News Release

Trejo-Pech awarded best paper in academic research by FEA

Notable research on CFA University Recognition Program

Grant and Award Announcement

University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

Carlos Trejo-Pech, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

image: Carlos Trejo-Pech, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, received the Best Paper Award in academic research by the Financial Education Association. The winning paper, "Assessing the CFA University Recognition Program: A Survey Based Analysis," was coauthored with Terrance Grieb and Magdy Noguera from the University of Idaho. view more 

Credit: Photo by T. Johnson, courtesy UTIA.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- A research article coauthored by Carlos Trejo-Pech, assistant professor of agribusiness finance in the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC), has received the prestigious 2016 Best Paper Award in academic research from the Financial Education Association (FEA). FEA is a professional association of finance academicians devoted to financial education.

The winning paper, "Assessing the CFA University Recognition Program: A Survey Based Analysis," was coauthored with Terrance Grieb and Magdy Noguera from the University of Idaho. The trio received the Best Paper Award in September at the 2016 FEA conference held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The paper focuses on the process of establishing and administrating a CFA-URP within a finance major. The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation has been referred to as a substitute for an MBA for those pursuing careers in investments and wealth management. As a result, the demand for programs providing the CFA skillset has led to an increase in the number of schools looking for formal relations with the CFA Institute, prompting the institute to create the CFA University Recognition Program (CFA-URP).

A notable finding from the research reveals that faculty reported significant curriculum improvement due to the CFA-URP in two academic domains: alternative investments and ethical and professional standards.

The noted curriculum improvement, along with the possibility of qualifying for CFA program scholarships, may make universities participating in CFA-URP particularly attractive. The University of Tennessee participates in the CFA University Recognition Program.

"The experience and expertise that Carlos brings enables us to greatly expand our research and teaching efforts in the agribusiness finance arena," said Chris Clark, interim AREC department head. "The recognition of his work from his peers confirms what we already knew - Carlos is on his way to being an outstanding and widely recognized researcher in his field."

Trejo-Pech, who joined the AREC faculty this year, teaches advanced agribusiness finance and conducts research in the areas of agribusiness, finance and the case method.

Through its mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. ag.tennessee.edu

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