Patrick Schena, F79, FG00, A15P of The Fletcher School named new B.L.R. Professor of the Practice in Finance

Beginning this fall, Tufts undergraduate students interested in finance will have the benefit of learning from Professor Patrick Schena, who was recently named the new B.L.R. Professor of the Practice in Finance. Schena succeeds Chris Manos, the inaugural professorship holder who after nearly a decade of teaching and transforming finance education at Tufts, retired from the role at the end of last academic year.

Since 2002, Schena has served as Adjunct Professor of International Business at The Fletcher School, where he is also Co-Head of SovereigNet, The Fletcher Network for Sovereign Wealth and Global Capital. In his new role, he joins the Economics Department in the School of Arts and Sciences, where he will teach two courses this fall—Introduction to Finance and Topics in Finance and Entrepreneurship—and serve as an advisor to undergraduate students pursuing the minor in finance.

Schena brings a variety of experience to the classroom, including more than 30 years in finance, investments, operations, and technology management. He has worked in finance and consultancy positions at Fortune 500 companies and co-founded startups servicing the global asset management industry. A proud Tufts alumnus and parent, he holds a Ph.D. in international finance and capital markets, and M.A. in law and diplomacy from The Fletcher School. He also holds a M.A. and B.A. from Boston College.

Developing the Tufts Finance Initiative

Finance education at Tufts has transformed significantly over the past decade through the support of the Tufts Finance Initiative (TFI). Undergraduate students now benefit from:

• A permanent professor of the practice of finance and an academic minor in finance, which broadened the number of relevant courses available to students
• A full-time program director in the Tufts Career Center, resulting in more students successfully hired for full-time jobs and internships
• Networking opportunities on and off campus in partnership with the Tufts Financial Network

Over the years, Schena has closely followed this evolution with great interest, and he looks forward to building upon its strong foundation to benefit future generations of students. “Teaching many years at Fletcher, I frequently interacted with Tufts undergraduate students. They are excellent: prepared, engaged, and always thought-challenging! I look forward to the opportunity to teach and advise them in my new position.”

Schena is also excited to expand and deepen relationships with alumni. “One of my top priorities will be to support and promote our students, and this requires building strong employer networks to drive active recruiting for internships and full-time employment,” explains Schena. “I see my relationship with alumni as central to my role and will work with them to strategically engage our financial community and to co-create innovative programs relevant to students launching their own careers.”

Another area of focus will be curriculum development. “As global finance remains extremely dynamic, foundational skills are essential to understanding the rapidly emerging innovations in today’s financial markets,” he explains. “Striking a balance between exceptional academic training and experienced-based learning will ensure that our students are fully prepared to meet the competitive demands of the industry.”

Looking to the future, the current economic climate will likely present challenges for students seeking to launch careers in finance. “Our work is to drive opportunities, even during adverse market cycles,” says Schena. “I hope alumni will continue to assist us and to play a crucial role in fostering opportunities to develop well-trained, experienced students prepared to succeed in this demanding market environment.”