Atkinson Hall is buzzing with excitement as the semester unfolds! Our amazing student organizations, honor societies, and clubs are taking center stage, hosting events, and making a difference both on and off campus. Delta Sigma Pi, our business fraternity on campus, initiated several new members this past month. And who could forget our "Meet the Dean" event held by the Dean's Student Advisory Board? It was a great time with Max, our Dean's four-legged pup, and delicious doughnuts to fuel our midterms!

A significant advantage of our liberal arts education is the opportunity to collaborate with businesses and executives, providing students with invaluable real-world learning experiences. In October, we were delighted to welcome our inaugural Business Executive in Residence, Barry Wolfe, J.D.

Barry Wolfe, a seasoned executive with a background in labor and employee relations, brought his expertise to our campus as the inaugural Business Executive in Residence. Formerly the Senior Director of Labor and Employee Relations for Dean's Foods and Dairy Farmers of America, Barry has a knack for balancing the needs of management and employees. He's passionate about creating positive work environments and supporting both employers and workers.

With a Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.S. in Industrial Relations from Marshall University, and a B.A. from West Virginia Wesleyan College, Barry is a highly qualified expert in his field. He's been an active member of the CoBT Leadership Board since 2019.

During his residency, Barry shared his insights with students in various Marketing, Management, and Logistics classes, discussing leadership, negotiation strategies, and his own career journey. Students also had the opportunity to meet with him one-on-one to delve deeper into his experiences and gain personalized advice.

Barry also joined Heather Edens, Executive Vice President at Fouts Bros., and Dr. Aric Wilhau, Assistant Professor of Management, on a panel discussion about salary negotiations. Moderated by Dr. Scott Manley, Chair of Management, Marketing, & Logistics, the panel provided invaluable insights to students as they prepare to enter the workforce. The discussion covered essential skills and negotiation strategies, empowering students to confidently advocate for themselves.

The WebMBA held its annual workshop at Callaway Gardens on October 24-25 for the seven USG universities involved in the consortium. Attending from MM&L were: Cassie Napier and Drs. Sina Amiri, Bob Duesing, Joy Godin, Tanya Goette, Whitney Ginder, Mehrnaz Khalaj Hedayati, Juan Ling, Leng Ling, and Jeanie Pridmore. Dr. Mehrnaz Khalaj Hedayati was chosen by the students in cohort 110 as the Outstanding Faculty of the Year.

I'd like to ask you to join me in celebrating faculty members Dr. Joy Godin, WebMBA Coordinator and Professor of Information Systems, and Dr. Mary RIckard, Associate Professor of Marketing, on their acceptance to the Georgia College's Women's Leadership Faculty Fellows Program for 2024-2025!

This opportunity provides selected faculty with dedicated time to develop and hone leadership skills and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities confronting higher education, specifically with a focus on issues women face in academic administration.

This past month, we hosted many businesses and individuals on our beautiful campus. We appreciate these visits as they provide invaluable real-life learning opportunities for our students. Some who have joined us in October are:

• Alex Gregory, Former CEO of YKK
• Ken Morrow, compliance officer with Wal-Mart and former task force officer with the DEA
• Alex Monroe, co-founder of Burton Bond, a narrative research + design studio, and GCSU alumnus, spoke about using storytelling in strategic campaigns.
• Home Depot Representatives: Cambrie Beishline (GCSU alum), Ellen Havey, Katie Hall, Julius Harris, Mariah Schell, Jacob WIne
• Lisa Rackley, area director for the Small Business Development Center and senior business consultant at the University of Georgia
• Phil Gura, attorney, helped students with mock contract negotiations
• Arman Deganian, owner of Litner Deganian law firm spoke about authenticity and professionalism
• Bob Ewing, co-owner of our local Amici’s franchise as well as one in Macon, spoke about franchise operations and specifically about the franchisee/franchisor relationship

This month, we are highlighting the accomplishments of our Department of Economics & Finance, a department of the CoBT that is growing quickly. I invite you to join me in celebrating our college's recent successes.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tanya Goette

Interim Dean, Professor of Management Information Systems

The Department of Economics & Finance offers a range of programs designed to prepare students for exciting careers in very high-demand fields.

We offer two majors: a B.S. in Economics and a B.S. in Finance, and three minors in Economics, Finance, and Business Administration. Our degree programs focus on developing analytical reasoning, quantitative skills and communication skills.

Our Economics & Finance department is a shining example of the unique opportunities offered at Atkinson Hall. Did you know that several of our esteemed faculty members were once Bobcats themselves? We're incredibly proud of Dr. Cullen Wallace, Dr. Brent Evans, Dr. Brooke Conaway, and Dr. Kelly Lee, who are now giving back to the next generation of talented students.

The impact of our Economics program is undeniable. Over 30% of our graduates have gone on to pursue advanced degrees, a testament to the rigorous academic experience we provide. Our students consistently excel, earning top honors at the Academy of Economics and Finance. In fact, our very own Dr. Brooke Conaway currently serves as the organization's President.

