Dean Oliver Yao and Deputy Dean Sheryl Kline of the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics welcomed faculty, students, family and friends to the inaugural Lerner Distinguished Faculty Speaker Series held at the FinTech Innovation Hub on March 3.
The ceremony honored two faculty members who were recently named to prestigious professorships: Bintong Chen, who was named Chaplin Tyler Professor, and Carlos Asarta, who was named Bank of America Professor of Business.
Yao began the event by welcoming attendees and congratulating Chen and Asarta on their achievements. In recognizing the two professors for their excellence in scholarship, teaching, and service, he also highlighted how the diverse faculty at Lerner pursues impactful scholarship while also sharing expertise.
“Through their work, they generate new knowledge, propose innovative solutions to pressing business and economic challenges, and utilize the latest theories, analytics, and technology to drive progress,” Yao said.
He also touched on the impact professors such as Chen and Asarta will have on the future.
“Lerner faculty are not only shaping minds in the classroom—they are also shaping the future of their respective fields.”
After his introduction, Yao welcomed Kline, who is also the ARAMARK Chair Professor, to the podium. Kline gave brief introductions of both professors, starting with Asarta. She spoke on his distinguished leadership in economic education, which includes his positions as the James B. O’Neill Director of the Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship and the director of the Master of Arts in Economics and Entrepreneurship for Educators. She also highlighted how Asarta’s scholarly work has been widely recognized in academia, and his immeasurable contributions to teaching and service have been acknowledged through numerous awards.
While introducing Chen, Kline addressed his exemplary scholarship in operations management in analytics, specifically his role in advancing research and education in the financial analytics field. His leadership through IFSA, the FSAN graduate programs, and the Joint Data Science Institute between UD and SWUFE in Chengdu, China also highlights his contributions to research and student success. Kline concluded by emphasizing how Chen and Asarta’s excellence reflect Lerner’s goals and values.
“These professorships recognize not just a body of work but an ongoing commitment to shaping the future of business education, research, and innovation. We are incredibly fortunate to have Carlos and Bintong as part of our Lerner College community,” she said.
Chen was invited up to the podium to speak first. His research focuses on optimization theory and business applications in supply chain management, for which he has earned international recognition and been published in multiple journals. At the conclusion of his speech, Chen thanked fellow colleagues he worked with, some of whom were in attendance, as well as his wife, who sat in the audience.
After Chen’s speech, Asarta was invited up to the podium. He highlighted his academic path that led to his inspiration for his work, which focuses on economic education, technology in the classroom, and financial literacy. Through CEEE, Asarta has worked with K-12 students, fostering an understanding of financial education in children from a young age. Towards the end of his speech, Asarta thanked his wife and children for supporting him, as well as his parents, who flew in from Spain for the event.
Both Chen and Asarta were presented with plaques representing their outstanding achievements. Attendees were invited to enjoy a catered dinner in the reception after the awards were presented.