The University System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor Jay Perman and Board of Regents Chair Linda Gooden recognized this year’s Board of Regents outstanding faculty as part of board’s April 14, 2023, meeting. Included among the winners was Merrick School of Business Associate Professor of Economics, Dr. Ting Zhang. Dr Zhang was presented with the Faculty Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activity.

In the nomination letter composed by Dean Murray Daziel, he strongly supported Dr. Zhang for this award and emphasized that her research is relevant to business and policy and provides clear measurable outcomes. 

“Dr. Zhang initiated a stream of research around remote working, some of which has already been published in a peer-reviewed journal. The research has also been disseminated more broadly in blogs and the business press,” said Dalziel. “She has a well-developed knack of being able to extend a research topic by probing for broader societal implications. For example, she is recognized as one of the pioneers in studying older entrepreneurs. Her research’s impact expands into adjacent topics such as the relationship between health, age, and self-employment. As a result, her impact is recognized in both entrepreneurship and gerontology fields.” 

While many academics would have been content to dig deeper into one or two specific areas, Dr. Zhang is willing to use her research skills and expertise to probe a wide number of applied areas in labor economics like the implications of unemployment insurance and welfare policy on achieving broader policy goals. 

“I am immensely grateful for the visionary support provided by my mentors and our esteemed leaders, as their unwavering guidance and encouragement have paved the way for me to receive this prestigious award,” said Dr. Zhang. “I would like to express my deepest appreciation to Dr. Gerlowski, Dr. Stevens, Chair Korb, Dean Dalziel, Provost Caraco, President Schmoke, and the nomination committee at UBalt for placing their trust in me and for their ongoing support throughout this journey. In addition, I am truly thankful for the invaluable external support I have received from Dr. Haynes, Dr. Schintler, Dr. Wassel, Dr. Acs, and the late Dr. Stough. Their continuous guidance, wisdom, and encouragement over the years have played a pivotal role in my personal and professional development and have undoubtedly contributed to the realization of this esteemed award. I am honored to have had the privilege of working with such remarkable professors whose mentorship and support have been instrumental in my success.” 

For Zhang, the steady progression of research grants has afforded her to be recognized as the number one income generator of all faculty in Merrick School of Business since joining the faculty in 2015. Since 2019 she has generated more than $1.1 million in research grants. 

Her research prowess has also been recognized by her scholarly peers. She has won the Labor and Employment Relations Association’s “Best Paper” for the last four consecutive years, and she is often sought out as a keynote speaker.  

In terms of the classroom, she is often recognized as a top teacher and currently holds the Harry Y Wright Chair in Economics and was awarded the school’s “T. Rowe Price Excellence in Teaching” award in a recent ceremony. 

According to the USM, Regent Faculty Awards are the result of institutional faculty nominating committees, who make recommendations to their institutions' presidents. The presidents then review nominations and supporting material and forward recommendations to the USM Chancellor. The Regents Faculty Review Committee makes the final recommendations. 

Each award carries a $2,000 prize provided by the institutions and the University System of Maryland Foundation. 

More about Dr. Zhang.