New Minnesota Carlson Tenure-Track Faculty: 2025

Xiao Cen

Assistant Professor Xiao Cen comes to Minnesota Carlson after spending five years as an assistant professor at Texas A&M University. She believes human capital is the most important resource in “new economy” firms, and, in her research, she is deeply interested in understanding the incentives of employees and managers at all levels and in exploring the real consequences of firms’ related policies.

Department: Accounting

Research specialties: Labor and accounting, executive compensation, fintech

Fun fact: She enjoys hiking and karaoke in her free time.

Susie Choe

Susie Choe joins Minnesota Carlson as an assistant professor after earning her PhD in Strategy at the University of Michigan. Choe’s interest in business stems from observing her parents as immigrant entrepreneurs and seeing the challenges they faced. This sparked her curiosity about how markets are not just economic but also social and cultural, prompting her to research the intersections of identity and strategy.

Department: Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship

Research specialties: Economic sociology, organizational theory, competitive strategy, entrepreneurship, social evaluation, and identity

Fun fact: She is a proud South Korean. She was also part of the musical club as an undergraduate student and loved singing and performing.

Bryce Pyrah

After earning his PhD in Business Administration (Marketing) at the University of Iowa this year, Bryce Pyrah joins Minnesota Carlson as an assistant professor. With an interest in how marketing can be leveraged for positive social impact, he recently published a paper on how inequality impacts how picky people are, finding that people who feel disadvantaged in society are less picky.

Department: Marketing

Research specialties: How inequality impacts the way people make consumption decisions

Fun fact: He enjoys weightlifting and is a competitive natural bodybuilder.

Vinit Tipnis

Vinit Tipnis earned his PhD in Operations Management from Indiana University Bloomington earlier this year, and now he’s joining Minnesota Carlson as an assistant professor. He focuses his research on nonprofit operations because he wants to make a difference in society, as he believes nonprofits play a critical role in areas where for-profit companies and governmental organizations fall short.

Department: Supply Chain & Operations

Research specialties: Behavioral operations management, nonprofit operations, volunteer management

Fun fact: He enjoys photography, playing guitar, dancing, reading, and watching stand-up comedy.

Yilin (David) Yang

Assistant Professor Yilin (David) Yang comes to Minnesota Carlson after three years as an assistant professor at the City University of Hong Kong. He is drawn to the field of macro finance because it provides the ideal setting to apply game theory and structural estimation, allowing him to develop quantitative answers to the big-picture questions—like those surrounding recessions and growth—that shape an aggregate economy.

Department: Finance

Research specialties: Macro finance, financial intermediation, and asset pricing

Fun fact: He is a big fan of traditional Chinese tea and enjoys learning about the different varieties and brewing methods.