2025 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors: Ignacio Rios, Naveen Jindal School of Management, The University of Texas at Dallas

Ignacio Rios
Naveen Jindal School of Management, The University of Texas at Dallas

“One of the most exciting things about Professor Rios’ class is how he brings his own research into our learning. Before taking his course, I thought data analytics was just about crunching numbers, but he’s shown us how these tools solve real-world problems. His research has had a huge impact on both public policy and industry. In Chile, his work has helped improve how students are assigned to schools and universities, making the process fairer and more efficient. At the same time, his expertise in matching markets has led to advancements in dating platforms, labor markets, and service matching, showing just how broad the reach of his work is. 

But beyond all the awards, media recognition, and policy impact, what makes Professor Rios truly stand out is how he brings all of this back to his students. He doesn’t just lecture—he makes learning engaging, relevant, and hands-on. Through his teaching, I’ve not only learned how to use Excel and analytics tools, but I’ve also gained the confidence to apply them in meaningful ways. His ability to connect research with teaching is what makes him such an outstanding educator, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of recognition.” – Maria Piedra Morillo 

Ignacio Rios, 36, is an Assistant Professor of Operations Management at Jindal School of Management at The University of Texas at Dallas. 

His research interests lie at the intersection of market design and behavioral operations, tackling real-world problems in education, labor, and digital platforms. His work has informed national policy in Chile—improving college admissions and school choice for hundreds of thousands of students—and has been implemented by both public agencies and private firms. He has published in Management Science, Operations Research, and Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, and his research has been featured by NPR, Dallas Morning News, Vox, The Guardian, and major Chilean media outlets.

Ignacio’s research has earned numerous accolades, including the Doing Good with Good OR Award, the Sydney Smith Hicks Faculty Fellowship, and the Behavioral Operations Management Best Working Paper Competition. He also has been runner-up and finalist in other prestigious competitions, including the IFORS Prize for OR in Development, the M&SOM Practice-Based Competition and the EURO Excellence in Practice Award, highlighting the practical relevance of his work.

Ignacio has received the school’s top teaching honor—the Owlie Award for Graduate Teaching—and has been nominated to other important awards, including the Owlie Award for Undergraduate Teaching and the university-wide President’s Teaching Excellence Award. Known for blending real-world problem-solving with academic rigor, the students in his Spreadsheet Modeling class frequently cite his mentorship as transformative for their careers in analytics and operations.

BACKGROUND

At current institution since what year? 2020

Education: PhD in Operations, Information and Technology, Stanford University, 2020; MA in Economics, Stanford University, 2020; MS in Operations Management, Universidad de Chile, 2014; BS in Industrial Engineering, Universidad de Chile, 2013

List of MBA courses you currently teach: Spreadsheet Modeling

TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR

I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when… I began doing research as an undergraduate student at Universidad de Chile. I was fortunate to be mentored by exceptional scholars—Andrés Weintraub, Rafael Epstein, and José Correa—who not only introduced me to the excitement of academic research but also showed me the real-world impact our work can have. Later, during my master’s program, I had the privilege of learning from Roger Wets and David Woodruff, who further inspired me to pursue this path. Their guidance helped me see that academia offered the perfect blend of intellectual challenge, societal relevance, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference.

What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? The core of my research focuses on improving how centralized clearinghouses assign students to educational institutions—including daycare, K–12 school choice, and college admissions—by integrating optimization, data analytics, behavioral models, and experiments. One of the most surprising insights I’ve uncovered is just how much room there is to improve the efficiency of these systems. While they have enormous consequences for students’ lives, they are often far from optimal—due to both how students interact with the system (behavioral factors) and how the allocation is performed (algorithmic design).

On the behavioral side, one of my papers shows that many students make costly mistakes when applying to college—for example, only applying to highly selective institutions or overlooking programs that match their interests and that offer better long-term career prospects. We also find that these mistakes can be mitigated through scalable, personalized information policies that help students better understand their admission chances and submit more effective applications. On the algorithmic side, another recent paper shows that by optimally adjusting student priorities, we can significantly increase the number of families whose children attend the same school—addressing one of the most pressing concerns in the Chilean school choice system: reducing the logistical and financial burden of having to drop children off at multiple schools.

If I weren’t a business school professor… I would most likely still be a professor, probably at an engineering school. If this were not an option, I think I would be working as a data scientist at a tech company.

What do you think makes you stand out as a professor? What students seem to appreciate most is the passion I bring to teaching. I truly enjoy the material, and I think that enthusiasm is contagious. Students also highlight that I strive to make complex ideas clear and accessible, explaining technical concepts in a way that’s both engaging and easy to follow. I also work hard to create a supportive learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and know they can reach out outside of class. For me, teaching isn’t just about delivering content—it’s about sparking curiosity, building confidence, and helping students discover the joy of learning.

