In this special live episode of Owl Have You Know, James Weston, the senior associate dean for degree programs and Harmon Whittington Professor of Finance, reflects on his 25 years at Rice University. Join James and host Maya Pomroy ’22 as they explore his journey from the Federal Reserve to Rice Business, the evolution of the school over the past two and a half decades, and his vision for the school's future. They also dive deep into his groundbreaking research on racial disparities in auto loan pricing — a study that uncovered significant biases against minority borrowers. Plus, get the inside scoop on his experience running a bar in Rice Village. Learn more about Owl Have You Know: https://business.rice.edu/podcast #RiceBusiness #OwlHaveYouKnow #podcast Episode Guide: 01:20 James Weston's Career Journey 04:25 Early Career and Mentorship 08:56 Teaching Philosophy and Student Relationships 13:52 Research on Auto Loans and Discrimination 18:58 Linking Mortgage and Experian Data 20:14 Evidence of Discrimination in Auto Lending 22:48 Challenges in Passing Auto Lending Regulations 24:00 The Realities of Owning and Operating a Bar 30:24 Transition to Administration at Rice Business 33:47 Reflections on a Diverse Career 👋Make sure you follow us on social media to learn more about Rice Business! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BusinessRice/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rice_business/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/jones-graduate-school-of-business-rice-university/ X: https://twitter.com/Rice_Biz TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ricebusiness