JFMP mentors are senior finance faculty who work with junior colleagues in the early stages of their academic careers. Each mentor takes three mentees, matched by research area, at a one-day workshop held the day before the AFA annual meeting in early January. The commitment is focused: read your mentees’ papers before the workshop, attend the full day, and engage substantively in the sessions.
The workshop day
The workshop runs from 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM. Three 90-minute research sessions form the core of the day. Each session brings two mentors and their six combined mentees into the same room. Mentees give two presentations per session and receive candid feedback from both mentors, with each primary mentor leading the discussion for their own group. Topics vary but commonly include publishing strategy, tenure navigation, networking, building a research agenda, work–life balance, geographic or institutional isolation, and informal professional norms.
The afternoon includes a 90-minute networking session led by an external expert, followed by a brief Q&A wrap-up with the full group.
Before the workshop
Mentors receive their mentees’ papers in advance and are expected to read them before the day. Sessions start from substantive feedback, not introductions.
After the workshop
There is no formal post-workshop requirement. Mentors are encouraged to stay in touch with their mentees, but continued contact is left to each mentor’s discretion.
Time commitment and recognition
The total commitment is one day per year, plus the prep time to read mentees’ papers. The annual program lists each mentor by name, and the role counts as service to the finance community.
Why serve as a mentor?
The JFMP provides senior finance faculty an opportunity to contribute directly to the development of junior researchers. Mentors review works-in-progress for a small group of selected participants, offer guidance on publishing strategy and career development, and engage with emerging scholars in the field. The program concentrates these activities into a single day, so that each mentee receives focused, individual attention from experienced faculty.
2026 mentors
The inaugural cohort included 14 senior faculty mentors.
| Name | Institution |
| Tony Cookson | University of Colorado |
| Kim Cornaggia | Penn State |
| Zhi Da | Notre Dame |
| Slava Fos | Boston College |
| Matthew Gustafson | Penn State |
| Jie (Jack) He | University of Georgia |
| Jerry Hoberg | University of Southern California |
| Lisa Kramer | University of Toronto |
| Camelia Kuhnen | UNC Kenan-Flagler |
| Song Ma | Yale University |
| Jun Pan | SAIF (Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance) |
| Lin Peng | Baruch College |
| Gordon Phillips | Dartmouth (Tuck) |
| Fei Xie | University of Delaware |
Want to be a mentor?
Most JFMP mentors are invited directly by the co-chairs. Senior finance faculty interested in serving in a future cycle are welcome to contact Michael Ewens (co-chair) at michael.ewens@columbia.edu.