Columbia Presents Awards to Adjunct Professors

Two Columbia Business School adjunct faculty members have received Dean’s Prizes for Teaching Excellence. These awards were established through a gift from George Wiegers, ’61, cofounder of Wiegers Capital Partners and recognize teaching excellence in three categories — core courses, elective courses and adjunct faculty members. Dean’s Prizes are given to up to two professors in each category each year. This year’s adjunct winners are Bruce Usher and Mark Zurack.

Bruce Usher is an adjunct professor in finance and economics and the Elizabeth B. Strickler ’86 and Mark T. Gallogly ’86 Faculty Director of the Social Enterprise Program. Usher is being honored for teaching MBA students in courses that focus on the intersection of finance, social, and environmental issues. Recent courses include Carbon Finance, Finance and Sustainability, and an Impact Investing Seminar. Also an executive in residence, Usher was CEO of EcoSecurities Group from 2002 through 2009, during which time he built it into the world’s largest carbon credit company. He is also an active supporter of entrepreneurial ventures, having invested in 21 companies, including seven clean energy businesses.

Mark Zurack is a professor by contract in finance and economics and an adjunct professor in the Executives in Residence Program. Zurack teaches Capital Markets and Investments, Equity Derivatives and Products, and Equity Markets and Products. Prior to coming to Columbia, Zurack worked at Goldman Sachs for 18 years, starting the equity derivatives research group, becoming a partner in 1994, and a managing director in 1996. Between 1998 and 2001, Zurack served on the board of directors at the Chicago Board Options Exchange.

Congratulations to the winners—keep up the good work!

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