Meet this year’s new faculty members
Each fall brings fresh energy to Kellogg not only from the students arriving on campus but also from the remarkable new faculty who join our Kellogg community. At Kellogg, we’re always evolving our curriculum and courses to give students the experiences and skills they need to grow into the leaders of tomorrow. This begins with the incredible faculty who guide and support them during their MBA journey and beyond.
This year, we’re thrilled to welcome new professors whose expertise spans AI, finance, power in organizations, and other research topics at the forefront of the business world. Their curiosity, creativity, and passion will continue to raise the bar in our classrooms.
Get to know the newest members of the Kellogg faculty, and discover where they come from, who inspires them, and how they spend their time beyond campus.
Amine Bennouna
Assistant Professor, Operations
Currently teaching: Operations Management
Where were you before Kellogg, and how did you arrive here?
I grew up in Morocco and could never have imagined that I would one day be at the Kellogg School of Management. From an early age, I was fascinated by the beauty of mathematics and its power to capture abstract, complex ideas. I had the privilege of representing my country at the International Mathematical Olympiad, which opened the door to prestigious academic institutions in France, Lycée Louis-le-Grand and later École Polytechnique. At Lycée and École I discovered operations research — the science of developing ingenious solutions to practical problems through deep mathematical insights. I was instantly captivated.
I went on to pursue a PhD in Operations Research at MIT, and I loved research and teaching there. It was then that I realized an academic career was the perfect path.
What are you looking forward to most about your first year of teaching at Kellogg?
I love teaching and am excited to share my passion for operations with students. I believe that the techniques in operations are not only essential for solving business problems but also inherently beautiful and elegant. They capture complex dynamics through models and can lead to smart solutions that address many intricate problems.
What is your favorite way to unwind?
Fútbol or should I say soccer! I grew up watching and playing soccer, and I still do today. I’m excited for the upcoming World Cup in the U.S.
Matthew Alexander Phillips
Assistant Professor, Accounting Information & Management
Currently teaching: Financial Accounting
What or who inspired you to teach?
As an undergrad at the University of Miami, I took a case-based accounting course with a senior professor. The discussions we had in that class were the first time I felt like I was applying critical thinking skills, and it unlocked a curiosity in me that I hadn’t felt before. That experience made me want to be in a position to spark that same kind of experience for other students.
What are you looking forward to most about your first year of teaching at Kellogg?
Kellogg has such an incredible reputation for attracting top students, and I’m really looking forward to the chance to engage with them in the classroom. I’m excited for the kinds of conversations where we can apply theory to real-world problems while seeing the different perspectives students bring to those discussions.
What is your favorite way to unwind?
Spending time with my wife and our two dogs is my favorite way to recharge. We love going on walks or just relaxing together on our deck. It’s simple, but it’s my favorite part of each day.
Roberto Saitto
Assistant Professor, Managerial Economics & Decision Sciences
Currently Teaching: Microeconomic Analysis
Where were you before Kellogg, and how did you arrive here?
Prior to joining Kellogg as an assistant professor, my academic path took me from Italy, where I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees, to Stanford where I completed my PhD in economics in June 2025, specializing in economic theory and market design. I'm excited to start my career at Kellogg because it's the perfect place to bridge my theoretical knowledge with real-world business applications and work with motivated, diverse students.
What is your favorite part about teaching business students?
As someone who studies market design, I really like how business students bring real-world experience that can enrich classroom discussions and help bridge the gap between theory and applications. The diverse perspectives they bring from different industries are a natural source of intellectually stimulating discussions and ideas.
What’s the one movie or show you will never get sick of watching?
I am a huge fan of Wes Anderson’s movies. My favorites are “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and “The Darjeeling Limited.”
Letian Zhang
Assistant Professor, Management & Organizations
Currently Teaching: Power In Organizations: Sources, Strategies and Skills
What or who inspired you to teach?
I received my PhD in sociology in 2018 and have spent the past seven years teaching at Harvard Business School. During that time, I had the privilege of learning from some of the best case-method teachers. They showed me how case-teaching can be both fun and meaningful. As one senior HBS faculty member once put it: The case method allows students to feel as if they are both watching a show and creating one. Teaching energizes me every time I step into the classroom, and I see it as one of the most rewarding parts of this job, alongside doing interesting research.
What are you looking forward to most about your first year of teaching at Kellogg?
I’m most excited to meet the students, get to know them and learn about their perspectives and experiences.
What is your favorite way to unwind?
When I was younger, I played a lot of different sports just for fun. These days, with a toddler at home and another baby on the way, I don’t find as much time for sports.
Lately, I unwind mostly by reading books across a range of topics; especially those on human evolution and history. A couple of favorites are “The Secret of Our Success” by Joe Henrich and “Guns, Germs, and Steel” by Jared Diamond.
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