Simon Named Executive Director for Master of Science in Computational Finance Program

Robert S. Simon has been named the new executive director of the Master of Science in Computational Finance (MSCF) Program at Carnegie Mellon University.

Simon, who will join CMU on July 1, replaces Rick Bryant, the inaugural executive director who initiated the program in 1994. The MSCF is a joint program among the Mellon College of Science's Department of Mathematical Sciences, Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ Department of Statistics & Data Science, the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy and the Tepper School of Business.

Simon graduated from CMU in 1993 with a dual degrees in information decision systems and business. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University in 1998. He most recently served as managing director at Barclays Capital Markets.

“Having worked on Wall Street for nearly 30 years, I’m excited to bring my own personal network and marry it with the current platform MSCF offers,” said Simon. “I’m excited to get to be a part of innovating the curriculum in the future with coming industry changes and to help breed the culture of Wall Street both in and out of the classroom.”

Simon has experience in both domestic and Asian markets in a career spanning multiple firms and asset classes. He looks forward to using his breadth of industry knowledge to benefit the program.

Program co-founders John Lehoczky and Steve Shreve are equally excited for Simon to begin his tenure. 

“Bob is an absolutely ideal choice to lead the MSCF Program. He brings a wealth of experience and leadership in the financial services industry, having served as managing director at several of the most prestigious institutions in the industry,” said John Lehoczky, the Thomas Lord University Professor of Statistics Emeritus. “As a graduate of CMU, he fully understands the breadth, depth and uniqueness of the MSCF curriculum.”

“It is a testament to his high regard for MSCF that he has agreed to become our executive director,” said Shreve, University Professor Emeritus. “Given his wealth of experience in the finance industry and his proven management skills, he is the perfect person to move MSCF forward.”