The Finance major offers two concentrations. One in Financial Analysis and Financial Technology. Since its launch in Fall 2022, the program has attracted over 350 students, and we’ve more than doubled our full-time faculty. We’re thrilled to see our graduates landing impressive positions at top-tier firms like Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, and Bank of America.

To keep pace with this rapid growth, we’ve upgraded our Bobcat Trading Room with state-of-the-art Bloomberg Terminals and launched exciting new clubs, including the Student Managed Investment Committee and the Finance Club. The Student Managed Investment Committee is particularly noteworthy, managing a substantial $100,000 fund and gaining recognition as one of the most prestigious clubs in the College of Business & Technology. This year’s Executive Leadership Committee, comprised of Joe Dubsky, Josh Johnson, Jeff DiBenedetto, Lila Slay, and Whitman Kessinger, was recently featured in a spotlight article for the University.

• Drs. Tom Frye (economics) and Eddie Thomas (accounting) recently secured a $2,700 internal grant to explore the intriguing relationship between auditor competence and independence of thought.

• Dr. John Swinton's research has been recognized in the Fall 2024 issue of EconEdNews. His studies have shown that students of teachers who participate in Georgia Council of Economic Education workshops achieve higher scores on state economics and personal finance exams.

• Dr. Chris Clark recently presented, “Let’s Get Fiscal,” eight times this month to a variety of audiences, including to a group of students in the Honors College. The presentation focused on the fiscal positions of the presidential candidates.

• Economics student, Samuel Kinney, presented research titled, "Divorce waiting periods: Till debt do us part?" at a recent College of Business Research Assembly meeting. His work is coauthored with Dr. Brooke Conaway. At the same session, Dr. Brent Evans presented "The Opportunity Cost of Emergency Funds".
• Dr. Brent Evans was quoted in an Associated Press article titled, "Missouri sports betting ballot measure highlights national debate about tax rates."
• We congratulate Dr. Navid Safari on passing the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level III examination. He will receive his CFA Designation in the coming weeks.

Dr. Xiaomeng Lu is a dynamic Assistant Professor of Finance in the Department of Economics and Finance. Passionate about fostering student success, Dr. Lu actively engages with student organizations and creates opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. She currently serves as the faculty advisor for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute Research Challenge, a prestigious global competition that challenges university students to conduct in-depth financial analysis and present their findings. Under Dr. Lu's guidance, students gain invaluable practical experience and develop critical skills for a successful career in finance.

Dr. Lu's academic contributions extend beyond the classroom. She recently co-authored a groundbreaking paper titled "Compounding Money and Nominal Price Illusions," which was published in the esteemed Management Science journal. This achievement solidifies her position as a leading scholar in the field of finance.

Dr. Xiaomeng Lu is an accomplished finance professor who teaches a variety of courses, including Business Finance, International Finance, Financial Management & Programming, and Investment Analysis.

With a Ph.D. in Finance and advanced degrees in International Real Estate and Finance, Dr. Lu brings a wealth of knowledge to the classroom. Her research interests lie in Empirical Asset Pricing and Corporate Finance. Her work has been published in prestigious journals like Management Science, Journal of Financial Research, and Global Finance Journal. Dr. Lu has also shared her insights at numerous academic conferences, including those hosted by the Financial Management Association, Eastern Finance Association, Southern Finance Association, Academy of International Business, World Finance Conference, and Global Finance Conference.

We sat down with Sam Rauschenberg, Vice President, Organizational Effectiveness at Achieve Atlanta to learn more about his journey since graduating from GCSU. In this role, Mr. Rauschenberg uses data to target support and remove barriers for our scholars to earn that degree.

Can you tell me about your time at GCSU and how it shaped your life?

My experience at GCSU set me on a path to where I am today, and my experience as an economics major was central to that. In particular, former GCSU professor Ben Scafidi’s courses and mentorship awakened a passion to focus my career on alleviating education inequality, which began first with teacher high school math in post-Katrina New Orleans and led me to devote my career to creating more educational opportunities for students.

What is a quality or characteristic that has helped you in your career?

At GCSU, my economics courses taught me how to analyze research from a methodological perspective instead of just taking the findings at face value. This skill has proved valuable both in state government and the nonprofit education space to parse through what findings are valid and what findings aren’t, ultimately guiding decisions that improve students’ educational opportunities.

Another important skill from my economics courses was “writing for busy people,” as my professors called it. In several courses, we wrote concise policy memos instead of longer research papers with the understanding that we only had 30 seconds to grab their attention and make a compelling case before they might lose attention. We presented these memos to actual policymakers who provided harsh but helpful feedback that provide fruitful both as I transitioned to Duke and later in my career. When hiring research team members today, this skill is both one of the most critical and one of the most challenging to find.

To what extent does your degree relate to your current position? What skills do you use for your work?

