UTEP Assistant Professor Zifeng Feng, Ph.D., has been hailed as one of the leading figures in the world of real estate research, according to UTEP's recent announcement. With a focus on influential publications, Feng's work has dominated discussions in the top-tier journals of his field. John Hadjimarcou, Ph.D., the Rick and Ginger Francis Dean of the Hunt College of Business, where Feng teaches, remarked on the professor's accomplishments and the college's burgeoning reputation in real estate academia.
Contributions that earned Feng this highly-coveted spot include analyzing the intricacies of commercial real estate and the potential of using generative artificial intelligence in financial contexts, his repertoire also delves into contemporary issues such as climate change and cross-border economic shifts, with a notable focus that intersects the spheres of real estate investment trusts, also known as REITs and ESG disclosure, which serve as vehicles for both investment and transparency in environmental, social, and governance-related matters; Feng's findings speak to the positive impact of ESG on firm value, and in effect, the advantages made accessible to the individual stakeholder.
Feng’s achievements in the academic realm have brought the spotlight to his methodology and investigative spirit. He said, "It is a great honor to be recognized by my peers as having contributed meaningfully to our field," as per UTEP Newsfeed, crediting his unexpected rise within the community to a deep-seated resolve for advancing real estate knowledge. UTEP's Department of Economics and Finance also retains its status among the echelons of academic leadership, securing a top ten ranking while being Texas's frontrunner in real estate research, a detail that underlines the university's unique academic atmosphere and marks its distinction on a national level.
