Three Faculty Recognized for Research, Teaching Excellence

May 9, 2026

During the 2026 Commencement celebrations, three members of the St. John Fisher University faculty were honored with the University’s most prestigious scholarship and teaching honors.

Dr. Yi Liu, assistant professor of finance in the School of Business, received the Trustees’ Award for Distinguished Scholarly Achievement. The Award for Teaching Excellence at the undergraduate level was given to Dr. Ben Niu, associate professor of economics and data analytics in the School of Arts and Sciences, while Dr. Priyanka Bhatt, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the Wegmans School of Pharmacy, was given the Award for Teaching Excellence at the graduate level.

Award for Distinguished Scholarly Achievement

The Trustees’ Award for Distinguished Scholarly Achievement is the highest honor that the Board of Trustees can bestow on a faculty member, second only to an honorary degree. It is given to full-time faculty members in recognition of outstanding scholarly work, ranging from writing books and articles, to presenting papers at professional conferences.

Dr. Yi Liu

Liu is a certified financial planning professional who joined Fisher in 2021. Her scholarship lies at the intersection of behavioral finance, financial planning, and consumer financial well-being, examining how personality traits, psychological factors, and social influences shape financial decision-making, financial satisfaction, and broader life outcomes.

As a teacher-scholar, Liu brings her research on the psychology of financial behavior directly into the classroom, preparing the next generation of financial professionals with both the analytical rigor and the human understanding needed to help clients build more secure and fulfilling financial lives.

In a letter nominating Liu for the award, a colleague shared, “In the four and a half years she has been a faculty member at Fisher, Dr. Liu’s scholarship and enthusiasm for scholarship have made a significant impact on her peers, students, the financial planning community, and the financial planning profession. She is an exceptionally prolific scholar; is enthusiastic about her research and passionate about creating a positive impact on the lives of others.”

Since earning her doctorate in 2020, Liu has established an impressive record of scholarship, authoring more than 20 peer-reviewed journal articles in leading outlets, including International Journal of Bank Marketing, Financial Planning Review, Financial Services Review, Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Journal of Retirement, Applied Economics Letters, and Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning. She serves on the editorial boards of Asian Economic and Financial Review, Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, and Financial Services Review.

Her contributions to the field have been widely recognized. In 2025, she received the Richard L. D. Morse Early-Career Award from the American Council on Consumer Interests and the CFP Board’s ACCI Financial Planning Best Paper Award. In 2024, she received the STAR Award for Excellence in Research from St. John Fisher University and was named to the Rochester Business Journal Forty Under 40. In 2023, she was recognized as part of the InvestmentNews Forty Under 40 class.

Liu is committed to translating rigorous research into accessible public insight. She has shared her work through invited conference presentations, national media commentary in outlets such as U.S. News & World Report, and a TEDx Talk on financial happiness and well-being.

She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in personal financial planning from Texas Tech University, as well as an M.S. in agricultural economics from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Award for Teaching Excellence

The Awards for Teaching Excellence are chosen by students and are given annually to full-time faculty members for outstanding work in the classroom. Award recipients must demonstrate thorough knowledge of their subject matter, solid preparation for class, clear and effective communication, and genuine enthusiasm for their job.

Dr. Ben Niu

Niu joined the Economics and Data Analytics Department at St. John Fisher University in 2013 after receiving his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan. Prior to that, he received bachelor’s degrees in economics and government/political science from Cornell University in 2007.

Niu’s fields of research are applied microeconomics, public finance, and public policy with an emphasis on taxation. More specifically, his research interests center on the effects of geographic and political borders on different policies such as international corporate tax regimes, carbon taxation, bottle deposit systems, and education. His works have been published in the Journal of Economic Geography, Public Finance Review, and Energy Economics.

Niu leverages his scholarly expertise to better inform his teaching. At the undergraduate level, he has taught courses in statistics, sample survey methods, intermediate microeconomics, game theory, economic development, public economics, and the research capstone seminar. At the MBA level, he has taught courses in economic foundations and managerial economics. Niu emphasizes practical applications of theory by introducing real world data relating to economics, business, government, health, and more. He also stresses the importance of having functional skills by teaching Excel, R, and Stata.

