Cecilia Dones (DBA, ’25)

Founder and Chief Data Officer, 3 Standard Deviations

Dr. Cecilia Dones is an AI, data, and analytics practitioner-academic with over 15 years of experience spanning Fortune 500 companies, academia, and consulting. She is the founder of 3 Standard Deviations, a consultancy focused on leveraging analytics to decode human behavior and foster trust between individuals and brands.

Cecilia has taught at leading business schools including Columbia Business School, MIT Sloan, and Wharton, with expertise in AI applications, data storytelling, and the impact of technology on human interactions.

Her research explores interpersonal trust within immersive digital environments. Cecilia additionally holds a BS in Marketing and International Business from NYU Stern and a MA in Statistics from Columbia University. She is also the author of the “Authentic Interactions” newsletter, which examines the intersection of technology, data, and authenticity.

DBA Dissertation: Navigating the Digital Frontier: Understanding Belief Patterns in Resource Constrained Virtual Environments

Lan Guan (DBA, ’25)

Chief A.I. Officer, Accenture

Dr. Lan Guan is the Chief AI Officer at Accenture, where she partners with C-suite leaders across industries to design and implement data and AI strategies that drive growth in the era of Generative AI. She also leads Accenture’s Center for Advanced AI, the AI epicenter that enables enterprises to capture and create value from their AI investment by leveraging deep AI experts, differentiated scalable assets and solutions underpinned by data prowess and industry knowledge, and market-leading thought leadership and research.

Lan holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Baruch College, The City University of New York, and an MBA in Computational Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

DBA Dissertation: Understanding Scaled Implementation of Gen AI in Enterprise: A T-O-E-Perspective

Namjae Kim (DBA, ’25)

Dr. Namjae (James) Kim manages corporate agenda and risk for emerging technology, compliance, and digital operations at Naver, South Korea’s leading IT company. Previously, he held leadership roles in operations and marketing at WEBTOON Entertainment, helping establish it as the top U.S. digital comic platform. He was also a PhD candidate in Marketing at the University of Maryland and holds an MSc from Seoul National University and a BBA from Korea University.

DBA Dissertation: Do Backers Always Herd? An Investigation into Intrapersonal Herding Behavior over Time in Crowdfunding

Heather Marso (DBA, ’25)

Vice President and Product Manager for Group Benefits Engagement Strategy, MetLife

Dr. Heather Marso is the Vice President and Product Manager for Group Benefits Engagement Strategy. She is a driven and passionate professional, with a purpose-led approach. With 20+ years of experience in the financial services industry, she has been with MetLife since 2007, serving in several roles across finance, strategy, digital, and business. In her Product Management role, she is focused on driving customer value through key communications with employees during moments that matter. Before starting with MetLife, Heather worked for Wachovia Securities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, managing investment portfolios on the New York Stock Exchange for Brazilian clientele.

Heather holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Concordia College, an MBA in finance and international business from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and her Doctor of Business Administration from Baruch College. She is a Chartered Leadership Fellow (CLF®) through the American College of Financial Services and speaks fluent Brazilian Portuguese.

DBA Dissertation: For the Benefit of All? Gatekeepers and Health Literacy in the Employee Benefits Insurance Industry

Carlos Salazar (DBA, ’25)

Chief A.I Officer, Kalosys

Dr. Carlos E. Salazar Urrea is a seasoned executive and strategic advisor with over 20 years of experience driving breakthrough growth in deep-tech industries. He earned his DBA researching how artificial intelligence empowers organizations to transform and adapt, creating a “co-intelligence advantage” between humans and AI.

As Chief AI Officer at Kalosys, Carlos specializes in human-centric AI transformation, helping organizations integrate cutting-edge AI technologies with practical frameworks for sustainable growth. His approach combines strategic leadership, high-performance coaching, and advanced decision-making methodologies to help leaders and teams thrive in complex, rapidly changing environments.

Carlos is passionate about fostering AI-human partnerships that drive innovation while maintaining a human-first approach to technology adoption and organizational development.

DBA Dissertation: AI for Strategic Edge: An Empirical Analysis of Learning Economics at the Firm Level

Martin K. Farrell (DBA, ’24)

Certified Public Accountant, MK Farrell (retired), Adjunct Professor, Adelphi University and Nassau Community College

Martin Farrell is a Certified Public Accountant with extensive experience in accounting and taxation. He also lectures as an Adjunct Accounting Professor at Adelphi University and Nassau Community College. Aside from his current practice, he has worked for the accounting firm of KPMG, the Investment Bank of Bears Stearns and Company, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He holds an AS degree from Nassau Community College and BBA and MBA degrees from Hofstra University.

