Terrence O’Brien Directory Page

Terrence O’Brien is an Associate Clinical Professor of Finance at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, where he also serves as Associate Chair of the Finance Department. He teaches a broad range of quantitative finance courses across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs, spanning foundational finance through advanced mathematical applications. His teaching expertise includes Options and Derivatives, Fixed Income Securities & Bond Markets, Corporate Finance, and Fintech & Cryptocurrency. His teaching style blends mathematical rigor, real-world applications, and an occasionally absurd sense of humor, making complex financial concepts accessible, engaging, and relevant.

In 2025, Terrence received the Allen J. Krowe Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Smith School of Business.

His academic background also includes research in empirical asset pricing, particularly fintech and cryptocurrency. His work has explored cryptocurrency market manipulation and its implications for market volatility and investor confidence. Previously, he was an executive for a private American company specializing in buying and selling Chinese macroeconomic and industrial government data.

Terrence received his Ph.D. in Finance from Penn State University, and his M.S. in Finance and M.B.A. from the University of Delaware.