One student nominator shared, “Dr. Niu is an excellent professor, worthy of receiving any award regarding excellence in teaching. He exhibits an expertise few can match, through his immense knowledge of economic and statistical theory. He has the ability to answer any question, and his great understanding of the content makes learning from him easy and enjoyable. His course material is organized in a way that is very beneficial to learning. His class is one I always look forward to, as he makes it interesting and engaging, as well as entertaining. I have always felt welcomed by him and thoroughly enjoy having him as a professor.”

Niu is an associate editor for the New York Economic Review. He has also acted as a referee for various journals including International Tax and Public Finance and Papers in Regional Science. Professionally, he has been a member of the American Economic Association, National Tax Association, and New York State Economic Association.

Dr. Priyanka Bhatt

Bhatt is an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Wegmans School of Pharmacy, where her teaching is influenced by a deep commitment to supporting student growth and confidence.

With advanced training in pharmaceutics, she brings scientific rigor into the classroom while consistently connecting foundational concepts to professional practice. Across core courses in pharmaceutics, pharmacy calculations, compounding, and drug delivery, she emphasizes structured learning, active engagement, and thoughtful problem solving. She views education as a dynamic practice that continually adapts to the evolving needs of her students. Bhatt is recognized for developing inclusive instructional approaches that support student readiness and academic success.

One student nominator shared, “Dr. Bhatt is highly deserving of this award based on her exceptional effectiveness, fairness, and genuine commitment to student success. She shows exceptional understanding and compassion for students, and recognizes the demanding nature of the pharmacy curriculum. She is friendly, kind, approachable, and deeply invested in her students’ growth.”

In addition to teaching, Bhatt is a widely published researcher in nano drug delivery for oncology and ophthalmology, and mentors undergraduate and Pharm.D. students in her research lab. Through sustained service to the School, University, community, and profession, Bhatt contributes to a collaborative academic culture that values student success, faculty growth, and educational excellence. With an approachable presence and a consistently positive outlook, Bhatt supports her students with care, clarity, and unwavering commitment to their learning and success.

