree 608-265-3494 Areas of Expertise
|
Biography Kenneth A. Kavajecz joined the School of Business in summer 2003. He came to Madison from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he most recently was an assistant professor. Kavajecz earned his Ph.D. and M.S. from Northwestern University, both in finance. He earned his B.S. in economics/political science from UW-Madison. While at Wharton, he received numerous teaching awards. He is a member of the Economic Advisory Board of the National Association of Securities Dealers. More on Professor Kavajecz |
|
|
|
|
Antonio S. Mello Professor - Finance, Investment Degree 608-263-3423 Areas of Expertise
|
Biography Antonio S. Mello is former Director of Finpro, a European private equity firm and sits on the investment committee of Norfin, a real estate investment trust. Mello is a past president of the European Financial Management Association and a board member of the Financial Management Association US. Professor Mello is a Research Fellow of the Center of Economic Policy Research in London. Previously, Mello was Chief Economist of the Central Bank of Portugal and a member of the Subcommittee of Monetary Policy of European Union Central Bank Governors. He taught at the MIT Sloan School of Management, London Business School and INSEAD, France. Mello has consulting experience with governments, international institutions and private financial institutions and corporations worldwide. His Ph.D. is from the University of London. |
|
|
|
|
Mark J. Ready Associate Professor - Finance, Degree 608-262-5526 Areas of Expertise
|
Biography Mark J. Ready is an Associate Professor of Finance and Aschenbrener Faculty Scholar at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business. He recently served as Chief Economist and Director of the Office of Economic Analysis at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Prior to that appointment, he was a member of the Nasdaq’s Economic Advisory Board. Professor Ready’s research focuses on the functioning of financial markets. For example, his 2006 Review of Financial Studies paper(co-authored with professor Odders-White), examines the link between a firm's debt ratings and the trading characteristics of the its common stock. Before beginning his academic career, Professor Ready spent seven years in finance positions at Ford Motor Company. |
|
|
|
|
Cynthia Adams Center Director - Nicholas Center for 608-265-3996
|
|
Barb Peterson Program Coordinator 608-262-1553
|
