Born and raised in Conway, SC, Professor Sharon James earned a PhD in Business Administration with a focus on Strategic Management at the University of Minnesota in February 2007. She also earned an MBA in Finance from Washington University in 1989 and a BSBA from Florida A&M University in 1987. Professor James holds the chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation, which requires passage of three qualifying exams in succession. Her research focuses on the intersection of corporate strategy and financing issues and their relative influences on firms’ strategic choices and performance. She has over 11 years of professional experience in investment banking, private equity portfolio management, equity research, and investment management of value equity funds. She worked with JPMorgan Chase (successor to Chemical Banking Corp.) from 1989 to 1991, Morris Anderson & Associates from 1992 to 1996, John S. Herold, Inc. from 1996 to 1997, and Advantus Capital Management from 1998 to 2000. She is a member of the Academy of Management, Strategic Management Society, CFA Institute, CFA Society of Columbus, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.