She is Director of the Garn Institute of Finance and a David Eccles Fellow. Dr Tashjian received her Ph.D. in Finance from Purdue University and her B.A. in Mathematics from Boston College. Her primary research interests are in corporate financial distress and futures contract design. She won the Marvin J. Ashton Teaching Excellence award in 1999 for her work in developing the University of Utah Student Investment Fund. She serves on the Academic Advisory Council of the Turnaround Management Association. Dr. Tashjian is Vice President for Education and Youth at Congregation Kol Ami and serves on the board of the United Jewish Endowed Trust of Utah.