3 People, 3 Questions: Spring 2025

Jacelly Cespedes

Assistant Professor of Finance

What are you reading?

I’m reading The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, who masterfully blends crime, psychological suspense, and family dynamics into a gripping mystery that keeps you turning pages.

What is your favorite website?

The Wall Street Journal. As someone researching consumer finance, their coverage of personal finance trends and consumer behavior provides valuable insights for my research. Their real-world examples also make perfect case studies for bringing financial concepts to life in my classroom.

What is your dream job?

I’m living my dream job! The opportunity to conduct research while mentoring combines my passion for discovery with the reward of teaching.
 

Xuan Bi

Associate Professor of Information and Decision Sciences

What are you reading?

I enjoy reading science fiction books, with my most recent reads being Stranger in a Strange Land and Dark Matter. The latter was inspired by the TV series of the same name, which explores the concept of infinite realities and alternative versions of a person’s life.

What is your favorite website?

ChatGPT, I suppose? It’s helpful for getting a wide range of questions answered, and using it is (sometimes) so much fun!

What is your dream job?

Being a business professor has been my goal ever since I started my graduate study. If I hadn’t pursued an academic path, I might be a wildlife conservationist now. I loved watching wildlife documentaries as a kid.
 

Shontel Smith 

Senior Career Coach (Undergraduate)

What are you reading?

I coach high school speech on the side, so right now I am reading a lot of primary sources and scripts to help students get prepared for the season. However, for fun, I am working through Babel by R.F. Kuang.

What is your favorite website?

Recently, I have been trying out a lot of community education classes to learn new hobbies and skills. So, I am on the Minneapolis Community Education website a lot these days, checking out options.

What is your dream job?

It is cliché, but I really love the job I have now and this could be my “dream job.” I have always said that I was more excited by other people’s dreams rather than coming up with my own—and my role as a career coach allows me to use that excitement to help others.