Faculty and student leadership have been important to our success as an organization and long-term growth.
Fall 2026 Executive board
BEN SMITH - President
Ben Smith is a senior from Cincinnati, OH majoring in International Business and Finance with a minor in Spanish. He is also involved in the Carolina Finance Scholars Program, Moore School Finance Research, and Sigma Phi Epsilon. Upon graduation, he will be joining Lazard as a full-time Investment Banking Analyst.
DARYA TCHAVDAROVA - VP of Operations
Darya Tchavdarova is a junior from Aurora, IL majoring in Finance and Accounting. She is also involved in the Carolina Finance Scholar Program, Garnet Fund, and Alpha Kappa Psi. Next summer, she will be interning at Evercore as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst.
thomas patterson - VP of Education
Thomas Patterson is a junior from Pittsburgh, PA majoring in Finance and Accounting. He is also involved in the Carolina Finance Scholar Program, Garnet Fund, and Phi Gamma Delta. Next summer, he will be interning at Lazard as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst.
dalton kahl - Freshman Finance Academy Advisor
Dalton Kahl is a senior from Columbia, SC majoring in Finance. He is also involved in the Carolina Finance Scholar Program and Alpha Kappa Psi. Upon graduation, he will be joining Bank of America as a full-time Investment Banking Analyst.
ethan brodman - Director of Recruitment
Ethan Brodman is a junior from Haymarket, VA majoring in Finance and Risk Management. He is also involved in the Carolina Finance Scholar Program, Carolina Fund, and Sigma Omega Upsilon. Next summer, he will be interning at Truist as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst.
julia judkins - director of Marketing
Julia Judkins is a junior from Philadelphia, PA majoring in Finance and Accounting. She is also involved in the Carolina Finance Scholar Program, Garnet Fund, and Adventis Training. This summer, she was at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as a Risk Group Intern.
gray barnett - director of outreach
Gray Barnett is a sophomore from Greenville, SC majoring in Finance and Economics. He is also involved in Garnet Fund and Sigma Phi Epsilon. This fall, he is at The Capital Corporation as an Investment Banking Analyst.
KATE SNIFFEN - Academy co-Chair
Kate Sniffen is a sophomore from New York, NY majoring in International Business and Finance. She is also involved in Scholars United, Garnet Fund, Alpha Kappa Psi, Gamecock Consulting Club, and Chi Omega. This summer, she was at Morqlear Company as a Mergers and Acquisitions Intern.
RYAN FRONCZAK - ACADEMY CO-CHAIR
Ryan Fronczak is a sophomore from Rochester, NY majoring in Finance and Computer Science. He is also involved in the Carolina Quant Fund, Club Golf, Carolina Fund, Carolina Sales Institute, and Beta Theta Pi. This summer, he was at Stewarding Water as a Search Fund Intern.