CURRICULUM VITAE

MELISSA B. STAHA
ADDRESS 733 N. Hudson Ave., Apt 213 PHONE: (254) 855-6488
Los Angeles, CA 90038 EMAIL: mbstaha@gmail.com
United States Citizen

EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Los Angeles, CA
PhD in Strategy, Expected Graduation: May 2026 2021-Present
• Awarded Marshall School of Business / Graduate School Fellowship (full tuition and stipend)
• Research interests: economics and sociology of innovation; how data and advanced analytics like artificial intelligence
(AI) and machine learning (ML) interact with social processes in and across firms
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Cambridge, MA
MS in Management Research (4.3/5.0 GPA) 2014-2017
• Awarded MIT Sloan School of Management Doctoral Fellowship (full tuition and stipend)
• PhD coursework in econometrics, causal inference, ethnography, organizational economics, sociology of strategy,
sociological theory, economic sociology, networks
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY Waco, TX
MS in Economics (4.0/4.0 GPA), MA in Sociology (4.0/4.0 GPA) 2004-2006
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY Waco, TX
BA in University Scholars; Magna Cum Laude; Honors Program Scholar with Distinction (3.88/4.0 GPA) 2000-2004
• Selected as one of a 50 student cohort in the University Scholars major
• Internship: Bob Bullock Scholar, Texas State Capitol for Senator Kip Averitt, Austin, Texas, Spring 2003
• Study abroad: Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands, Spring 2002
• Coursework in mathematical statistics, labor economics, social theory, microeconomics, game theory, political science

RESEARCH
Peer-Reviewed Journal Article
• How Do Visitors Affect Crime? (with Earl L. Grinols and David B. Mustard). 2011. Journal of Quantitative
Criminology 27(3): 363-78.
Working Papers
• A Research Technology Taxonomy (with Florenta Teodoridis), 2022.
• Space and Networks in the Labor Market (with Roberto M. Fernandez), 2017.
• Religious Pluralism and Religious Adherence in U.S. Counties: Assessing the Reassessment (with Charles M. North),
2004. Baylor Business: Economics Working Paper Series.

PRESENTATIONS
Expert Algorithm Aversion
• Management and Organizations PhD Seminar, USC Marshall School of Business, Los Angeles, California, February
2022
Space and Networks in the Labor Market
• Economic Sociology Working Group, MIT Sloan School of Management, Cambridge, Massachusetts, March 2016
• International Network of Analytical Sociologists (INAS), Utrecht, the Netherlands, June 2016
Data Quality: Garbage In, Garbage Out
• Aon Analytics User Conference: Informed Decisions through Catastrophe Analytics, Kissimmee, Florida, July 2009
Religious Pluralism and Religious Adherence in U.S. Counties: Assessing the Reassessment
• Honors Program Thesis Presentations, Scholars’ Day, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, May 2004
• Religious Pluralism and Religious Adherence in U.S. Counties: Assessing the Reassessment, Annual meeting of the
Association for the Study of Religion, Economics and Culture (ASREC), Kansas City, Missouri, October 2004

TECHNICAL SKILLS
• R, Stata, C++, SQL, LaTeX, VBA, Microsoft Office; regression analysis and causal analysis; qualitative methods

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HONORS AND AWARDS

Marshall School of Business, USC
• Marshal School of Business / Graduate School Fellowship, 2021 – 2026
Sloan School of Management, MIT
• MIT Sloan School of Management Doctoral Fellowship, 2014 – 2017
Baylor University, MS and MA
• Baylor University Department of Economics Graduate Fellowship, 2004-2006
• Baylor University Department of Sociology Graduate Fellowship, 2004-2006
• Baylor University Graduate Student Association Travel Award, 2004
Baylor University, BA
• Outstanding Student in Economics, BA, 2004
• Baylor University Regent’s Scholarship, full tuition for 8 semesters, 2000-2004
• Dean’s List, 8 semesters, 2000-2004
• Honors Program Advisory Council, President 2003-2004
• Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society
• Golden Key International Honour Society
• Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society
• National Merit Scholar and Avon Foundation National Merit Scholarship, 2000

