UNH Today

Stephen Ciccone takes pride in introducing University of New Hampshire students to the world of finance.  

From hands-on learning with the Atkins Investment Group to organizing high-profile events like the Bretton Woods Accounting and Finance Conference, Ciccone, an associate professor of finance at UNH Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, is always looking for ways to bring the subject to life.  

“I want the students to take more finance courses, and I want them to be well-prepared for those advanced courses,” Ciccone says. “But even if they don’t pursue finance, I want them to understand how it applies to their lives.”  

Ciccone’s dedication to the subject and student success were a few of the reasons why he was recently recognized with the UNH 2024 Outstanding Associate Professor Award.   

A Passion for Experiential Learning   

Ciccone says students sometimes arrive to college with misconceptions about finance and its difficulty.  

“Yes, it’s challenging—we’re in college, and students need to earn their degrees—but once you break down complex problems into simple, logical steps, finance becomes much more manageable,” Ciccone says. “Students are often surprised by how engaging and applicable it is.”  

Recognizing the value of practical experience, Ciccone co-founded the Atkins Investment Group in 2004.   

The student-managed fund teaches students how to manage funds and provides leadership and networking opportunities with industry professionals. Since its founding, the fund has grown from $40,000 to over $400,000 through capital gains and donations. Ciccone credits its success to integrating the group as a course, keeping students engaged yearly under faculty oversight.   

“Student investment groups tend to attract motivated students, and the job market figures that out,” Ciccone says. “Among other great placements, we've had students go to investment banking positions at Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan and Barclays, positions that we didn't get very often before the formation of Atkins Investment Group.”   

As a former department chair, Ciccone enjoyed working with colleagues to drive change and support student success. One effort he’s particularly proud of is the launch Finance Symposium several years back, which has become a signature event at Paul College that brings back alums and financial leaders to network with students and speak on career panels.   

“It’s a career-oriented event that allows students to learn about different career paths while interacting with people who are big shots in the industry or on their way to becoming big shots,” Ciccone says.   

Expanding Influence Through Research and Collaboration  

A recent initiative Ciccone was active with was the start of the Bretton Woods Accounting and Finance Conference in 2023. The event brings together the top scholars in finance and accounting to share research and network. Heading into its third year, interest and research paper submissions to the conference have grown, and Ciccone feels optimistic about its future.   

 "It has put Paul College, UNH and our department on the map. We're becoming known for hosting this conference. What better way to reach the best scholars in the world — especially with international submissions — than by holding such a phenomenal conference,” Ciccone says. “The reputational effects have been amazing."   

In addition to teaching and involvement with multiple department initiatives, Ciccone remains active in research, focusing on behavioral finance and exploring how investor psychology impacts financial markets.    

Ciccone’s ability to balance multiple projects while never wavering on his commitment to student success was one of the reasons why his colleague, Wenjuan Xie, associate professor of finance, nominated him for the award.   

“Dr. Ciccone’s dedication to students’ extracurricular experience, academic inquiry and career outcome is further evident by the extensive advising and mentoring he provided above and beyond his teaching assignment,” Xie stated in her nomination. "Dr. Ciccone is a phenomenal colleague, an accomplished researcher, an exceptional teacher and a visionary leader."   

Ciccone attributes much of his success to his colleagues' support and his students' enthusiasm.   

“I enjoy working with the students; that’s what drew me to the profession 25 years ago,” Ciccone says. “But over time, I’ve grown to appreciate it more. Students are energetic and eager to learn, and I enjoy seeing what they achieve in school and graduation."