Master of Arts in Financial Economics

Department Chair, Faculty, & Support Staff

Program Contact

Victoria Mantzopoulos, Ph.D.

Victoria Mantzopoulos

Professor of Political Science

Academic Coordinator for International Programs

Executive Director of China Programs

Telephone: 313-993-3254

E-mail: armstrov@udmercy.edu

 

Ablaye Camara, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Economics

Abalaye Camara, Ph.D.

Ablaye Camara, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of economics. He teaches macroeconomics, microeconomics and monetary and fiscal policy. He began his career with the University in 2001 as a tutor. In 2007, he became the STAR program coordinator with University Academic Services. In addition, he serves as the assistant coach for Detroit Mercy's men's soccer team. He earned his Ph.D. from Wayne State University. He began teaching economics at Detroit Mercy in September 2008.

Telephone: 313-993-1098

E-mail: camaraab@udmercy.edu

 

Yu Peng Lin, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Economics

Yu Peng Lin, Ph.D. teaches Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Financial Economics, Money and Capital Markets, Macroeconomic Policies, and Econometrics. Lin's research and publications have dealt with employee compensation strategies, human resource management, and productivity. He has published three textbooks and many research articles appearing in academic journals such as Industrial Relations and British Journal of Industrial Relations. He is currently doing research in the area of top executive compensation in an international context, the relationship between managerial compensation and firm survival, and information asymmetry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (International Trade) from Tunghai University, a Master of Science (Finance) from University of Colorado, and a Master of Arts and doctoral degrees (Economics) from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He joined the University in 2011

Telephone: 313-993-1096

E-mail: linyp1@udmercy.edu

 

Christopher Rakovalis

Christopher Rakovalis

Chris Rakovalis was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. In 1991, he finished his undergraduate degree in logistics from Wayne State University in Detroit. At Detroit Mercy he finished his Masters of Science in Business Administration in 1996, and then he attained a Masters of Arts in Financial Economics in 2008. Rakovalis has held management and supervisory positions at various logistics firms. Most recently, since 1997, he had held several positions at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. Currently, he is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and inventory planning specialist supervisor at Ford where he oversees operations of two manufacturing facilities in metro Detroit.

His teaching career encompasses traditional classroom instruction at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, Michigan since 2004, where he has taught macro and micro economics classes, as well as Detroit Mercy, since 2008, having taught economics courses, such as micro, macro, international, fiscal and monetary policy, labor economics, and public finance.

E-mail: rakovacl@udmercy.edu

 

Michael DiGiovanni

Michael DiGiovanni

Executive in Residence and Adjunct Professor of Economics

Adjunct Professor of Economics, DiGiovanni teaches Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Economic Conditions, and Economic Analysis. DiGiovanni comes to Detroit Mercy from General Motors, where he retired in 2010 (after 31 years) as Executive Director of Global Market & Industry Analysis. Prior to General Motors, he was Chief Economist for the Detroit District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

DiGiovanni also serves as Executive in Residence for the College of Liberal Arts & Education, and as a member of the Dean's Advisory Board for the College of Liberal Arts & Education. He received his B.A. in Economics and his M.A. in Mathematical Economics from the University of Detroit. DiGiovanni came to Detroit Mercy in 2010.

Telephone: 313-993-2005

E-mail: digiovmc@udmercy.edu

 

Harry Veryser

Harry Veryser

Adjunct Professor of Economics

Harry Veryser is an Adjunct Professor of Economics and teaches Introduction to Economics, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, History of Economic Thought, Free Enterprise and Radical Criticism, and International Economics. Veryser comes to the University from Walsh College, where he worked as a professor as Economics and Chair of the Department of Economics and Finance. He also was the Chairman of the Board and owner of an automotive supply company for many years.

In October of 2003, Professor Veryser was one of ten professors in the United States selected to receive the Will Herberg Award for outstanding faculty service from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. His articles have appeared in The Detroit News, The Intercollegiate Review and The University Bookman. He is the author of Our Economic Crisis: Sources and Solutions. In 2013, his book "It Didn't Have to Be This Way: Why Boom and Bust Is Unnecessary-and How the Austrian School of Economics Breaks the Cycle was published by ISI Books.

Professor Veryser received his undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Economics and two Master of Arts degrees in Economics and Religious Studies from the University of Detroit.

Telephone: 586-263-6235

E-mail: verysehc@udmercy.edu

 

Joseph Weglarz

Joseph Weglarz, M.B.A.

Lecturer in Economics

Lecturer of Economics at the University of Detroit Mercy, he is also Center Director of the Detroit Mercy Center of the Michigan Council on Economic Education (MCEE). Weglarz comes to Detroit Mercy from Walsh College, where he was Assistant Professor of Finance and Economics, Director of the Master of Science in Finance program, Center Director of the Walsh College Center of the Michigan Council on Economic Education (MCEE), and Director of the Walsh College CFP program. He also has extensive experience in the securities industry at three Wall Street brokerage firms as investment advisor and portfolio analyst. Weglarz is editor of the popular "A Student's Guide to Economics." His research interests are in the areas of economic history and the history of economic thought. Weglarz received his B.A. from Oakland University and his M.B.A. from Wayne State University. He joined the University faculty in 2007.

Telephone: 586-263-6276

E-mail: weglarzj@udmercy.edu

 

Mikhail Youdin

Mikhail Youdin

Adjunct Professor of Economics

Adjunct Professor of Economics, Mikhail Youdin teaches Monetary and Fiscal Policy, Financial Economics, Money and the Financial System and Capital Markets. He has experience in banking and finance working in management for JPMorgan Chase and Huntington National Bank. Mikhail is currently a financial advisor at Edward Jones Investments. He received his B.A. in Political Science and Economics as well as his M.A. in Financial Economics from the University of Detroit Mercy. Mikhail is on the board of directors of several local charities as well as on the Housing Commission for the City of St. Clair Shores.

Teaches:

  • Monetary and Fiscal Policy
  • Advanced Capital Markets
  • Financial Economics
  • Money and the Financial System

Telephone: 586-746-7160

Email: youdinmi@udmercy.edu

 

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