Richard S. Ruback is an American economist and the Willard Prescott Smith Professor of Corporate Finance at Harvard Business School, recognized for influential research on corporate valuation, investment decisions, and financial restructuring. Previously a faculty member at the MIT Sloan School of Management, he has authored widely cited academic papers and case studies that shaped modern approaches to managerial finance and corporate strategy. He earned his PhD from the University of Rochester, building a foundation for a career centered on rigorous empirical analysis and executive education, and he has played a significant role in advancing understanding of real-world financial practice across academic and professional communities.