Trulaske’s Dawdy Speaker Series brings author, corporate finance scholar to campus
Students at the University of Missouri’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business recently had the opportunity to hear from author and leading corporate finance scholar Dr. Erik Lie.
Dr. Lie explored how financial misconduct is detected, why it occurs, and what young professionals can learn from these real-world cases to strengthen their sense of governance and ethical decision-making.
“Erik did an exceptional job drawing on academic research and distilling it in a way that resonates with students, which is key to strengthening their connection to the research produced in our field,” said Matthew Glendening, interim director of the School of Accountancy at Trulaske. “Experiences like this help students see beyond the textbook and understand how the concepts they learn are applied in meaningful, real-world ways.”
Dr. Lie’s research uncovered widespread manipulation of stock option grant dates, which triggered a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation. In recognition of his research, Dr. Lie received The Wall Street Journal’s Pulitzer Prize for Public Service and Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.
Originally from Norway, Dr. Lie earned his degrees from the University of Oregon and Purdue before pursuing a degree in academia. His research interests have included payout policy, mergers and acquisitions, executive compensation, corporate distress, and risk. In his book, “Catching Cheats,” Dr. Lie explores how data analysis can expose systemic fraud and corporate wrongdoing.
“My hope is that students walked away with a deeper appreciation for how data and analytics can be used not just to understand business, but to hold it accountable,” Glendening said. “I hope students see that behind every dataset is a story — and that with the right tools and mindset, they can be the ones uncovering it.”
Dr. Lie’s presentation to Trulaske students was part of the Dawdy Speaker Series. Inspired by Jay Dawdy, BS Acc '89, a highly respected leader in the investigations and business intelligence fields, the series focuses on fraud examination, forensic investigations, and related regulatory matters.
“Hearing from leading experts like Dr. Lie helps equip Trulaske students to be analytical thinkers after graduation,” said Balaji Rajagopalan, Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. Dean of the Trulaske College of Business. “We are grateful to Dr. Lie for sharing his first-hand insights, and to Jay Dawdy for helping prepare tomorrow’s leaders through his engagement and his example.”
Mizzou’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business prepares students for success as global citizens, business leaders, scholars, innovators and entrepreneurs by providing access to transformative technologies, offering experience-centered learning opportunities and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.