Biography
Dr. Kathy Farrell became the James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business on Dec. 1, 2017, after serving nearly a year as interim dean. She led an inclusive strategic planning process that resulted in a new mission, guiding principles and initiatives to advance the college.
Under her leadership, the college launched a business analytics major, a business and law major, the Seacrest Teaching Fellows program, the Inclusive Business Leaders program and several new online graduate and professional development programs. She also increased donor support to double the number of endowed faculty chairs and expanded student services, providing free tutoring, more scholarships and retention-focused initiatives.
An experienced academic and business leader, Farrell was elected to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) Board of Directors in 2023. She formerly served the College of Business as associate dean for four years and chair of the Department of Finance for two years. She serves on the boards of directors of Lincoln-based organizations Nelnet, Inc., Assurity, Inc., Bryan Health, and Lincoln Community Foundation, among other nonprofit boards and committees.
Farrell joined the College of Business faculty in 1993 and taught corporate finance and banking for more than 20 years. She earned tenure in 2001, became a full professor in 2009 and received both the Distinguished Teaching Award and the University Distinguished Teaching Award.
Farrell’s research interests include executive compensation, executive turnover and succession, and other corporate governance issues. Her publications have appeared in such journals as the Journal of Business, Journal of Accounting and Economics, Journal of Corporate Finance, Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, National Tax Journal, Journal of Banking and Finance, Journal of Financial Research and others.
Prior to earning her Ph.D. in finance from the University of Georgia, Farrell was an auditor for KPMG Peat Marwick in Baltimore and Atlanta and earned the designation of Certified Public Accountant (inactive). She received her bachelor's degree from Kent State University in Ohio.
Undergraduate Courses
Advanced Corporate Finance (FINA 461)
Introduction to Finance Honors (FINA 361)
Bank Management (FINA 465)
Graduate Courses
Corporate Readings Ph.D. Seminar (FINA 969)
Managerial Finance, MBA (GRBA 811)
Teaching Interests
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Corporate Finance
- Banking