Walk five minutes west of the Driehaus College of Business to the intersection of Jackson and LaSalle, and you’ll be in the heart of Chicago’s financial district. Our college and this vibrant community of banks, exchanges, investment firms and other financial services have enjoyed a close relationship for more than 75 years—ever since DePaul first offered students an opportunity to major in finance and banking.
Our connection is more than just proximal—it’s synergistic. DePaul is a major provider of alumni and intern talent for Chicago financial institutions. Financial leaders provide us with practical advice for designing a curriculum that prepares our graduates to succeed. Many of these leaders, including finance pioneer Richard H. Driehaus, also donate generously to DePaul to support teaching, research and scholarships.
Our professors regularly share research with industry experts at conferences co-hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and other major institutions. Meanwhile, the DePaul Finance Institute’s trio of centers connects faculty, students, alumni and industry representatives on campus.
The effects of this synergy are far-reaching. Our finance degree programs and the city’s status as a major financial hub attract international students to DePaul. Our finance alumni are well prepared to work not only in Chicago, but also in New York and other major financial centers around the world. DePaul also collaborates with institutions locally and internationally to provide programs tailored to specific industry needs.
The university’s CEO Initiative and our graduate program recently formed partnerships with Northern Trust and MB Financial to launch MBA programs for their employees. Another MBA program partnership between DePaul and the Bahrain Institute for Banking and Finance celebrates its 15th year this fall.
In our main story, we explore the benefits finance alumni, students, faculty and industry have realized from these relationships. I also invite you to read about our newest finance faculty member, Professor Hongjun Yan. Appointed in July as Richard H. Driehaus Chair in Behavioral Finance, Hongjun will further advance our cutting-edge research and real-world teaching in finance.
Ray Whittington
Dean Driehaus College of Business
