Dr. Sara E. Shirley

Associate Professor of Finance, Director of Data Science undergraduate program

Dr. Sara E. Shirley
Room N326, Business & Aerospace Building (BAS)
MTSU Box 27, Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Degree Information

  • PHD, Southern Illinois University (2014)
  • MBA, Canisius College (2009)
  • BS, Canisius College (2008)

Biography

I am an Associate Professor of Finance in the Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University. I received my Ph.D. in Finance from Southern Illinois University.

My primary research interest is in mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs). I have published in top-ranked journals and presented my research in regional, national, and international conferences. Recently, I have taken on the role of Faculty Fellow in the Data Science Institute, and I am excited for a...

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I am an Associate Professor of Finance in the Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University. I received my Ph.D. in Finance from Southern Illinois University.

My primary research interest is in mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs). I have published in top-ranked journals and presented my research in regional, national, and international conferences. Recently, I have taken on the role of Faculty Fellow in the Data Science Institute, and I am excited for all the opportunities that lie ahead.  

The undergraduate courses that I typically teach include: Financial Modeling (FIN 3110) and the introductory undergraduate data science course (DATA 1500). At the graduate-level I teach: Financial Modeling (FIN 6110) as well the capstone course in the Data Science Certificate program (DATA 6330). 

 

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Publications

[10] “Gender, learning, and earnings estimate accuracy” with Vineet Bhagwat and Jeffrey R. Stark Journal of Financial Markets (forthcoming) Awards: FMA 2019 Top Ten Session  

[9] “Finding information in obvious places: Work connections and mutual fund investment ideas” with Egeman Genc, Jeffrey R. Stark and Hai Tran Journal of Financial Markets (forthcoming) Awards: Southern Finance Association 2019 WRDS ...

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[10] “Gender, learning, and earnings estimate accuracy” with Vineet Bhagwat and Jeffrey R. Stark Journal of Financial Markets (forthcoming) Awards: FMA 2019 Top Ten Session  

[9] “Finding information in obvious places: Work connections and mutual fund investment ideas” with Egeman Genc, Jeffrey R. Stark and Hai Tran Journal of Financial Markets (forthcoming) Awards: Southern Finance Association 2019 WRDS Outstanding Paper Award - Empirical, Finalist for the Investments best paper award at FMA Asia/Pacific Conference 2019  

[8] “The use of ETFs in internationally-focused mutual funds” with D. Eli Sherrill and Jeffrey R. Stark    Quarterly Journal of Finance, 11, 1-35, 2021.  

[7] “Twitter activity, investor attention, and the diffusion of information” with David Rakowski and Jeffrey R. Stark    Financial Management, 50: 3-46, 2021. Lead Article and Top Spring 2021 paper in Financial Management Invited session European FMA: Top Papers in Financial Management  

[6] “What drives the market for Exchange-Traded Notes?” with David Rakowski    Journal of Banking and Finance, 111, 1-17, 2020.   

[5] “ETF use among actively managed mutual fund portfolios” with D. Eli Sherrill and Jeffrey R. Stark Journal of Financial Markets, 51:1-15, 2020. * Awards: Semi-finalist 2017 FMA Conference Best Paper Award  

[4] “Actively managed mutual funds holding passive investments: What do ETF positions tell us about mutual fund ability?” with D. Eli Sherrill and Jeffrey R. Stark Journal of Banking and Finance 76, 48 – 64, 2017.  

[3] “Tail-risk hedging, dividend chasing, and investment constraints: The use of exchange traded notes by   mutual funds” with David Rakowski and Jeffrey R. Stark   Journal of Empirical Finance, 44, 91-107, 2017.  

[2] “Why do fund families release underperforming incubated mutual funds?” with Jeffrey R. Stark Financial Management 45, 507 – 528, 2016. Lead Article Awards: 2017 FMA Collection Key Research  

[1] “ETFs within a mutual fund's portfolio” with D. E. Sherrill and Jeffrey R. Stark Journal of Index Investing 7, 6 – 15, 2016. Lead Article

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