Zhang Selected for Lariccia Family Endowed Professorship
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Yiyang Zhang, an associate professor in the Lariccia School of Accounting and Finance at the Youngstown State University Williamson College of Business Administration, was designated the Lariccia Family Endowed Professorship at a ceremony in Williamson Hall on Saturday.
The endowed professorship is an academic teaching, research/scholarship and professional service position. Endowed professors in the Williamson College of Business Administration are awarded in recognition of past contributions and future potential to make significant contributions to the department/school, college and university. The Lariccia Family Endowed Professorships allow the WCBA to provide recognition to outstanding business faculty who have shown a track record of excellence.
“The generous gift from the Lariccia family allows the WCBA to showcase faculty who excel in their work as a professor,” Kelly Wilkinson, WCBA dean, said in a news release. “Dr. Zhang’s research in accounting as well as his teaching and service makes him the ideal candidate for the Lariccia Family Endowed Professorship.”
Anthony J. Lariccia graduated from YSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the Williamson College of Business. His career in the brokerage industry spanned more than 40 years, including serving as vice president for Merrill Lynch & Co.
The Lariccia family – Tony, Mary, Natalie and Dana – believes the university plays a vital role in the continued resurgence of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.
“On behalf of our family, we would like to extend our sincere congratulations to Dr. Zhang,” Natalie and Dana Lariccia said in the news release. “We look forward to him extending his time and talent and are excited for him to share his knowledge with the impressive students at The Lariccia School of Accounting at YSU’s Williamson College of Business.”
YSU President Bill Johnson said he’s honored to be part of the bestowment of the endowed professorship to Zhang.
“His contributions within his field and WCBA underscore his dedication and merit of this recognition,” Johnson said.
Zhang specialized in accounting information systems, financial accounting, finance and auditing topics. He has been a professor in the accounting department at WCBA since 2018.
“I am deeply honored and incredibly grateful to accept the Lariccia Family Endowed Professorship,” Zhang said. “The generosity and foresight of the Lariccia family strengthen my commitment to pushing the boundaries of research, fostering collaboration and making meaningful contributions to accounting academia, YSU and the community.”
Zhang received his B.B.A. from Washburn University, his MAcc from the University of Kansas and his Ph.D. in accounting from the University of South Florida. He has written for several top-tier accounting publications and contributed to papers currently under review.
Zhang is currently ranked No. 5 nationwide in the Accounting Information System Research ranking based on the BYU accounting research ranking. Additionally, he serves as an editorial board member of the American Accounting Association Journal of Information Systems and as the paper chair of the American Accounting Association Ohio Region Meeting.
Pictured at top: From left are YSU President Bill Johnson; Natalie Lariccia; Dana Lariccia; YSU associate professor Yiyang Zhang; Kelly Wilkinson, WCBA dean; and Jennifer Pintar, YSU interim provost.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
