Jacob Peng, Richard J. Harshman Professor of Accounting and department head of accounting and taxation in the Robert Morris University School of Business, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to lecture and conduct research next year at Meiji Gakuin University in Yokohama, Japan.

Peng will spend five months next spring and summer at the university’s Faculty of International Studies focusing on his research project, “Market Transparency Through Disclosures: International Collaboration on Risk Management and Cybersecurity.” It compares the differences between U.S. and Japanese standards for disclosing sufficient details of their cybersecurity regimen in financial statements to satisfy investors while not revealing enough to enable hackers to overcome those security measures.

“It’s that balance that interests me,” Peng said. “I look forward to exchanging ideas with Japanese colleagues and students on how they approach it in business education and in business practices in general.”

Peng has made several trips to Japan, including two leading short study abroad programs there with RMU undergraduate students. Meiji Gakuin University has a partnership with RMU, and Peng’s study abroad group visited its campus in Tokyo. 

Accompanying Peng to Japan will be his wife, Jessica, and son, Timothy, a high school student. The family is looking forward to the adventure next March, he says. “We really enjoy ramen restaurants in the States,” Peng says. “My son can’t wait to have ramen 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” 

The Fulbright Scholars program is sponsored by the U.S. State Department and offers awards to experienced American faculty to support teaching and research abroad. Peng is the seventh Fulbright Scholar from RMU.