Jan Ambrose, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair of Finance
Finance

Dr. Ambrose’s research interests have evolved to focus primarily on health insurance and public policy.  Her publications have appeared in the Journal of Risk and Insurance, the Journal of Insurance Issues, Risk Management and Insurance Review, the Journal of Insurance Regulation, and the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law. She is an active participant in the American Risk and Insurance Association through research presentations and committee involvement.

Dr. Ambrose strongly believes in the importance of building the link between theory and practice and in contributing to her community. Thus, she lends her expertise on insurance, finance, and leadership issues by volunteering in the past as a board member of The Swarthmore Food Cooperative and the Swarthmore Recreation Association and currently by serving as treasurer for the Board of Directors of the Greater Philadelphia Association for Recovery Education and The Bridge Way School.

Why La Salle?

I chose La Salle for two reasons: its location in Philadelphia and its true spirit of collegiality.  When I came to Philadelphia for graduate school, I fell in love with the city, from its sense of history, the arts culture, the thriving business environment, the city’s distinct neighborhoods, to the food, the architecture, and the accessibility to NYC and DC or the beach and mountains. But I also wanted to be at a university that truly values the relationships between and among students and faculty.  La Salle is the perfect fit. We truly care about our students and our colleagues in a personal way that emphasizes cooperation and respect that I have not seen at many other universities.

Areas of Expertise

Health care economics and policy
Risk management
Corporate finance

Teaching

Fundamentals of Risk and Insurance
Enterprise Risk Management
Employee Benefit Planning
Financial Markets
Corporate Finance

Education

Ph.D., The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
M.A., The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
B.S., Miami University

Recent Publications

“Counterspoint: A Small Credit Union’s Struggle in Rural America,” with Elizabeth Cooper, Journal of Finance Case Research, 2019

“Illustrating Attitudes toward Risk,” Journal of Risk Education, vol. 7, no. 1, 2016

“Comparing Fixed-Rate Mortgage Loans with Horizon-Specific Loan Payoff Schedules and Identical Net Loan Amounts,” with Joshua Buch, Journal of Financial Service Professionals, vol.70, no. 6, November 2016

“The Performance of the Housing Markets of EMF Member Countries Since the Great Recession,” with Joshua Buch, Real Estate Review, vol. 44, no. 3, Fall 2015.

“Understanding the Housing Affordability Index,” with Joshua Buch, Real Estate Review, vol. 42, no. 3, Fall 2013.

“The Economics of Liability Insurance,” with Anne Carroll and Laureen Regan, Chapter 12 in Georges Dionne (Ed.), Handbook of Insurance, second edition, Springer, New York; 2013.

Recent Presentations

“Online Education in Risk Management and Insurance,” American Risk and Insurance Association, August 2018.

“Counterspoint: A Small Credit Union’s Struggle in Rural America” with Elizabeth Cooper, Financial Education Association/American Business Education Annual meeting, September 2017. Panelist, The Explorer Connection

“Affordable Care Act” Panel Discussion, La Salle University, November 2013.

Facilitator, Explorer Café, “Obamacare Moving Forward: What’s the Prognosis?” April 2013

“The Influence of Ratings and Regulation on Insurance Company CEO Incentives,” with Elizabeth Cooper, American Risk and Insurance Association, August 2012.

Panelist, The Explorer Connection “Occupy Wall Street” Panel Discussion, La Salle University, October 2011.