The University of Baltimore's Merrick School of Business announced that Dr. Ting Zhang, professor of economics and entrepreneurship, has been appointed Chair of the Faculty,
effective July 1, 2026.
Zhang, who holds the Harry Y. Wright Chair and serves as associate director of the
Jacob France Institute, brings extensive research, teaching and leadership experience to the role. Her appointment
recognizes her sustained contributions to teaching our students, scholarly research,
policy engagement and academic service.
"Dr. Zhang exemplifies the scholar-leader our institution needs," said Dr. Dan Gerlowski, interim dean of the Merrick School of Business. "Her ability to bridge rigorous
research with real-world policy impact, combined with her dedication to student success,
makes her ideally suited to lead our faculty forward. It is no surprise that Dr. Zhang
has embraced emergent technologies in her teaching efforts."
Professor Zhang has secured more than $10 million in external funding from federal
agencies including the U.S. Departments of Labor, Agriculture and Education, as well
as major foundations such as the Gates Foundation and Kauffman Foundation. Her research focuses on human capital, entrepreneurship, workforce development and
how demographic change, technological transformation and public policy shape labor
markets.
She has authored multiple books with leading international publishers, including "Elderly Entrepreneurship in an Aging U.S. Economy" and "Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth in China." Her forthcoming works include "Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance in the United States" and the "De Gruyter Handbook of Chinese Entrepreneurship," both scheduled for 2026 publication.
Her scholarship has appeared in journals including Small Business Economics, Entrepreneurship
& Regional Development, Production and Operations Management and the Journal of Small
Business Management. Recent work addresses telework and entrepreneurship, compact
urban development, social capital and migrant health and machine learning applications
in urban and labor market analysis.
"I am truly honored to serve our faculty and students in this role," said Zhang. "Our faculty are dedicated to student success, research excellence and community engagement. I know we will continue to make meaningful contributions to educating the workforce and be forward-thinking leaders in addressing the challenges businesses face in the AI era. I look forward to working together to build on this important work."
Dr. Zhang's work has earned recognition including the University System of Maryland
Board of Regents Faculty Award for Scholarship and Research in 2023, the highest faculty
honor in the system, and the University President's Faculty Award in 2024. She has
received the T. Rowe Price Excellence in Teaching Award five times and the 2025 Black
& Decker Research Award.
She has served as chair of the North American Regional Science Council and president of the Northeastern Regional Science Association. Her policy engagement
includes service on the Maryland Governor's Equal Pay Commission and testimony before
the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee and House Committee on Small Business.