Administration

 

Academic Directors

Florian Muenkel, PhD, Assistant Professor of Finance

Academic Co-Director, IMPACT Fund

Dr. Florian Muenkel is an assistant professor of finance at the Sobey School of Business. He earned his PhD in Finance at the University of Washington in Seattle and holds a Master of Science in Mathematical Finance from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. 

Dr. Muenkel published in mainstream academic finance journals such as the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis and the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, among others. His research focuses on the interaction between corporate governance, institutional ownership and the theory of the firm and touches on areas such as fintech, real estate and genetics.
Dr. Muenkel's work has been featured on Bloomberg, Institutional Investor, the Halifax Chronical-Herald, CBC Radio and CTV Atlantic.


Ross Hallett, MBA, FCSI, CFA, CFP

Academic Co-DirectorAcademic Co-Director, IMPACT Fund

An investment and finance professional for nearly 40 years, Ross Hallett brings a wealth of experience and a network of contacts to IMPACT participants. Currently, in addition to teaching finance part time at Saint Mary's University's Sobey School of Business, Ross serves as a Portfolio Manager and Investment Advisor with BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc in Halifax. In addition to his MBA, Ross has a BA and BSc from Dalhousie university and has achieved professional designations of Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute, Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Planner. He has been involved with the CFA Institute, serving in in various capacities on the CFA Society and as a member of the Standards and Practise Council. Ross has been involved with the IMPACT team since 2005. 

Board of Directors

  • Dr. Florian Muenkel, Assistant Professor of Finance, IMPACT Fund Academic Co-Director
  • Ross E. Hallett, CFA – Investment Advisor and Portfolio Manager, IMPACT Fund Academic Co-Director, BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.
  • David Grace – Sobey School of Business Advisory Board, Retired Chairman of the Board, Nautel Limited
  • Michelle Benoit – Vice President, Finance and Administration
  • Craig Prall, CFA – Investment Advisor and Portfolio Manager, RBC Private Counsel Inc.
  • Mark Raymond – Interim Dean, Sobey School of Business

Mentors

The IMPACT Fund serves to provide practical experience for finance students at Saint Mary's University in the management of an investment fund. The lessons that the students take away from working hands-on in the investment community is invaluable. However, the program's success is due to the guidance, tutelage and support of the program mentors.

Mentors aid students in their asset allocation, sector weighting and security selection decisions as well as providing the final stamp of approval for any trades. The IMPACT Program wishes to thank our mentors for their time and expertise and we look forward to their continuing support as the IMPACT Fund continues to grow in the future.