Burcu Esmer

Burcu Esmer is the Academic Co-Director at Wharton’s Harris Family Alternative Investments Program and Senior Lecturer of Finance.  Dr. Esmer earned her BSc in Economics and Minor in Mathematics from the Middle East Technical University (Turkiye) with the Highest Honor (Summa Cum Laude), her M.A. in Economics, and her Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Iowa. Dr. Esmer’s primary research areas are empirical corporate finance, banking, and private equity. She investigates agency conflicts and their impact on corporate policies. Her articles have appeared in leading academic journals such as the Accounting Review, Journal of Banking and Finance, and Applied Mathematical Modelling. Dr. Esmer has presented her work to different audiences at various academic and practitioner conferences and workshops, and she frequently serves as a reviewer for academic journals and conferences. Burcu Esmer is a member of the American Finance Association and European Finance Association.

Dr. Esmer teaches private equity and corporate finance in  Wharton Executive Education and degree programs. She is the recipient of the Wharton Teaching Excellence Reward for the academic year 2018-2019.

Dr. Esmer works closely with various non-profit organizations that aim to increase diversity in asset management industries. She is the Academic Director of the Wharton-AltFinance Virtual Institute and Girls Who Invest (GWI) Summer Intensive Program. Dr. Esmer also serves on the Advisory Board of GWI.