Bradley’s finance conference brings international recognition

03/19/2013 12:38 PM

By Kelsey Budd ’14

The Department of Finance and Quantitative Methods is organizing and hosting an international conference in Miami, Fla., later this month on mathematical finance.

The conference is intended to address applications of mathematics to problems in finance and, principally, provide a venue to disseminate mathematical models use by the financial industry.

The idea for the conference grew out of a discussion between Bradley professors Dr. Philip Horvath, chair of the finance and quantitative methods department, and Dr. Mathew Timm, chair of the math department, when the pair were discussing the mathematics content needed to support the newly created quantitative finance master’s degree.

Venues where professionals in financial industry can interact with those developing the theoretical underpinnings for the discipline are rare. That’s why Horvath and Timm decided to organize a forum where academics and professionals in the financial field could meet.

Their idea quickly evolved into a lengthy planning process that has taken nearly two years to bring to fruition.

Horvath said organizing the conference was a joint effort, involving a number of individuals both inside and outside of Bradley. An international team, put together by Horvath, worked cooperatively to develop the meeting’s content and structure.

Horvath said the team welcomed the challenge of planning the international conference. He said he wanted to set a precedent at Bradley where academic departments realize they are capable of achieving big things if they are willing to set the bar high.

“My overall purpose is twofold. First is to continue in an international mode to brand Bradley,” Horvath said. “Second, since we have a brand new Master of Science in Quantitative Finance program, is to let the world know we are in this game and we are serious.”

Horvath said the impact is already visible, as several universities have contacted him to explore opportunities. Currently more than 40 universities and companies representing 20 countries from around the world are slated to attend the March 22-24 conference. Aside from the international recognition that Bradley will gain, Horvath said he hopes the conference will further developments in the financial field.

Horvath said he plans to make the conference an annual event and has already begun planning for next year. He said the upcoming conference will open the door for many more opportunities to come in the future.

To learn more about the conference, visit its website.