Felix Meschke

Felix Meschke
  • Associate Professor
  • Director, Davis Center for Figure Sense
  • Finance academic area

Contact Info

347-433-5495
Capitol Federal Hall, Room 3102
Lawrence

Biography —

Felix Meschke is an Associate Professor of Finance at the University of Kansas School of Business, where he also directs the Davis Center for Figure Sense. He earned his doctorate from Arizona State University and previously held a faculty appointment at the University of Minnesota. His research explores corporate governance and the trading behavior of corporate insiders and sophisticated investors, with publications appearing in the Journal of Financial Economics, Journal of Corporate Finance, and Journal of Accounting and Economics. Cited over 2,200 times according to Google Scholar, his work has also been featured in major outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and the Financial Times. Meschke has received numerous university and business school teaching honors, is an Associate Editor at the Journal of Financial Research, a frequent referee for leading academic journals, and served as track chair at the Southern Finance Association’s 2023 conference. He is fluent in English and German.

Education —

Ph.D. in Finance, Arizona State University
Diploma in Economics, Witten University, Germany

Research —

Meschke’s research centers on empirical corporate finance, examining how managerial incentives, governance structures, and regulatory constraints shape firm value and market outcomes. He investigates the actions of corporate executives, mutual fund managers, and institutional investors—analyzing issues like insider trading, board composition, and political contributions—to understand how self-interest interacts with oversight mechanisms and influences corporate decisions.

Research interests:

  • corporate finance
  • corporate governance
  • mutual funds
  • international finance

Teaching —

Felix Meschke teaches Investment Theory & Applications and Trading Strategies at the undergraduate level, Investment Analysis at the MBA level, and Current Research in Finance for doctoral students. He blends conceptual rigor with practical application, integrating foundational finance models—such as the Capital Asset Pricing Model, portfolio theory, and behavioral finance—into timely case studies that simulate real-world challenges. In-class discussions, frequent quizzes, and guest speakers foster active learning and critical thinking, while detailed feedback on open-ended assignments helps students refine both analytical and communication skills. Although his courses are demanding, student evaluations consistently note their intellectual depth and practical relevance. Student evaluations are publicly accessible at RateMyProfessors.com. Meschke has received multiple school and university-level awards, including the Byron T. Shutz Trust Award, the Henry A. Bubb Award, the Bowling Business Faculty Award, the MBA Finance Faculty Outstanding Teaching Award, and several Doctoral Student Mentor Recognition Awards.

Teaching interests:

  • Investments
  • Finance Case Studies
  • Research Methods

Selected Publications —

Bindal, S., Joseph, K., Meschke, F. (2025). Corporate Shutdowns in the time of COVID-19. Journal of Corporate Finance - Volume (forthcoming).
Duong, T., Meschke, F. (2020). The rise and fall of portfolio pumping among U.S. mutual funds. Journal of Corporate Finance - Volume 60. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCORPFIN.2019.101530.
Meschke, F. (2019). An Empirical Examination of Mutual Fund Boards. Quarterly Journal of Finance - Issue 04 | Volume 09. https://doi.org/10.1142/S2010139219500150.
Du, L., Masli, A., Meschke, F. (2018). Credit Default Swaps on Corporate Debt and the Pricing of Audit Services. AUDITING A Journal of Practice and Theory - Issue 3 | Volume 37. https://doi.org/10.2308/AJPT-51858.
Huang, M., Masli, A., Meschke, F., Guthrie, J. (2017). Clients' Workplace Environment and Corporate Audits. AUDITING A Journal of Practice and Theory - Issue 4 | Volume 36. https://doi.org/10.2308/AJPT-51691.
Akbas, F., Meschke, F., Wintoki, J. (2016). Director networks and informed traders. Journal of Accounting and Economics - Issue 1 | Volume 62. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JACCECO.2016.03.003.
Huang, M., Li, P., Meschke, F., Guthrie, J. (2015). Family firms, employee satisfaction, and corporate performance. Journal of Corporate Finance - Volume 34. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCORPFIN.2015.08.002.
Aggarwal, R., Meschke, F., Wang, T. (2012). Corporate Political Donations: Investment or Agency?. Business and Politics - Issue 1 | Volume 14. https://doi.org/10.1515/1469-3569.1391.
Coles, J., Lemmon, M., Meschke, F. (2012). Structural Models and Endogeneity in Corporate Finance: The Link Between Managerial Ownership and Corporate Performance. Journal of Financial Economics - Issue 1 | Volume 103.
Kelly, P., Meschke, F. (2010). Sentiment and stock returns: The SAD anomaly revisited. Journal of Banking and Finance - Issue 6 | Volume 34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2009.11.027.

Awards & Honors —

Association of Business Doctoral Students Mentor of the Year Award, 2024

MBA Finance Faculty Outstanding Teaching Award, 2023

Jack and Anne Bowling Business Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence, 2023

Byron T. Shutz Trust Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2016

Henry A. Bubb Award for Teaching Excellence, 2016

Guy O. and Rosa Lee Mabry Best Paper Award, KU School of Business, 2013