WRDS Staff

Staff at Wharton Research Data Services

Sales, Marketing & Business Development

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Robert Zarazowski

Managing Director - Wharton Research Data Services

As Managing Director, Bob is responsible for overall strategic and operational performance of WRDS. Bob develops strategies to enter new markets and for new products along with enhancing existing services. He also creates, manages and cultivates relationships with key business partners.

In previous positions at Wharton, Bob managed the School’s data services, created intranet applications and oversaw the School’s large-scale technology infrastructure. Before joining Wharton, Robert was Program Manager for Financial Systems at Carnegie Mellon University. He holds a Master of Science degree in Industrial Administration (MBA) from Carnegie Mellon University and Bachelor of Science degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh.

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Steven J. Sheehan

Executive Director – Business Development, Sales and Marketing

Prior to joining WRDS in late 2017, Steve led the sales and marketing efforts at the Center for Research in Security Prices (CRSP) at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. During his 10 year term at CRSP, CRSP grew from $12M to nearly $40M in annual licensing revenue. Subscribers to CRSP’s historical database grew to nearly 500 leading academic institutions in 35 countries. CRSP’s investable index initiative was launched during his tenure and invested assets linked to those indexes now total over $1.2 trillion. Before joining CRSP, Steve spent 10 years at Wolters Kluwer managing a portfolio of data, research and software products designed for practitioners in highly regulated industries.

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Robin Nussbaum Gold

Director of Marketing

Robin Nussbaum Gold is the Director of Marketing for Wharton Research Data Services, the Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania. In this capacity, she is responsible for the development and execution of overall strategic marketing, branding, and communications for internal and external stakeholders.

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Mireia Gine

Director of International Initiatives

Mireia joined WRDS in 2003 as part of the Research Support group and has helped expand WRDS services internationally. Prior to joining WRDS she was a visiting scholar at MIT and at the University of Pennsylvania and a lecturer at the Universidad de Barcelona, Spain. Mireia holds a PhD. from the Universidad de Barcelona and Master in Economics from Pompeu Fabra University, Spain. Mireia’s area of expertise is Corporate Finance with a focus on governance issues.

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Lindsay Rees

Sales Executive

Lindsay Rees is an experienced senior sales executive, having contributed to WRDS global growth since joining the team in 2015. During this time she introduced WRDS to rising business schools, providing WRDS-developed product details, trained new sales staff, and raised the bar for sales performance. Prior to Wharton, Lindsay led a sales division for real estate senior living. Lindsay is a graduate of Shippensburg University.

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Erica Zhang

Associate Director, Client Development – Asia Pacific

Erica joined WRDS in early 2018 as part of the Sales & Marketing team. She’s based in Shanghai, China, managing the local business development, support and trainings for APAC institutions. Prior to joining WRDS, Erica worked as a Credit Risk Analyst at Goldman Sachs for 2 years. Erica holds a Master of Science degree in Business Analytics from University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Indiana University Bloomington.

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Victoria Kent

Associate Director, Client Development – EMEIA Market

Victoria joined WRDS in 2018 as a member of the Sales & Marketing team. She is based in Barcelona, Spain, and helps manage business development in the regions of Europe, Middle East, India, Africa and Latin America, also providing support and trainings for subscribing institutions. Before WRDS, Victoria worked as an Equity Research Analyst and Research Editor in Raymond James and as an academic research associate at IESE Business School. Victoria holds a Master of Science degree in Business Economics from Monash University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Universidad de la República.

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Sandra Zurdo

Associate Director

Sandra is based in Barcelona, Spain and manages sales and marketing campaigns in Europe, Middle East, India and Latin America. She received her BA in Economics from Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona and holds an MA in Management of International Business. Prior to joining WRDS she worked as an auditor at KPMG.

Brendan Sheehan

Brendan Sheehan

Sales Executive

Brendan Sheehan manages the sales, support, and training for corporate clients, government agencies, and Canadian universities. Before coming to WRDS he spent many years in the financial services industry creating and managing investment portfolios for clients. Brendan holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.

Customer Experience

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Laura Deen

Director of Customer Experience

Laura joined the WRDS Customer Experience team in 2015. In her role as Director, she designs and implements WRDS support operations, leads clients through onboarding, including the deployment of products and technical services, and collaborates with marketing on campaigns that promote user adoption and knowledge. WRDS benefits from Laura’s customer-centric focus from her years working in retail management with brands such as Honda, Ten Thousand Villages, and Lululemon. Laura oversees workflow and process management, critical to supporting WRDS researchers around the world.