One word that describes my first time teaching: Emotional; the finish line of a long path and the starting point of a new one.

Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a business school professor: Honestly, nothing—I feel incredibly fortunate that being a business school professor has been exactly what I hoped for. The mix of research, teaching, and engaging with curious, driven students is everything I dreamed of when I pursued this path. It’s a rare and rewarding privilege to have a job that aligns so well with what you envisioned.

Professor I most admire and why: I deeply admire Alvin Roth, Professor of Economics at Stanford and Nobel Laureate, not only for the brilliance of his work but for the real-world impact it has had, far beyond academia. His pioneering contributions to market design have saved thousands of lives through innovations like kidney exchange programs and have transformed how students are assigned to schools and doctors to hospitals. 

His ability to blend rigorous theoretical modeling with insights from behavioral economics has shaped the way I approach research, showing how deep academic ideas can lead to meaningful, lasting change. But what truly sets Professor Roth apart is who he is as a person. Despite his remarkable accomplishments, he is unfailingly kind, generous with his time, and incredibly easy to talk to. He is curious, thoughtful, and down-to-earth—someone who makes others feel comfortable and valued in every interaction. He is not just a role model as a scholar, but as a human being.

TEACHING MBA STUDENTS

What do you enjoy most about teaching business students? What I enjoy most about teaching business students is getting to know them as individuals—with their own backgrounds, interests, and perspectives—and watching them evolve over the course of the semester and witnessing how they connect the material to their own goals. It’s incredibly rewarding to see them realize that the tools we discuss aren’t just theoretical—they’re things they’ll carry with them and use to make real decisions in their careers and lives.

What is most challenging? The most challenging part of teaching is managing the pace of the class—striking the right balance between keeping more experienced students engaged while ensuring those with less background have the time and support to grasp the material. It’s a constant effort to create a learning environment where everyone can thrive, regardless of where they’re starting from.

In one word, describe your favorite type of student: Hard-working

In one word, describe your least favorite type of student: Disengaged

When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as… Fair

LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM

What are your hobbies? I enjoy starting my day with an early morning workout (usually from 5:30 to 7 a.m.) before getting my kids ready for school. It gives me a fresh, focused start and really boosts my mood for the rest of the day. I also love cooking for my family—there’s something deeply satisfying about preparing a meal and watching them enjoy it—and my Saturday morning routine, which involves going to coffee shops and to the library with my kids.

How will you spend your summer? Mostly working on research. I will travel to the UK, Germany, and back to Stanford to attend academic conferences. However, I’m mostly looking forward to going to Seattle with my wife and kids to visit some friends.

Favorite place(s) to vacation: I really enjoyed traveling to Japan and Turkey—the culture, history, and food were incredible. That said, with two young kids (3.5 and 1.5 years old), those kinds of trips feel a bit ambitious now. These days, my ideal vacation is something a bit more low-key and family-friendly—like an all-inclusive beach resort, where we can relax, recharge, and everyone (including the kids) can have a good time.

Favorite book(s): The Stranger, by Albert Camus.

What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much? The Great British Bake Off. I love watching it with my wife—not only because everyone is so kind and supportive, but also because it’s a masterclass in giving constructive, empathetic feedback. As someone who loves cooking (and has a particular weakness for pastries), I also get plenty of inspiration to try new recipes at home.

What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why? It really depends on what I’m working on. If I need an energy boost for coding, I’ll turn to heavy metal—bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica, or System of a Down help me get in the zone. When I’m working on proofs and need to stay focused but calm, I prefer indie rock—The Killers are one of my all-time favorites. And if I’m writing or doing deep thinking, I usually go with something even more mellow, like alternative rock or folk. The National and The War on Drugs are my go-to bands in those moments.

THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS

If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this… If I had my way, the business school of the future would complement its traditional strengths in working with for-profit organizations by increasingly collaborating with nonprofits, public agencies, and governments. Business faculty are uniquely positioned to tackle pressing societal issues—such as education access, healthcare delivery, and climate adaptation—using rigorous methods from analytics, operations, and behavioral science. Expanding our focus in this way would enhance the role of business schools as engines of both economic and social progress.

In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at… In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job engaging with business schools and universities. Too often, I see them reinventing the wheel—grappling with problems that have already been studied and solved in academic research, often with underwhelming results. Closer collaboration between industry and academia would lead to more effective solutions and, at the same time, inspire research that is both rigorous and deeply relevant. It’s a win-win—and one that helps bridge the gap between academia and practice.

I’m grateful for… my wife—her patience, generosity, and steady support have been essential throughout the ups and downs of academic life. She’s made it possible for me to chase my professional goals while creating a home filled with love, laughter, and the daily joy of watching our two kids grow.

DON’T MISS: THE ENTIRE 2025 ROSTER OF THE WORLD’S BEST 40-UNDER-40 MBA PROFESSORS