PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (October 1, 2025) — Erick Kitenge, Ph.D., associate professor of Economics at Prairie View A&M University, has secured a $50,000 grant from the Risk Management Association Foundation to establish the PV-RMA Fellowships, a research initiative aimed at strengthening inclusive banking practices and policies. Hock Chong, Ph.D., also from the College of Business, will serve as co-principal investigator.
The PV-RMA Fellowships, based in PVAMU’s Center of Banking Excellence (CoBE), will support a structured, faculty-led research program focused on advancing innovation and operational excellence in both commercial and consumer banking.
The PV-RMA-Research fellows are:
Erick Kitenge, Ph.D.
– Dr. Hock Chong: Professor of Accounting and Director of the EMBA program
– Dr. Erick Kitenge: Associate Professor of Economics and Associate Dept Head
– Dr. Gbolahan Osho: Associate Professor of Economics
– Dr. Hesam Shahriari: Associate Professor of Finance
These PV-RMA research Fellows will study key issues in banking, from digital adoption and fraud prevention to financial literacy and consumer engagement. Fellows will receive stipends to support research, while funding also provides for student assistants, conference travel, and publication costs.
The program will produce at least four studies addressing real-world banking challenges, with findings shared through journals, white papers, and community briefings. University officials said the initiative strengthens CoBE’s mission of pairing academic rigor with industry relevance and positions PVAMU in national conversations on inclusive banking.
Students will gain hands-on experience by working with faculty, building skills in research, data analysis, and policy engagement. The project supports the Risk Management Association Foundation’s mission and underscores PVAMU’s commitment to innovation, economic equity, and workforce development—further proving that Excellence Lives Here.
By Joe McGinty