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Ronald Ramsey

Services Manager

Ronald Ramsey is an experienced customer experience agent, joining WRDS in 2014. Ronald leads efforts to manage customer feedback initiatives and insures ease of operations by resolving escalated customer issues. Prior to joining Wharton, Ronald worked for the University of Pennsylvania, focusing on budget oversight and the integrity of financial processes.

Kelsey Hamer

Kelsey Hamer

Associate Director

Kelsey joined the WRDS Customer Experience team in 2023. As the Associate Director, she is responsible for ensuring a smooth customer onboarding and workflow experience through support operations. Prior to her start at WRDS, Kelsey worked in the hospitality industry with companies such as Studio by Tishman Speyer, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, Arlo Hotels, and Carnival Cruise Lines. She has a passion for the customer experience and her background ensures WRDS users have a great support system.

Lauren Murphy

Lauren Murphy

Administrative Assistant

Lauren Murphy is an administrative assistant at WRDS, joining the team in 2023. Originally from the Phoenix-metro area, she is a recent transplant to Philadelphia. Prior to joining WRDS, she worked in office administration for an architecture firm in Oakland, CA. Lauren received her BA in Art History from Arizona State University.

UX and Marketing Technology

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Eric Sauers

IT Project Leader

Eric is the IT Project Leader of UX and Marketing Technology at Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS). As an IT Project Leader Eric drives initiatives ranging from marketing technology, interface development, and user experience testing. Eric’s goals are to develop WRDS support and usability through his talents in design, project management, and analytical skills. Eric is currently pursuing his masters in Organizational Dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania.

Technical Services

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Matt Cohen

Director of Technical Services

Matthew Cohen oversees the technology and data at WRDS. He has been with WRDS since 2005, first as a Data Analyst, then as the director of the Data Team. He previously worked on the Consumer Price Index at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Matthew received his B.S. in Decision & Information Systems from the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland in 2002, and got a certificate from Wharton’s Executive Education program in 2007.

Data Team

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Kevin Butler

Director of Data Engineering

In this role, Kevin supervises data team members and manages data team projects. He has a demonstrated track record of success in leading teams to develop and manage high profile data and software products for non-profits and Fortune 500 companies. He served in the Peace Corps in Peru as a Community Health Promoter, earned a BA in International Relations from the University of Mary Washington, and a MS in GIS from Clark University.

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Ye Wang

Senior Application Developer

Ye joined WRDS in 2015.  She is responsible for performing updates, validation, and ETL procedures on several databases on the WRDS platform.  Prior to joining WRDS, Ye worked at the Population Studies Center of the University of Pennsylvania.  She received her MS degree in Computer and Information Technology from the University of Pennsylvania, MA degree in Economics from Southern Methodist University and BA degree in Economics from Nanjing University.

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Evan Dienstman

Senior IT Project Leader

Evan has worked as WRDS since 2021. He is responsible for creating and maintaining ETLs and web queries for multiple products. Before joining WRDS, Evan worked at IBM on a contract to predict tax fraud for the IRS. Evan graduated from the College of William & Mary with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and a minor in Physics and Computer Science.

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Yadira Sakornpan

Senior Application Developer

Yadira joined WRDS in 2015. She is responsible for performing updates, validation, and ETL procedures on several databases on the platform. Prior to WRDS, she was an Undergraduate Research Fellow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. She received her B.A. in Math and minor in Engineering from Smith College. In her free time, she enjoys taking her dog to the park and traveling.

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Cara Cuiule

Application Developer

Cara joined the WRDS data team in 2022. Her duties include improving and creating ETL processes on products offered by WRDS. Before joining the team, she worked as a Cost Research Analyst for a cost estimation company in the aerospace and defense industry. She graduated from Stockton University with a B.A. in mathematics in 2016.

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John Schaeffer

Application Developer

John joined the WRDS data team in 2022. Before joining WRDS, he worked as a data analyst at an immigration law firm serving many Fortune 100 clients. John received his BA in Computer Science from Bucknell University in 2020.

Platform Development and Integration Team

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Russ Ney

IT Director

Russ and his team manage the infrastructure, systems and storage needs for the global WRDS community. Russ has been instrumental in designing and implementing systems for WRDS since 1998. Russ is currently leading the WRDS grid computing effort to ensure future scalability of the WRDS client base. Russ is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, and the University of Pennsylvania.