Three Faculty Recognized for Research, Teaching Excellence 2026-05-09T15:41:00-04:00 During the 2026 Commencement celebrations, three members of the St. John Fisher University faculty were honored with the University’s most prestigious scholarship and teaching honors. Dr. Yi Liu, assistant professor of finance in the , received the Trustees’ Award for Distinguished Scholarly Achievement. The Award for Teaching Excellence at the undergraduate level was given to Dr. Ben Niu, associate professor of economics and data analytics in the , while Dr. Priyanka Bhatt, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the , was given the Award for Teaching Excellence at the graduate level. Award for Distinguished Scholarly Achievement The Trustees’ Award for Distinguished Scholarly Achievement is the highest honor that the Board of Trustees can bestow on a faculty member, second only to an honorary degree. It is given to full-time faculty members in recognition of outstanding scholarly work, ranging from writing books and articles, to presenting papers at professional conferences. Dr. Yi Liu Liu is a certified financial planning professional who joined Fisher in 2021. Her scholarship lies at the intersection of behavioral finance, financial planning, and consumer financial well-being, examining how personality traits, psychological factors, and social influences shape financial decision-making, financial satisfaction, and broader life outcomes. As a teacher-scholar, Liu brings her research on the psychology of financial behavior directly into the classroom, preparing the next generation of financial professionals with both the analytical rigor and the human understanding needed to help clients build more secure and fulfilling financial lives. In a letter nominating Liu for the award, a colleague shared, “In the four and a half years she has been a faculty member at Fisher, Dr. Liu’s scholarship and enthusiasm for scholarship have made a significant impact on her peers, students, the financial planning community, and the financial planning profession. She is an exceptionally prolific scholar; is enthusiastic about her research and passionate about creating a positive impact on the lives of others.” Since earning her doctorate in 2020, Liu has established an impressive record of scholarship, authoring more than 20 peer-reviewed journal articles in leading outlets, including International Journal of Bank Marketing, Financial Planning Review, Financial Services Review, Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Journal of Retirement, Applied Economics Letters, and Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning. She serves on the editorial boards of Asian Economic and Financial Review, Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, and Financial Services Review. Her contributions to the field have been widely recognized. In 2025, she received the Richard L. D. Morse Early-Career Award from the American Council on Consumer Interests and the CFP Board’s ACCI Financial Planning Best Paper Award. In 2024, she received the STAR Award for Excellence in Research from St. John Fisher University and was named to the Rochester Business Journal Forty Under 40. In 2023, she was recognized as part of the InvestmentNews Forty Under 40 class. Liu is committed to translating rigorous research into accessible public insight. She has shared her work through invited conference presentations, national media commentary in outlets such as U.S. News & World Report, and a TEDx Talk on financial happiness and well-being. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in personal financial planning from Texas Tech University, as well as an M.S. in agricultural economics from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Award for Teaching Excellence The Awards for Teaching Excellence are chosen by students and are given annually to full-time faculty members for outstanding work in the classroom. Award recipients must demonstrate thorough knowledge of their subject matter, solid preparation for class, clear and effective communication, and genuine enthusiasm for their job. Dr. Ben Niu Niu joined the Economics and Data Analytics Department at St. John Fisher University in 2013 after receiving his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan. Prior to that, he received bachelor’s degrees in economics and government/political science from Cornell University in 2007. Niu’s fields of research are applied microeconomics, public finance, and public policy with an emphasis on taxation. More specifically, his research interests center on the effects of geographic and political borders on different policies such as international corporate tax regimes, carbon taxation, bottle deposit systems, and education. His works have been published in the Journal of Economic Geography, Public Finance Review, and Energy Economics. Niu leverages his scholarly expertise to better inform his teaching. At the undergraduate level, he has taught courses in statistics, sample survey methods, intermediate microeconomics, game theory, economic development, public economics, and the research capstone seminar. At the MBA level, he has taught courses in economic foundations and managerial economics. Niu emphasizes practical applications of theory by introducing real world data relating to economics, business, government, health, and more. He also stresses the importance of having functional skills by teaching Excel, R, and Stata. One student nominator shared, “Dr. Niu is an excellent professor, worthy of receiving any award regarding excellence in teaching. He exhibits an expertise few can match, through his immense knowledge of economic and statistical theory. He has the ability to answer any question, and his great understanding of the content makes learning from him easy and enjoyable. His course material is organized in a way that is very beneficial to learning. His class is one I always look forward to, as he makes it interesting and engaging, as well as entertaining. I have always felt welcomed by him and thoroughly enjoy having him as a professor.” Niu is an associate editor for the New York Economic Review. He has also acted as a referee for various journals including International Tax and Public Finance and Papers in Regional Science. Professionally, he has been a member of the American Economic Association, National Tax Association, and New York State Economic Association. Dr. Priyanka Bhatt Bhatt is an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Wegmans School of Pharmacy, where her teaching is influenced by a deep commitment to supporting student growth and confidence. With advanced training in pharmaceutics, she brings scientific rigor into the classroom while consistently connecting foundational concepts to professional practice. Across core courses in pharmaceutics, pharmacy calculations, compounding, and drug delivery, she emphasizes structured learning, active engagement, and thoughtful problem solving. She views education as a dynamic practice that continually adapts to the evolving needs of her students. Bhatt is recognized for developing inclusive instructional approaches that support student readiness and academic success. One student nominator shared, “Dr. Bhatt is highly deserving of this award based on her exceptional effectiveness, fairness, and genuine commitment to student success. She shows exceptional understanding and compassion for students, and recognizes the demanding nature of the pharmacy curriculum. She is friendly, kind, approachable, and deeply invested in her students’ growth.” In addition to teaching, Bhatt is a widely published researcher in nano drug delivery for oncology and ophthalmology, and mentors undergraduate and Pharm.D. students in her research lab. Through sustained service to the School, University, community, and profession, Bhatt contributes to a collaborative academic culture that values student success, faculty growth, and educational excellence. With an approachable presence and a consistently positive outlook, Bhatt supports her students with care, clarity, and unwavering commitment to their learning and success.