Dr. Evgenia (Janya) Golubeva
Personal Information
My first name is pronounced as Zhe-nya (I think), and I might as well spell it that way but I don’t for no better reason than the fact that I started spelling it as Janya a long time ago and it is too late to change it now. You need not call me by my last name unless you desire to. I hereby grant you the official permission to address me by my first name.
I was born in Moscow, Russia, where I eventually earned a Bachelor’s degree in oil and gas geophysics from Moscow Oil and Gas University. My whole family has had a long affair with that University: my great-grandfather, my grandfather, my father, and my both husbands (one ex, one current of course) have worked there at different times. My father is still there now spreading thin over various academic, administrative, and editorial responsibilities. In the spirit of the family tradition, I was trained to search for oil and gas. Not having found any I decided to seek riches abroad and came to the U.S. in 1995 to pursue my graduate studies. I received my Ph.D. in finance at the University of Utah in 2002. I also hold an MBA degree from the same school.
Before moving to the U.S., I worked in the Russian oil industry as a support operations manager of an oil service company for three years (yes, I did have a real job once). Actually if you have read any of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe mystery novels, you are familiar with the character of Archie Goodwin. My Russian job was very much like Archie’s except I didn’t carry a gun (my boss didn’t trust me enough with one). Scared yet? Wait until you read my teaching philosophy.
I have taught four sections of Investments at the University of Utah before coming to Norman. I enjoy teaching Investments since it is both challenging and practical. It never ceases to amuse me to see students come to my class with high hopes of learning how to get wealthy quickly; listen; and leave disappointed. I also have experience getting students disappointed in Corporate Finance and Managerial Economics. My Advanced Business Finance students are in for a treat this semester as well.
I am married, as you already know, and have one teenage son, Vlad (short for Vladislav). My family and I enjoy all kinds of sports (including chess). Skiing in Utah for seven years made us very spoiled. We also love hiking and backpacking. (On the sports note, though, is it here that I make a confession about my attitude towards college football? Or should I better wait until after the final exam?) I very much enjoy arts, especially photography, live theater and music. I play piano and sing (mostly in Russian though in case you ever care to join me) and listen to jazz, symphony and opera.