Denmen Undergraduate Research Forum

Three Fisher students earned recognition for their research skills at the 22nd annual Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum.

Danielle Kuzma, a marketing student, took first place for her project, titled “Does an Individualistic Mental Orientation Lead to More Charitable Donations?" Robert Smith, assistant professor of marketing at Fisher, served as Kuzma’s faculty advisor.

Ankit Vohra, a finance and actuarial science student, took second place for his research project, “Evolution of the Space Insurance Market." Bradley Waller, lecturer in mathematics, was Vohra’s advisor.

Finance student Merrina Guitteau finished in third place for her project, “Through the Lens of Investment Anomalies: Profitable Investment Strategies Throughout Business Cycles.” Kewei Hou, professor of finance, advised Guitteau in her research.

In all, 20 Fisher students presented at the annual event, which provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to showcase their research, scholarship and creative activities to the Ohio State community and beyond.

The students worked with faculty advisors from across the college and university to explore topics ranging from the impact of activist investing on companies in the restaurant industry to the role microfinancing can have on alleviating poverty.

Prior to the Denman Forum and Research Expo, the students, many of whom are a part of Fisher's Honors Contract program, took the opportunity to share their research with the Fisher community at the college’s Undergraduate Research Showcase. Held inside the Mason Hall Rotunda, the students presented their projects to faculty and staff, who served as trial judges.

2017 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Denman Participants and Faculty Advisors

Student Project Faculty Advisor(s)

Michael Bacha

Stock Return and Employment Growth in Companies of SHSZ300 Rob Heneman and Pat West

Ke Chen

The Influence of Sustainability on Investment Decisions in the Mutual Fund Industry Xiaoji Lin and Pat West

Jay Gao

Decision Making and Investments Mary Kate Tompkins, Ellen Peters and Pat West

Annie Gu

CEO Gender Effect on Company Performance Justin Birru and Patricia West

Merrina Guitteau

Through the Lens of Investment Anomalies: Profitable Investment Strategies Throughout Business Cycles Kewei Hou and Pat West

Jason Idoine

Effect of Activist Investing on Stock Returns in the Restaurant Industry

John Barker and Pat West

Jake Kirk

The Effect of Structure on ACO Performance Ken Boyer and Pat West

Lauren Knauss

Factors Associated With Graduating Undergraduates’ Perception of Degree Value at Ohio State Catherine P. Montalto and Patricia West

Danielle Kuzma

Does an Individualist Mental Orientation Lead to More Charitable Donations?

Robert Smith and Pat West

Zili Li

The Impacts of the Affordable Care Act on Preventive Services among Racial Groups

Wendy Xu and Pat West

Daniel Low-Pitroff

How Gamifying Talent Can Predict Educational Outcomes

Ralph Greco and Pat West

Rhea Malhotra

Microfinancing as a Method to Alleviate Poverty: Evaluating International Social Performance

Joyce Chen and Pat West

Sarah McKinnell

Costs and Benefits of a Renewable Portfolio Standard in Florida

Mrinalini Gadkari and Pat West

Zoe Spornhauer

Are an Individual’s Physical Health and Financial Health Correlated? The Relationship between Physical and Financial Well-Being and Underlying Predictors

Shashi Matta

Ankit Vohra

Evolution of the Space Insurance Market

Bradley Waller and Pat West

Can Xu

Financial Literacy and Investors’ Underreactions to Earnings Surprise Justin Birru

Lu Yin

Examining Decision Making Regarding Offering Unofficial Incentives

Bruce Bellner and Pat West

Mona Zhang

The Impact of Hedge Fund Activism on Target Firms' Employee in U.S.

John Barker and Pat West

Yilin Zhang

The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Stock Returns: Evidence from the U.S. Stock Market Kewei Hou and Pat West