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Alex Malek

Senior IT Project Leader

Alex Malek joined Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS) in 2019. He assists in maintaining a significant portion of the technical infrastructure at WRDS, serves as our senior PostgreSQL database administrator, and is dedicated to spearheading innovative projects to enhance our scalability, ETL processes, and improve our end-users' data processing experiences.

Outside of work, Alex dedicates much of his time to experiencing the joys, absurdities, and endless wonder that comes with raising two children.

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Anne Beeman

Senior IT Project Leader

Anne has worked at WRDS since 2017, where she is in charge of leading technology initiatives, supporting the Data Team, and maintaining ETL processes for several data products. Prior to that, she worked as a systems developer at Almac, a clinical trial management group serving pharmaceutical research. She is a Philadelphia transplant of 14+ years and a proud Temple University Owl. She graduated in 2012 with a B.A. in Math and Spanish, and a minor in Computer Science. Eager for more classroom time, Anne is continuing her studies as part of the University of Pennsylvania’s post-baccalaureate program, learning foreign language, finance, history, and more!

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Jonathan Lauthern

Senior Application Developer

Jonathan joined WRDS in late 2023 as an automation engineer. He received a MS degree in Computer Science from Middle Tennessee State University.

Web Team

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Ryan Sullivan

IT Director, Web

Ryan Sullivan joined WRDS in 2012 as a web application developer. He has worked in Philadelphia tech since 2003. Prior to joining WRDS, he was a back-end Java Developer at Urban Outfitters. Originally from Oakland California, when he’s not working, Ryan enjoys serving his community through board memberships and volunteering, cycling, and traveling out west frequently to visit family and friends.

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Matt Spalding

IT Project Leader

Matthew is your typical computer geek, fluent in several (programming) languages, and a huge Philadelphia Phillies fan. He has tried to experience as broad a range of things in life as his limited finances afford, from helping run a start-up dot-com company to living in South Korea for four years. He got his Bachelor’s in Computer Science at Penn, studied Theology at Torch Trinity Seminary in Seoul, and is currently getting schooled in Parenting by his two children.

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Umair Abbasi

Sr Python/Django Full Stack Web Developer

Umair was born in the island country of Bahrain and raised in Dubai, UAE. Holding an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from University of Wollongong in Australia, Umair also holds a MBA and a MS in Instructional Design and Technology from Emporia State University. Throughout his career, Umair has served in primary roles as Web Developer and Chief Marketing Officer.

Advanced Initiatives

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Charles Rejonis

IT Technical Director

Charles Rejonis is an IT Director at WRDS, overseeing advanced initiatives and new product development. Prior to joining WRDS in 2008, Charles was co-director of Wharton’s Alfred West Learning Lab. The Learning Lab explores innovative ways of presenting business education using competitive games and simulations. Charles holds degrees in Liberal Arts from Simon’s Rock College, and Computer Science from UMass Amherst and Stanford University.

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Timothy Allen

Principal Engineer

Tim joined Wharton Research Data Services in 2008, after working for local companies and starting a few of his own. He began programming at age six during a summer camp his mother won in a raffle. Tim currently serves as an organizer of the Philadelphia Python Users Group, DjangoCon US, and as a member of the Python Software Foundation and Django Software Foundation. Tim is an avid hockey fan, was the first person to sell real world items for virtual microcurrency long before Bitcoin, is an avid open-source contributor, and enjoys beating his head against brick walls (as demonstrated by his passion for coding, cycling in Philadelphia, and never-ending quest to get his cat to behave). A life-long Philadelphia resident, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1996 with an individualized major, “Computer Aided Information Acquisition”.

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Mukund Rao

Financial Solutions Architect

Muk joined WRDS in 2012 as a Technical Business Analyst and Product Architect. Before coming to WRDS, Muk spent more than a decade on Wall Street working in research and technology at MSD Capital, a multi-billion dollar investment firm. Muk began his career as a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He holds a BA and MS from the University of Pennsylvania.

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Mary Obropta

Instructional Designer

Mary Obropta has worked at WRDS on the Advanced Initiatives team since 2016. She previously worked as a management consultant for both PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG Consulting. Prior to joining WRDS she was editor in chief for the Drexel University Online Catalog. Mary received her BA in English from Lehigh University and her PhD in English from SUNY Buffalo.

