Nicole Thorne Jenkins is an award-winning educator, respected scholar, and experienced academic leader. Her research focuses on critical issues at the intersection of financial reporting, corporate governance, and capital markets. Specifically, Professor Jenkins examines:

  • The motivations and consequences of stock repurchases, including their impact on firm valuation, governance practices, and stakeholder outcomes
  • The drivers behind financial statement restatements, their implications for investors, and the identification of early warning indicators of reporting failures
  • The influence of organizational networks—from boards to audit teams—on reporting quality and strategic decision-making

Her work has been presented at leading universities and conferences around the world and published in premier academic journals, including The Accounting Review; Journal of Accounting and Economics; Review of Accounting Studies; and Accounting, Organizations and Society. In addition to her academic research, Professor Jenkins has served as an expert witness on matters involving financial reporting, valuation, and economic damages and is a sought-after speaker and advisor to organizations navigating complex financial and governance challenges.

From 2020 to 2025, Professor Jenkins served as the John A. Griffin Dean of the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia. During her tenure, she led bold initiatives to expand access to the Commerce curriculum and enhance the student experience, including:

  • Transitioning the B.S. in Commerce from a two-year to a three-year program
  • Launching new minors in Real Estate and General Business
  • Introducing a Biotechnology track to M.S. in Commerce
  • Creating Commerce Essentials (formerly known as Side Hustle), an asynchronous learning platform
  • Successfully concluding the Building Our Next Century campaign, raising over $340 million in philanthropic support
  • Overseeing major capital projects, including the renovation of Cobb Hall and the construction of Shumway Hall, which added over 100,000 square feet to the Breeden Commerce Grounds
  • Leading the effort to establish and endow the White Byron Ruffin Center for Real Estate ($20 million)

Before joining McIntire, Professor Jenkins was the Von Allmen Chaired Professor of Accountancy and Vice Dean at the Gatton College of Business & Economics, University of Kentucky. She previously served on the faculties of Washington University in St. Louis and Vanderbilt University.

A Certified Public Accountant, Professor Jenkins began her career in auditing and consulting with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). She holds bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Finance from Drexel University, a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa, and a Certificate in Leadership from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.

Professor Jenkins currently serves as a board member and trustee for several organizations, including the Advisory Board of the Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa, Montpelier Foundation (Treasurer and Chair of Finance & Audit), Strada Education Foundation (Chair of Finance, Audit & Investment), and the CREF Mutual Funds Complex, a TIAA affiliate.