Dr. William Christiansen is an associate professor of finance in the Department of Finance at Florida State University’s College of Business. Christiansen also is the director of the department’s Truist Center for Free Enterprise and serves as the interim director for the Master of Science in Finance (MSF) and Finance Combined Pathways.

Christiansen served as department chair for 18 years, during which time he raised funds for two research centers, an academic and corporate speaker series, a student investment fund, a trading room and an annual conference. Under his direction, the department started the Master of Science in Finance (MSF) Program and revised the Doctoral Program in Finance. Prior to becoming a department chair, he was the Ph.D. Program coordinator in finance for 12 years. He also has served on numerous committees and performed many special assignments in academics, industry and government. 

Christiansen has taught a variety of courses at Florida State, including a doctoral seminar in financial institutions, MBA courses in business conditions analysis and economic policy, and undergraduate courses in financial institutions and markets, commercial banking, and special topics in finance and economics. He has been awarded with the MBA Professor of the Year Award seven times, the University Teaching Award three times, the Florida State University Guardian of the Flame Award, the Christopher C. Campbell Distinguished Alumni Award and the Florida State University Distinguished Teacher Award. 

He has published articles on bank asset and liability management, bank regulatory policy, pension fund management, bank runs and failures, macroeconomic policy issues, and various economic performance issues. He also has been a consultant, speaker and instructor in executive programs to various associations, companies and universities on the subject of global, U.S. and Asian economic performance; the economics of education; the Florida economy; monetary policy; and commercial banking issues. 

Christiansen received his bachelor’s degree in economics and Asian studies at Brigham Young University, his master’s degree in economics and business at Brigham Young University, and his Ph.D. in economics and finance with an emphasis on financial institutions and markets from the University of Utah.

  William Christiansen's Faculty Spotlight Interview