New faculty: Spotlight on two of the eleven new professors who joined the college in the fall of 2006

William Schneper is an authority on authority structures.

William Schneper

Having worked in family business, the Federal government, and both publicly and non-publicly-owned firms in the mutual funds and financial services industries, William Schneper, a new assistant professor in the Department of Management and International Business, has seen lots of different styles of authority. Whether in a business environment or an academic one, he’s been keenly interested in just what the impact of those styles is.  

“I’ve been researching how authority and control structures—or corporate governance—affect various constituents both within and outside organizations, and how these structures influence or define firm performance and behavior,” said Schneper, who brings his observations to courses in strategic management.

Although his interest goes beyond the particular sectors in which he’s worked, he does tap into his experiences to help students understand the theoretical models they study.

“At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, students learn models designed to analyze and develop strategies,” he said. “Drawing from my industry background to illustrate the models makes these abstract concepts more understandable.”

After spending much of his life in the north—including New York; Boston; Washington, DC; and Philadelphia as a doctoral student in the Wharton School—Schneper is enjoying the warmth of Miami. He’s also eager to pursue the three lines of research he developed in his dissertation and to starting projects with doctoral students.

“I’m really excited about the college’s doctoral program and look forward to working closely with PhD students on new research projects,” he said.

George Wu sees Miami as a great place to study real estate.

George Wu

For George Wu, a new assistant professor in the Department of Finance, Miami is now a good place to call home.

“Miami is a unique, strategic city—as a gateway to Latin América, an attraction to many European immigrants, and a popular place for Baby Boomers investing in second homes,” he said. “There are not many real estate markets like Miami.”

Wu has a strong interest in research, especially real estate investment trusts (REIT) and commercial mortgage-based securities (CMBS), the two areas to which he devotes most of his research efforts.

“I’m intrigued by new trends, and I think that to be a good teacher, you have to stay current on new developments and emerging markets as well as do research,” he said.

He also has a strong interest in interacting with students—to answer questions about the course material and about their careers in the field.

“I had three months of experience on Wall Street in 2004 during an internship focused on real estate risk,” he said. “I want to share my experience, encourage others, and bring excitement to students in the fascinating area of real estate finance.”

Wu finds the climate similar to his original home in the southern part of China, though South Florida is hotter and more humid. But after his time in Madison, Wisconsin, for his doctorate, following a stint in Syracuse, New York, for his master’s, he’s happy to be back in the warmth.

“I like to swim and play tennis, so this is perfect, especially in the winter.” He said.