Meet Dr. Dr. Kwabena Kesse
Clinical Track Assistant Professor of Finance
About Dr. Kwabena Kesse
Dr. Kwabena Kesse is a Clinical Track Assistant Professor of Finance at CU Denver, where he has been a faculty member since Fall 2021. His diverse academic and professional background spans empirical asset pricing, risk and insurance, behavioral finance, and emerging market business environments.
Dr. Kesse’s research explores key areas in finance, including sovereign risk’s influence on foreign exchange markets, CEO personality traits' impact on business decisions, and the challenges facing small and medium-sized enterprises in emerging markets. His work is published in respected journals such as the Journal of Financial Research, International Business Review, and International Review of Financial Analysis.
Prior to academia, Dr. Kesse worked as an Actuarial Analyst at John Hancock Financial Services and as a Policy Analyst for the Office of the President of Ghana. He also has extensive experience in model validation and consulting on valuations of privately held foreign firms.
Education
- Ph.D. in Finance – University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- M.A. in Actuarial Science – Ball State University
Areas of Expertise
- Empirical Asset Pricing
- Behavioral Finance
- Risk and Insurance
- Emerging Markets Business Environments
Research Highlights
Dr. Kesse’s work combines quantitative finance with a global perspective. Recent publications include:
- "Political Risks, Excess, and Carry Trade Returns in Global Markets" – International Review of Financial Analysis (2023)
- "Corruption and SME Growth: The Roles of Institutional Networking and Financial Slack" – Journal of Institutional Economics (2021)
- "CEO Extraversion and Capital Structure Decisions" – Journal of Financial Research (2020)
His research not only contributes to academic discourse but also informs global financial practices, particularly in emerging markets.
Fun Fact
Dr. Kesse has a deep interest in geopolitics and international relations and enjoys exploring Denver through long walks.
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