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Noel Victor

Senior Software Engineer

Noel Victor is a Senior Software Engineer at WRDS, joining the team in July 2019. He has worked as a software developer for the past nine years. He holds a BS in Biology from Drexel University and a Masters of Biotechnology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Research Services

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Luis Palacios

Director

Luis holds a PhD in Economics from Cornell University and bachelor degree in economics from Universidad del Pacifico (Lima-Peru). He has been working for WRDS since 2002. His area of expertise and interest are on procedures for portfolio construction, mutual funds and equity options. Before joining to WRDS, Luis was a principal in the Central Bank of Peru. Luis’s scholarly research papers can be found on SSRN.

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Rui Dai

Senior Research Support Director

Dr. Rui Dai is a senior research director at Wharton Research Data Services. He earned his doctorate in Financial Economics at York University, where he also earned his BA in Computer Science and Economics. His research interests are in Machine Learning, ESG, and Supply Chain. His research has appeared in such journals as the Journal of Financial Economics, the Review of Finance, the Journal of Money, Credit, and Banking, and the Journal of Corporate Finance and featured in investment blogs, news and podcasts. His multidisciplinary research has also been presented at the ACM conference. His studies have won the best paper awards at conferences worldwide. He is a CFA charterholder.
Personal Website

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Rabih Moussawi

Research Support Director

Rabih’s research interests are institutional investors, hedge funds, quantitative investment, financial reporting, and corporate governance. His work is published in specialized finance journals and featured in mainstream newspapers including the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. His papers were presented in several national and international conferences such as American Finance Association, Western Finance Association, Financial Management Association, and European Finance Association meetings. Before WRDS, Rabih was a researcher at Barclays Global Investors (now BlackRock), and he taught corporate finance at the University of Texas at Dallas. Rabih conducts specialized empirical finance tutorials on research and data issues for academics and professionals in many forums in the U.S. and abroad. Rabih presented on effective methods to link databases and is currently developing a WRDS research platform for SEC filings. Rabih received his PhD in Finance from the University of Texas at Dallas, and his MBA and BA in Economics, with distinction, from the American University of Beirut. Rabih’s scholarly research papers can be found on SSRN.

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Freda Song Drechsler

Research Support Director

My primary research focus is on empirical asset pricing and behavioral finance, including asset pricing anomalies and short selling. I received my Ph.D. and M.A. degree in Applied Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and Bachelor degree from University of Hong Kong, after transferring from Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Prior to joining WRDS, I worked as a quantitative analyst and portfolio manager at Turner Investments as well as lecturer at the Business Economics and Public Policy Department of the Wharton School.

My scholarly research papers can be found on SSRN. More of my research and sample Python code on empirical finance can be found at: https://www.fredasongdrechsler.com

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Jun Wu

Research Support Director

Jun’s research interests are in investments and empirical asset pricing, including industry momentum, mutual fund performance, liquidity and risk modeling. Jun received his Ph.D. and M.A. in Finance from Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington and B.S. in Finance from Shanghai University of International Business and Economics. He has presented his papers at Financial Management Association Annual Meetings and the Midwest Finance Associate Annual Meetings. He received the doctoral student research productivity award and was nominated for the Panschar undergraduate teaching award at Kelley

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Matt Pierson

Research Support Director

Matt’s primary research interests include market microstructure, insider trading, and litigation. His work has been featured in mainstream media including the Harvard Business Review, and has been presented in several national and international conferences such as the Society for Empirical and Legal Studies, the Financial Management Association, and the American Law and Economics Association. He received his Ph.D., MSF, and Bachelor’s degrees from Florida State University. Matt’s scholarly research papers can be found on SSRN and his Personal Website

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Ted Donohue

Senior Data Analyst

Ted joined WRDS in 2015. Prior to Wharton, he worked for the Association of American Medical Colleges, the George Washington University, and Litton PRC.

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Xuan Liu

Senior Data Analyst

Xuan joined WRDS in 2008 as a data analyst. She received her MS degree in Computer and Information Technology from the University of Pennsylvania and got a Finance and Accounting Certificate from Wharton.

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Eunji Oh

Research Support Director

Eunji joined Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS) as a Research Support Director in 2019. Her primary research focus is on asset pricing, innovation, and intangible assets. Before joining WRDS, she received her Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and her M.S. degree in Business Administrations and B.S. in Civil, Urban, and Geosystem engineering from Seoul National University in South Korea.

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