Craig M. Lewis

Madison S. Wigginton Professor of Finance
Professor of Law

In May 2011, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Mary Schapiro named Professor Lewis Chief Economist and Director of the SEC’s Division of Economic and Risk Analysis. During his three years at the SEC, Lewis led efforts to bolster the role of economic analysis in the financial regulatory process, particularly with implementation of the landmark Dodd-Frank financial reform law. He returned to Vanderbilt at the beginning of the 2014 academic year.

Professor Lewis' interests include corporate financial policy and asset pricing. Most recently, he has employed textual analysis of qualitative factors in corporate disclosures to detect potential fraud. Earlier work included topics such as convertible debt financing, corporate capital formation, forecasting stock market volatility, and herding by equity analysts.

A frequent speaker and guest lecturer, Lewis primarily teaches corporate finance. He is a two-time recipient of the James A. Webb Award for Excellence in Teaching, Outstanding EMBA Professor, and the Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence at Vanderbilt's Owen Graduate School of Management. Professor Lewis is also a Certified Public Accountant and worked for Arthur Young & Company prior to completing his advanced degrees and joining the Owen faculty in 1986.