LANSING, MI, July 15, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Kristina Y. Lalova has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Kristina Lalova has established herself as a promising researcher in labor and behavioral finance, distinguished by her innovative work examining employee morale's impact on corporate financial outcomes. After completing a successful term as a fixed-term assistant professor at the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University (2023-2025), she is joining Ramapo College's Anisfeld School of Business as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Finance in 2025. Her research contributes fresh perspectives to understanding the intersection of human capital and financial performance.

Dr. Lalova's research focuses on the novel application of employee satisfaction data in financial analysis. Her paper "Predicting Bankruptcy: Ask the Employees," co-authored with John Knopf, received the Best Paper in Business Analytics Award at the International Business Analytics Conference at SUNY Fredonia in 2024. This research explores how employee satisfaction metrics can serve as early indicators of corporate bankruptcy, potentially identifying financial distress two to three years before traditional models. The work suggests that incorporating human capital metrics may enhance bankruptcy prediction accuracy.

Her research portfolio includes five major papers that have been presented at over 40 top-tier finance conferences worldwide, including the Harvard-Wharton Insolvency and Restructuring Conference, the European Finance Association Annual Meeting, and the Financial Management Association conferences. Her work has garnered attention from leading academic and industry publications, including features in the Harvard Law School Bankruptcy Roundtable, Oxford Business Law Blog, and the ECGI Blog.

At Michigan State University, Dr. Lalova has distinguished herself as a patient educator, teaching Introduction to Investments to over 250 students over two years. Her teaching methodology, which integrates real-world market events and textbook theory, has earned her exceptional student evaluations. Previously at the University of Connecticut, she received the Finance Department PhD Student Teacher Award in 2022, recognizing her contributions to finance education.

Dr. Lalova's commitment to student development extends beyond the classroom. She supervises independent study projects on topics ranging from private equity investments in soccer clubs to congressional stock trading patterns, mentoring both undergraduate and graduate researchers.

Dr. Lalova's expertise is backed by an impressive array of professional certifications that demonstrate her commitment to staying at the forefront of financial innovation:

• Financial Model and Valuation Analyst (FMVA) certification from CFI

• Advanced certifications in Python for Asset Management and Algorithmic Trading from The Python Quants

• Sustainable Investments and Alternative Investments certificates from Harvard Business School Online

Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Connecticut (2023), where she was fully funded by the Finance Department and received multiple summer research fellowships. She graduated summa cum laude from Drexel University with dual majors in Finance and Accounting (GPA: 3.95), supported by the prestigious Drexel University Global Scholar Full Scholarship worth over $45,000.

Dr. Lalova's research has helped us gain a deeper understanding of corporate finance through the lens of human capital. Her job market paper, "The Value of Employee Morale in Mergers and Acquisitions: Evidence from Glassdoor," reveals how emotional contagion between merging firms significantly impacts post-merger performance. This research has practical implications for how companies approach due diligence and integration planning.

Her current research on private equity investments in soccer clubs breaks new ground by examining the tension between financial and social value creation in sports organizations. This work, featured in PE Sports and the ECGI Blog, uses sophisticated network analysis to show how PE ownership affects team dynamics and on-field performance.

Beyond her research and teaching, Dr. Lalova serves on Michigan State University's Committee on Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom, championing intellectual discourse in academia. She actively contributes to the finance community through her membership in prestigious organizations including the American Finance Association, Financial Management Association International, and the CFA Institute.

Her commitment to social impact is evident through her volunteer leadership role with the American Red Cross Michigan Chapter, where she leads recruitment initiatives and analyzes volunteer engagement data. From 2019 to 2022, she also contributed as a blog writer for the Novak Djokovic Foundation, combining her analytical skills with philanthropic outreach.

Looking ahead, Dr. Lalova envisions launching a collaborative research platform along with her fiancé and a vegan blog featuring recipes accompanied by cooking videos and food photography. She is also determined to enhance her research skills, publish a book, and delve into new opportunities within the trading sector. Dr. Lalova's unwavering belief in self-improvement continues to drive her success as she strives to make positive contributions to both academia and society at large.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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