The University of Oregon's Lundquist College of Business has named Laura Wellman, the Tykeson Associate Professor of Accounting, as the 2026 recipient of its prestigious Stewart Distinguished Faculty Award.
"Laura Wellman is a preeminent scholar whose work on the interplay between politics and financial markets is more relevant than ever," said Bruce Blonigen, Edward Maletis Dean of the Lundquist College of Business. "Her exceptional research productivity, combined with her dedication to mentoring the next generation of scholars, exemplifies the very best of our college and elevates our reputation for world-class research."
Wellman is a leading accounting researcher in the area of political economy. Her work explores how political and regulatory environments influence firm behavior and investor decisions, including the specific roles of political uncertainty, corporate political activity, ESG (environmental, social, and governance) disclosures, and tax policy impacts.
Over the past three years, she has had five papers accepted or published in the top-five accounting and finance journals, including The Accounting Review, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Review of Accounting Studies, and Contemporary Accounting Research, representing a truly impressive rate of productivity at the highest level of quality. Equally impressive, her research has garnered nearly a thousand citations during the past three years as well, speaking to its timeliness and relevance to changing accounting and business practices.
Wellman also serves on the editorial board of The Accounting Review, one of the elite accounting journals, and is frequently invited to present her findings at top institutions, which in recent years have included Georgetown University, the University of Illinois, and the University of Maryland.
Those nominating Wellman for the Steward Award additionally lauded her as a dedicated teacher and advisor. She teaches at all levels of the curriculum, including a large lecture class to pre-business students, and is an active mentor to doctoral students, coauthoring papers with them, serving on dissertation committees, and advising their summer research activities.
The college and university have also benefited from her excellent service as chair of the college's strategic plan advisory committee, chair of the college's promotion and tenure committee, and co-chair of the university's graduate council.
"Laura operates at such a high level across every dimension," said Sarah E. Nutter, the Charles E. Kern Professor of accounting, in her nomination of Wellman. "She brings an energy to her research and her teaching that is simply inspiring. She tackles the challenge of large lecture classes with the same rigor she applies to her political economy scholarship, making her an invaluable part of our community."
The Stewart Award is the college's most prestigious faculty award. It is presented annually to a faculty member who has demonstrated "accomplishments that lead to distinction at a world-class level and further the strategic objectives of the College of Business and the University of Oregon."
This generous award was created through an endowment set up by alumnus Thomas C. Stewart and his wife Susan, who are long-time UO supporters and volunteers.