The skills I gained during my degree still are relevant in many ways, whether it’s collaborating with external evaluators to measure Achieve Atlanta’s impact or putting together a presentation on our impact for stakeholders. My ability to analyze data within Stata and Excel and share what it means in a concise, clear way began at GCSU and was further honed at Duke. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that preparation and mentorship.

What parts of the business program had the strongest impact on you as a professional?

The most impactful part was my relationships with professors. While the skills I learned were also important, the mentorship I received from Dr. Scafidi, Dr. Clark, Dr. Beadles, and others helped me figure out the next steps of my career path. The small class sizes and their accessibility enabled us to build strong relationships that have endured well beyond graduation.

Can you share about your career pathway and how you ended up where you are today?

After GCSU, my decision to teach before jumping straight into education policy was shaped by Dr. Scafidi and other faculty members’ advice about the importance of on-the-ground experience as a teacher in broadening my perspectives. I taught for three years in a state-run New Orleans public school, which was both the most challenging and most rewarding season of my career. Ultimately the systemic challenges and policies in education drove me to pursue a master’s degree in public policy, landing at Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy.

After graduate school, I returned to Georgia to work for the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) under former Governor Nathan Deal, ultimately building out a team focused on research and evaluation with state-level education data spanning Pre-K to the labor market. In 2018, I transitioned to Achieve Atlanta, a nonprofit that helps Atlanta Public Schools access, afford, and earn postsecondary credentials. In my role as vice president, organizational effectiveness, I ensure Achieve Atlanta uses data to inform how we serve students and also communicates it effectively with external stakeholders.

What advice would you give to current/future business majors at GCSU?

Cultivate relationships with the faculty—don’t just view them as teachers who will give you a grade but as potential mentors who can help shape your career direction.

• The second annual Accounting Day was held on Front Campus on October 8. Sixteen sponsoring accounting firms attended along with 135 students. Special thanks to McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks, & Co., for being the main sponsor and organizing the event.

• Beta Alpha Psi will host a Panel Discussion for accounting majors, 'Where Do I Fit?', to highlight differences among public accounting firms.

• Beta Alpha Psi will be hosting a Scholarship Application Party in January to encourage students to apply for available scholarships. BAP hopes to make this a joint event with other CoBT clubs and clubs.

• Dr. Sandria Stephenson participated in a panel session at the 2024 AICPA Accounting Pipeline Diversity Symposium. The Title of the Session was: Fostering Inclusion in Accounting Education: Collaborative Strategies for Student Success.

• Dr. Gongbing Hong is the faculty sponsor of our new CS student organization: Programming and Problem Solving.

• Jeannie Pridmore, Joy Godin, and Caroline Collier took 23 GC ladies to Grace Hopper. We are so thankful to our IT Advisory Board members for sponsoring this life changing experience for our students.

• Ward Risvold, AI Lab Director – spoke at three universities: Nova Southeastern University, Eastern Georgia, and Menlo College, and he conducted five local workshops including one with the Women of Lake Oconee that had 160 attendees.

• Brad Fowler successfully defended his dissertation from Dakota State University in Information Systems.

• Celonis named GCSU CoBT ISCS a Center of Excellence for 2024-2025.

• Caroline Collier is working on a project for Fouts Bros in her classes focusing on website optimization through various programs and methods.

• Richa Moses, senior MIS major, was selected to present a TedX talk, a huge honor within the University.

• In early October, the department hosted the 25th bi-annual Elevator Pitch Competition, sponsored by Central Garden & Pet and TTI. 560 students and 60 individual judges (31 recruiters, 19 alumni) participated. Judges selected “yes” to follow up with a student in 25% of the interactions. We appreciate the faculty who had their classes participate (Drs. Geddy, Patterson, Pridmore, Rickard, Risvold and Yao, Ms. Childs, Mr. Hill, and Mr. Palmer) and all the volunteer judges. If you are interested in being involved as a judge or sponsor, please email Kendra Evans at kendra.evans@gcsu.edu. The date for the spring competition will be announced in early January.

• Kendra Evans completed The Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) course on Promoting Active Learning where she learned new ways to engage students, encourage deeper learning, and connected with educators across the country.

• Kendra Evans, a dedicated alumna and lecturer of marketing, currently serves as the Chair of the GCSU Alumni Association's Awards & Recognition Committee. This committee oversees the nomination process for prestigious awards, including the Outstanding Alumni for the College of Business & Technology. To stay updated on nomination opportunities, join the Georgia College Alumni Facebook group @GeorgiaCollegeAlumni.

• Dr. Mohsen Mosayebi and Dr. Mehrnaz Khalaj Hedayati published an article alongside co-authors in International Journal of Production Economics with the title of Time-to-Adapt (TTA).

The MBA at Georgia College & State University offers professionals the opportunity to earn an AACSB accredited online MBA degree without interruption to their work and personal lives. The affordable program ($23,000 total) has been established since 2001. The accelerated format allows you to finish in 20 months. Apply today!