Published on June 11, 2025 by Catherine Smith  

Rusty Yerkes, the Thomas J Adams Sr./AutoTec Professor of Risk Management and Insurance, has been named chair of the Economics, Finance and Qualitative department in Samford University’s Brock School of Business. In his new role, he will lead the department that supports both undergraduate and graduate programs focused on applied economics, financial management, data analytics and more.

Yerkes has been a member of the Brock School of Business faculty since 2008, and teaches courses in financial markets and institutions, investments, portfolio management, financial planning and risk management. He brings more than two decades of experience in both industry and academia and holds multiple professional certifications including Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Financial Risk Manager (FRM).

Reflecting on the transition, Yerkes said, “We owe a great deal of gratitude to Dr. Steve Jones for serving in this role for the past decade. Under his leadership, our department has grown considerably, including the addition of three concentrations in data analytics, risk management and insurance, and most recently in real estate.”

Yerkes’ research explores topics such as municipal finance, student-managed investment funds, private equity contracts and mortgage-backed securities. His work has appeared in journals including The Financial Review, The Journal of Investing, The Journal of Private Equity and The Journal of Trading.

He earned a PhD in finance from the University of Alabama, an MBA from Auburn University at Montgomery and a BS in economics and operations research from the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Yerkes shared, “It is my honor to serve Samford, Brock School of Business and the Economics, Finance and Quantitative Analysis faculty, staff and students in this capacity. I look forward to working with the highly talented members of the department to build on past success and position our academic offerings to best prepare Samford students for future success as Christian business leaders.”

Dean Chad Carson said, "Rusty is a trusted leader and respected voice in the fields of finance and risk management. His deep industry knowledge, combined with a heart for student development, makes him exceptionally well-suited to guide the department into its next chapter of innovation and academic excellence."

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.