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Xinde (Cinder) Zhang is an award-winning finance professor and curriculum innovator at Purdue University's Mitch Daniels School of Business. Specializing in AI-integrated finance education, he applies interdisciplinary expertise from finance to computer science and systems design to transform how finance professionals learn. He is the creator of the DRIVER Framework, a six-stage methodology that encompasses Discover & Design, Represent, Implement, Validate, Evolve, and Reflect, which aims to cultivate analytical clarity, data fluency, and AI collaboration skills. This framework anchors the DRIVER textbook series, enhancing finance education through the integration of Python and large language models (LLMs) into the learning process. Prior to his appointment at Purdue, Cinder Zhang was instrumental in developing the Financial Analytics concentration at the University of Arkansas, where he guided students into successful careers at notable firms such as Goldman Sachs, State Street, MasterCard, EY, Citi, and Walmart Global Tech. His work bridges theoretical insights and practical skills in AI-enhanced financial modeling and investment education. Outside of academia, he enjoys playing basketball, although his teaching schedule has made it difficult to participate in pick-up games.
GRE is not required.