DBA Dissertation: Lighting the Way into the Future: The Future of Energy Economics

Manjiree Jog (DBA, ’24)

Manjiree Jog joined New York University Stern School of Business as a Clinical Instructor of Finance and Executive Director of the Master of Science in Risk Management Program in January 2012, after working for NYU Stern as an administrator since 2009. In 2019 she was appointed as Deputy Chair of the Finance department.

Prior to working at NYU Stern, Professor Jog spent a decade working in the financial services industry in New York and London. She began her finance career at Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette as part of the Telecom Equity Research and Telecom M&A groups. In 2000, she joined Restoration Capital, a hedge fund focusing on distressed investments, where she was in charge of the distressed telecom investments. In 2003, she moved to London and worked as a Research Analyst in the hedge fund group of Societe Generale, covering capital structure arbitrage trade ideas.

Professor Jog received a B.Com. in Accounting from the University of Pune in India. She received an M.B.A. from NYU Stern and a Chartered Accountant certification from the Indian Institute of Chartered Accountants. She has a Doctor of Business Administration from Zicklin School of Business.

DBA Dissertation: Investigating the Kill Zone: Evidence from the Virtual Reality Sector

Daniel Kearney (DBA, ’24)

Director of Human Resources, King School 

Daniel Kearney currently works as a Director of Human Resources for King School in Stamford, Connecticut where he leads the Human Resources and Payroll functions. He has held several positions in the healthcare industry. Most recently, he was the Director of Human Resources for White Plains Hospital, a member of the Montefiore Health System. He has held several positions in healthcare over the past twenty-five years. He started his Human Resources Management career with Mt. Sinai Hospital/Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in Labor Relations and finished as a Regional Director of Human Resources. He has taught as an Adjunct Lecturer at Baruch College and has a Master of Science in Industrial Labor Relations from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business and a Bachelor’s Degree in Labor Studies from Queens College.

DBA Dissertation: Examining Employees’ Perceptions of Exempt and Non-Exempt Status

John D. McIntosh (DBA, ’24)

Associate Dean, Clinical Administration, New York University College of Dentistry

John McIntosh is the Associate Dean of Clinical Administration and Revenue Cycle Management at NYU College of Dentistry. He leads a multifaceted portfolio that is central to the operational excellence and strategic growth of the institution. He is responsible for the following departments: Electronic Health Records, Revenue Cycle Management, Clinical Operations, Patient Center Care, Central Sterilization, Materials Management, Revenue Compliance, the Central Dental Laboratory, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, and the Brooklyn Patient Care Center. He has a BS degree in management from Pace University and an MPA in Finance and Management from Columbia University.

DBA Dissertation: The Impact of Technology on Organizational Performance: How AI Innovations in Learning Environments Can Improve Dental School Outcomes in the US

Gregory Y. Sivin (DBA, ’24)

Principal and Director of Quantitative Portfolio Management, Bessemer Trust

Greg Sivin is principal and director of quantitative portfolio management at Bessemer Trust. In this role, he oversees the management of all quantitative portfolios. He is also Co-Portfolio Manager of the Bessemer Sustainable Leaders. Greg is a member of the firm’s Corporate Information Security & Privacy Committee and the Liquidity & Pricing Committee. He is an adjunct professor at Fordham University. He is a contributing author for the CFA Institute’s CIPM® Program and has co-authored research papers published in The Journal of Index Investing, The Journal of Investing, and The Journal of Wealth Management. Greg has an M.S. in applied statistics and decision-making from Fordham University, and a B.S. in applied mathematics and statistics from Stony Brook University. He is a CFA® charter holder.

DBA Dissertation: Determining the Drivers of Banking Profitability: A Global Analysis

Edward Aw (DBA, ’22)

Managing Director and Head of Quantitative Strategies, Bessemer Trust

Edward Aw is managing director and head of quantitative strategies at Bessemer Trust, where he is responsible for driving security selection, portfolio construction, and risk management. He is a member of the firm’s investment policy and strategy committee and investment risk committee, and an adjunct professor of finance at Fordham University and Hofstra University. Ed is also a contributing author for the CFA Institute’s CIPM® Program, and has co-authored research papers published in The Journal of Investing, The Journal of Wealth Management, The Journal of Index Investing, and Applied Financial Economics. Ed has an MBA from Hofstra University and a BA in economics from Stony Brook University.  

