By Hana Whatmough
Ranjini Jha, a professor from the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) will be recognized with the title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the Spring 2025 convocation ceremony. Distinguished Professor Emeritus is an honorary award granted to retired faculty members who have dedicated a minimum of 15 years to teaching and research at the University of Waterloo.
Jha played a foundational role in the development of the finance program at SAF and its related initiatives including the creation of Women in Finance, the Student Investment Fund and the Student Venture Fund. She taught a wide range of finance courses and led research focused on topics such as executive compensation and the resilience of Canada’s banking sector.
Since her retirement in 2024, Jha’s generosity and care for finance students at SAF has not ended. Her support continues through the endowment fund she created, the Jha Family Scholarship for Excellence in Finance, which helps support high-achieving students pursuing careers in finance.
Since her time away from teaching, Jha has been keeping busy by learning the piano, painting and travelling. "It's time to enjoy a slower pace, but I'll always cherish the growth and success we've achieved at the School of Accounting and Finance.”