Meet our New Faculty: Yaxuan Chen

Yaxuan Chen | Assistant Professor of Accounting | Nolan School

Meet Yaxuan Chen, one of the newest faculty members in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. Chen earned her PhD in business administration, with a focus in accounting and management, from Harvard University in May 2024. She earned an MS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a BBA from the University of Hong Kong. Chen joins the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration as an assistant professor of accounting. Learn more about her area of expertise, her research focus, courses she will be teaching, and other interests in this Q&A.

What are your research and teaching areas of focus?

My research examines design choices of management control systems, with a special focus on organizational culture as an informal control mechanism and its interaction with formal control systems. My overall research agenda comprises three strands:

1. Understanding problems: I study challenges and control problems that organizations face in shaping and disseminating the desired organizational culture.
2. Investigating causes: I examine the economic and behavioral factors that lead to frictions and inefficiencies in this process.
3. Identifying solutions: I explore how organizations can design management control systems to shape and reinforce their desired culture, thereby achieving favorable outcomes.

My teaching interest encompasses managerial accounting. In my mind, teaching goes beyond the dissemination of knowledge. My philosophy is to create a bridge between theory and application, research and practice. I believe the most profound learning occurs when students can see the tangible implications of theoretical accounting concepts in real-word business scenarios.

What class(es) will you be teaching this year?

I will be teaching managerial accounting for undergraduate students at the Nolan School in the spring of 2025. I am very much looking forward to interacting with students at different stages of their education and careers, including undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals.

What attracted you to the SC Johnson College of Business?

I was strongly attracted by SC Johnson College of Business’s renowned reputation as a premier academic and research institution. Its strong connections with industries and leading practitioners provide invaluable opportunities for learning, research, and networking. Additionally, the college’s inclusive and inspiring environment fosters a collaborative culture, where diverse perspectives are encouraged and celebrated.

When did you know you wanted to be a professor?

I benefited tremendously from my undergraduate accounting curriculum, which initially sparked my interest in academic research in accounting. I often reflect upon my years in the undergraduate and graduate programs, during which my professors offered inspiration, guidance, and support for both my career path and life. The best way to repay is to extend this kindness forward throughout my career.

What are you most looking forward to during your first year at the Nolan School?

I am most looking forward to learning more about the community and contributing to it through research, collaborating, and teaching, among others. I am excited about teaching managerial accounting in spring 2025.

What do you do to recharge?

I watched movies to recharge. I also enjoy building Legos and hiking.