DBA Dissertation: The Death of Active Management Has Been Greatly Exaggerated: “To Unmask Falsehood and Bring Truth to Light”

James D’Arcangelo (DBA, ’22)

Senior Manager, KPMG LLP Department of Professional Practice 

James D’Arcangelo is a senior manager in KPMG LLP’s Department of Professional Practice, where he is responsible for driving consistent quality audits through global audit methodology and policies. He has a BBA in accountancy from the Zicklin School of Business. 

DBA Dissertation: The JOBS Act, Voluntary Disclosure, and Audit Fees 

Joan Miao (DBA, ’22)

Joan Miao’s most recent position was clinical instructor of accounting at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York. Joan also spent several years at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. She has an MBA degree from Columbia Business School and a BBA from the Zicklin School of Business, and is a CFA® charterholder. 

DBA Dissertation: The Link between Incentive Compensation and Earnings Quality for Top Executives at Different Vesting Intervals 

Julie Monroid (DBA, ’22)

Partner, Chief Knowledge Officer, Havas Health & You
Managing Principal, xigxag consulting 

Julie Monroid is partner and chief knowledge officer of Havas Health & You as well as managing partner of xigxag consulting. She has an MBA from the University of California-Irvine Graduate School of Management and a BA from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. 

DBA Dissertation: Development of the Patient Propensity Indicator: Measuring and Predicting Antecedents of Insights into the Individual Management of Healthcare

Errol L. Pierre (DBA, ’22)

Senior Vice President, State Programs, Healthfirst

Errol Pierre is senior vice president of state programs at Healthfirst, where he leads strategy, sales, retention, and community engagement across the company’s Medicaid, commercial, and long-term care product portfolios. He has a BS in business administration with a concentration in finance from Fordham University and an MPA in health policy & financial management from New York University. 

DBA Dissertation:  Citizenship as a Social Determinant of Health: Healthcare Access and Utilization in the Wake of the Public Charge Policy Change

Jihoon Rim (DBA, ’22)

Adjunct Professor, NYU Stern School of Business 

Jihoon Rim is an adjunct professor at NYU Stern School of Business and former CEO of Kakao Corporation, a South Korean technology company. Before leading Kakao, he founded and led KCube Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm, and worked at Softbank Ventures Asia, The Boston Consulting Group, and Naver. In addition to his DBA degree, Jihoon has an engineering degree from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology. 

DBA Dissertation: How Innovation Occurs in the Software Industry: A Qualitative Study on Innovation Management 

Vivian M. Williams (DBA, ’22)

Principal and Managing Attorney, VMW Law  

Vivian Williams is principal and managing attorney of VMW Law, a full-service law firm with offices in the United States and the Caribbean. His practice includes cross-border mergers & acquisitions, intellectual property, antitrust, corporate reorganization, crisis management, innovation and entrepreneurship, real estate, and appellate advocacy. In addition to his DBA degree from the Zicklin School, he holds a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in intellectual property law from Benjamin Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, an LLM in global antitrust law and economics from George Mason University, and an Executive MBA from the TRIUM program, an alliance between the NYU Stern School of Business, the London School of Economics, and HEC Paris. He also has a master’s degree in strategic public relations from the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. 

DBA Dissertation: The Many Sides of Social Capital: How Social Capital Is Related to Entrepreneurship?

Schiro Withanachchi (DBA, ’22)

Associate Dean of School of Business, Queens College 

Schiro Withanachchi is the Associate Dean of the School of Business at Queens College, The City University of New York. She has also served as the Director of the honors Business and Liberal Arts (BALA) program. After an early career with Lockheed Martin (Aircraft) Corporation, she transitioned to higher education. As a Lecturer in Economics, her research centers on internationalization, innovation, and management theories. Schiro has published and presented at academic and practitioner conferences and served on Advisory Councils. She is the recipient of an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant (2016), the Stevens Initiative grant (2021-2023), and the President’s Faculty Diversity and Inclusion Award for Excellence in Teaching (2021) by virtue of her initiatives and innovative pedagogy. Schiro earned a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Syracuse University and an MBA in Decision Sciences from St. John’s University. 

DBA Dissertation: Ethnicity and Global Dexterity: Influence of Upper Echelon Attributes on Firm Innovation and Performance