RESEARCH ASSISTANT EXPERIENCE

University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business , Professor Abhishek Nagaraj August 2019-Present
• Assisted in 5 Revise and Resubmits in Journal of Economic Perspectives, Management Science, Organization Science,
and PNAS
• Organized and summarized the reviewers’ comments, additional data analysis, rewriting, editing, and finding new
examples and literature
• Currently working on a new project looking at how maps shape search processes in innovation

TEACHING ASSISTANT EXPERIENCE

University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business
• Economics of Innovation (PhD seminar), Professor Abhishek Nagaraj, Fall 2020
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management
• Building Successful Careers and Organizations (MBA elective), Professor Emilio Castilla, Spring 2016, Spring 2017
• Strategies for People Analytics (MBA elective), Professor Emilio Castilla, Spring 2017
• Global Strategy (EMBA core), Professors Don Lessard and Greg Distelhorst, Fall 2016-Spring 2017
Baylor University
• Game Theory (undergraduate), Professor Charles North, Fall 2005
• Intermediate Microeconomics (undergraduate), Professor Charles North, Spring 2005
• Introduction to Sociology (undergraduate), Professor Byron Johnson, Fall 2004

GRADUATE ASSISTANT EXPERIENCE

Baylor University
Professor Byron Johnson, Institute for Studies of Religion and Program on Prosocial Behavior, Fall 2004-Spring 2006
• Prepared a report determining the extent of implementation of the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative
(SVORI) grant, including interviewing all fifty states’ grant coordinators
• Co-coordinated the National Domestic Violence Fatality Review conference in 2005
• Feasibility study for analysis of the Prison Fellowship program in New York
• Feasibility study concerning collective efficacy in neighborhoods and its relationship to religion

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INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
ENTIFY GLOBAL Boston, MA
Co-Founder and CEO 2018-2019
• Built the business idea from the ground up, including interviewing potential customers, developing the business plan,
co-writing a white paper, developing the business model canvas
• Stewarded Entify through semi-final interviews for Techstars Boston and Alchemist Blockchain Techstars NYC
GUY CARPENTER Minneapolis, MN
Vice President 2014
• Managed analytics for multiple client accounts, including coordination with internal and external stakeholders, data
verification and analysis, client presentations, problem solving, and programming in SQL and VBA
• Advised senior management on internal and external strategy, including SWOT analysis and assessment of key clients’
needs
MARKEL CORPORATION (formerly ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS) Richmond, VA
Senior Risk Analyst 2011-2013
• Developed a comprehensive understanding of firm’s operating risks using knowledge of internal governance and
reporting processes; delivered associated analytics to key stakeholders including executives, underwriting, claims, and
finance
• Partnered with the Chief Administrative Officer to to develop quantitative catastrophe management solutions
maximizing return on capital and minimizing volatility, resulting in significant reinsurance cost savings
• Partnered with the Chief Underwriting Officer to support technical pricing, including training in three regional
underwriting offices, resulting in a decrease in wind risk by 19% and flat-to-increasing premiums over one year
CATLIN, INC. Atlanta, GA
Catastrophe Risk Analyst 2010-2011
• Collaborated with actuaries and underwriters across the organization, including Bermuda and Latin America
reinsurance, to increase data capture, analyze and manage catastrophe risk, support reinsurance pricing and internal
purchasing decisions, and streamline reporting processes in SQL
AON BENFIELD ANALYTICS Dallas, TX
Senior Catastrophe Risk Analyst (promoted from Catastrophe Risk Analyst 3 years early in 2008) 2006-2010
• Managed analytics for multiple client accounts, including largest U.S. commercial account and a 3 month secondment
in Sydney, Australia for largest Australian commercial account
• Built prototype data verification tool in VBA saving 40+ hours per client which was integrated into company-wide
workflows

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• Interests: reading (social sciences, history, literature), globetrotting, Tex-Mex, insatiably curious

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