Eller Finance Professor is Named Microsoft Most Valuable Professional

David Brown, associate professor of finance and Brian and Clara Franke Endowed Chair in Finance in the Eller College of Management, was named a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP).

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This award acknowledges Brown’s dedication to engaging students in Excel learning, mainly through initiatives like the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge. 

According to Microsoft, “Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals, or MVPs, are technology experts who passionately share their knowledge with the community. They are always on the "bleeding edge" and have an unstoppable urge to get their hands on new, exciting technologies. They have very deep knowledge of Microsoft products and services, while also being able to bring together diverse platforms, products, and solutions, to solve real world problems. MVPs make up a global community of over 4,000 technical experts and community leaders across 90 countries/regions and are driven by their passion, community spirit, and quest for knowledge. Above all, and in addition to their amazing technical abilities, MVPs are always willing to help others - that's what sets them apart.”

Brown is among 148 Excel MVPs worldwide. With this recognition, he hopes to foster greater engagement among faculty and students both at Eller and other universities, further enriching the learning experience and advancing Excel education. “I look forward to helping more students learn Excel while giving them a healthy dose of finance, data analytics and problem-solving, all wrapped up in Excel games for them to enjoy,” he says.

This award not only validates Brown’s efforts but also highlights the significance of collaborative learning and knowledge sharing in driving innovation and progress.

Brown joined the Eller College of Management in 2014 after earning his PhD in Business Administration (Finance) from the University of Colorado Boulder. His areas of research include institutional investors, asset management, price feedback and price informativeness, early-stage financing and IPOs, taxes and retirement planning. Prior to joining academia, he worked in high-frequency algorithmic trading and private student lending where he was involved in several fundraising efforts, ranging from $300,000 to $75 million.