Darius Palia, the Thomas A. Renyi Endowed Chair in Banking

Chair holder is leading expert on financial institutions and economics.

Darius Palia is an internationally recognized banking, law, and economics expert. He is the founding director of the Financial Institutions Center at Rutgers Business School–Newark and New Brunswick, which promotes research on financial institutions. In this role, he organizes and participates in panels that include CEOs and other senior executives of financial institutions, as well as senior regulators.

Before coming to Rutgers, Palia taught at Princeton University, Columbia Business School, the University of Chicago, and UCLA. His work has been published in leading finance, law, and economics journals, including The Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, American Law and Economic Review, Harvard Business Law Review, Journal of Corporation Law, Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, and The Journal of Law and Economics. A senior editor of the Rutgers Business Review, his work is frequently cited by other scholars. He is regularly invited to present his research at other universities, major academic meetings, and the prestigious National Bureau of Economic Research conferences.

He holds a doctorate in finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

The Thomas A. Renyi Endowed Chair in Banking was established by Thomas A. Renyi, a 1967 alumnus of Rutgers College and 1968 alumnus of Rutgers’ Graduate School of Management. Renyi is the former chairman and CEO of the Bank of New York and the former executive chairman of the Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, following the two banks’ merger in 2007. Rutgers named Renyi a distinguished alumnus of Rutgers Business School in recognition of his leadership in the finance industry and his service to the university. 

In the Professor’s Own Words

How do you describe the goals of the Financial Institutions Center?

The center exists to promote research on financial institutions and to act as a think tank and interface between practicing professionals, regulators, academia, and students.

What aspect of your work is most fulfilling?

I enjoy conducting cutting-edge research and teaching students the many relevant issues facing the fast-changing financial industry.

What achievements are you proudest of?

I have published my research extensively in top journals and many of my students have gone on to highly rewarding careers in industry and government.

What is the main thing you hope your students take away from studying with you?

Ask the right questions and data can help you answer them very effectively.

This story is part of Rutgers University Foundation’s Endowed Chairs Impact series. Supporting professorships and research helps spark innovation and creativity here in New Jersey and beyond.