Ethan D. Watson

Dr. Ethan Watson is a Professor of Finance and currently serves as Chair of the department of Economics and Finance, at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s (UNCW) Cameron School of Business, joining the faculty in 2013. Dr. Watson holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Mississippi State University, an MSHA & MBA from the University of Alabama Birmingham, and a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Mississippi.

As an educator, Dr. Watson is a passionate teacher serving undergraduate and graduate students. He has several teaching interests including Principles of Finance, Investments, Healthcare Finance, and Financial Statement Analysis. He has led high-impact applied learning courses such as the New York Experience class and the Prague Consulting project. Additionally, he has chaired numerous Honors and International MBA theses.

Dr. Watson’s research focuses on market microstructure and market efficiency, with a particular interest in how information is incorporated into markets. His work has been published in respected journals and quoted in news outlets such as the Financial Times. His paper on limit order cancellations received the Outstanding Paper Award from the Journal of Financial Research.

Beyond academia, Dr. Watson has provided executive coaching and conducted numerous executive training workshops through UNCW’s Swain Center. His areas of expertise include Corporate Finance, Financial Statement Analysis, Healthcare Finance, and Financial Markets

Prior to his academic career, Dr. Watson spent five years in financial roles within the healthcare industry, working for the Medical College of Georgia and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Education

B.S. in Chemistry, Mississippi State University
MBA & MS of Health Administration, University of Alabama Birmingham
Ph.D. in Finance, University of Mississippi

Specialization in Teaching

Financial Statement Analysis, Corporate Finance, Healthcare Finance

Research Interests

Market Microstructure