As the first Ph.D. graduate in the School of Business Administration, Yonghong Jia is paving the way for the doctoral program. "I realize that I need to work hard in order to compete and excel, and build up good reputation for myself as well as for our program," she said. Jia graduated in 2011 with her Ph.D. in Finance.

Jia is proud of her Wayne State education. "It is a great honor to be the first-ever Ph.D. recipient from the business school. Of course it requires great commitment, dedication and forbearance to walk the long way toward academic success. Fortunately during my study at Wayne State, I was supported and inspired by many of the faculty, staff and fellow students which drove me to aim higher, work harder, and achieve more."

Jia worked under the direction of finance professor Mai Iskandar-Datta, she notes a great relationship with her advisor. "She gave me endless support, guidance and inspiration both inside and outside the academic arena. Her outstanding scholarship, great dedication to the pedagogy, and more importantly, deep devotion to the finance profession have shaped my thoughts and insights on an academic career." During her time as a student, Jia co-authored two papers with Iskandar-Datta which appeared in The Journal of Banking and Finance and The Accounting Review.

Since graduating, Jia has taken on a tenure-track position at Governors State University in Chicago. She teaches undergraduate and graduate financial accounting and auditing, allowing her to lend her expertise in both accounting and finance.

She advises future doctoral students to think long and hard about pursuing an academic career. "Think it over before you make a decision. Once you make a decision, commit yourself to it and enjoy it."

Jia also completed her Masters of Science in Accounting (MSA) from Wayne State University in 2006.