Faculty Excellence
Our faculty bring a wealth of expertise and real-world experience to the classroom. Through engaging lectures, hands-on projects, and personalized mentorship, they prepare students to excel in a rapidly changing business landscape.
Their work not only advances academic understanding, but also addresses real-world business challenges while shaping the future of business education.
2024-25 Distinguished Faculty Awardees
Faculty Highlights
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Additional Awards, Recognitions & Honors
Faculty Leader: ISM Marketing Faculty Visit to Grubhub HQ
As part of the International Society of Marketing (ISM) conference in Chicago, instructor of marketing John McGrath coordinated a field trip for marketing faculty from the U.S. and France to visit Grubhub’s new headquarters, providing insights into brand strategy and marketing approaches.Invited Lecturer: State Incentives and Business Policy
Economics professor Pete Calcagno delivered a public lecture at the University of Rochester, “Tax breaks and subsidies for businesses: Who wins and who loses?” sharing insights from his research on the impact of state-level economic development incentives.Permanent Staff Employee of the Year
Michelle Futrell, executive Director of continuing and professional education, was named Permanent Staff Employee of the Year for her dedication, collaborative spirit, and leadership.Dr. Murrell Award at Suitable Pathways Conference
Cory Werkheiser, director of career success, received the Dr. Murrell Award for innovative student engagement programs.Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Award
Marvin Gonzalez, associate professor of Supply Chain and Operations Management, received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award for 2024–25 to work on food supply chain efficiency in North Macedonia.Advisor of the Year
Hunter Kim, professor and department chair of Hospitality and Tourism Management, was named 2024–25 Advisor of the Year by the Division of Student Affairs for work with the Asian Student Association.Beta Alpha Psi Gold Status
The Mu Beta Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, under faculty advisors Karrie Saboe and Kimberly Tribou, achieved Gold Status for 2025, reflecting exceptional commitment to professional development, community service, and academic excellence.Best Paper Award – Accounting Historians Journal
Kimberly Tribou, assistant professor of accounting, received the Best Paper Award from the Accounting Historians Journal for outstanding scholarship published in the previous year.2025 AEF Research Fellow & Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship
James Malm, associate professor of finance, was named the 2025 Research Fellow of the Academy of Economics and Finance and received a prestigious Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship to collaborate on curriculum development and research in Ghana.Outstanding MBA Faculty Award
John Kim, assistant professor of finance, was voted Outstanding MBA Core Faculty Member by the MBA15 cohort. The award was presented in recognition of Dr. Kim’s excellence in teaching and dedication to student success in the MBA program.In Memoriam
The late David Murray was awarded Best Marketing Professor at the 2024 Spark! Awards presented by the Charleston American Marketing Association. -
Selected Publications
FASB Takes on Crypto. Regulatory Concerns Drive the Search for Better Guidance
- Authors: William M. VanDenburgh, Roger B. Daniels, Roxane DeLaurell
- Publication: The CPA Journal
- Synopsis:
This article examines the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s review of crypto asset accounting, focusing on regulatory concerns and the need for improved guidance. The authors analyze the implications of proposed changes and their impact on accounting practices.
Peer-to-Peer Community on Social Media: An Exploratory Cross-Cultural Study
- Authors: Kelley Cours Anderson, Pia A. Albinsson, Caroline Ducarroz
- Publication: Journal of Consumer Behavior
- Synopsis:
Using the lens of uses and gratifications theory, this research explores cross-cultural differences in consumers’ motives for using social media to build peer-to-peer communities, highlighting how cultural context shapes online engagement.
Are Your Students Aware of Social Media Wellness? A Necessary Macromarketing Curriculum Extension
- Authors: Kelley Cours Anderson, Louis J. Zmich, Breanne A. Mertz, Ashley Hass
- Publication: Journal of Macromarketing
- Synopsis:
Following a class survey and activity, the authors analyze student perceptions of social media’s impact on well-being and academic success. The study advocates for including social media wellness in marketing curricula and encourages marketers to consider consumer wellness.
The Price is Right? The Impact of a Scenic View on the Pricing of Residential Property
- Authors: David Wyman, Chris Mothorpe
- Publication: The Appraisal Journal
- Synopsis:
This study demonstrates how the addition of a scenic view, such as a new reservoir, increases housing property prices, while nearby lots without the view remain unchanged, quantifying the value of scenic amenities in real estate.
The Impact of Property Clustering on REIT Operational Efficiency and Firm Value
- Authors: Chris Mothorpe, Daniel Huerta
- Publication: The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics
- Synopsis:
The paper examines how geographical clustering of properties enhances operational efficiency and firm value for real estate investment trusts (REITs), identifying efficiency as the primary channel for value creation.
CEO Narcissism and the Agency Cost of Debt
- Author: John Kim
- Publication: Journal of Empirical Finance
- Synopsis:
Investigates the relationship between CEO narcissism and debt financing costs, highlighting a potential trade-off between leadership traits and firm financial well-being.
Technology has Agency too! Disentangling Technology’s Causal and Structural Agency in a Service System
- Authors: Kelley Cours Anderson, Hans Hansen, Debra Laverie
- Publication: Journal of Macromarketing
- Synopsis:
Explores how technology attains agency within service systems, analyzing both its causal and structural roles in shaping service outcomes.
Stock Performance of the Cannabis Industry Compared to Other Sin Industries
- Authors: Paige Turley, Weishen Wang, Frank Hefner
- Publication: The Journal of Beta Investment Strategies
- Synopsis:
Compares the growth rates and stock performance of cannabis industry firms to broad market indexes and other “sin” industries, finding favorable outcomes for cannabis stocks despite industry constraints.
Measuring Resident Quality of Life in Appalachian Mountain Towns: A Case Study and Proposed Methodology
- Author: John McGrath
- Publication: Journal of Appalachian Studies
- Synopsis:
Explores quality of life for residents in Appalachian mountain towns, proposing a methodology for assessing community well-being.
To Airbnb or not to Airbnb: Does Airbnb feel safer than hotels during a pandemic
- Authors: Steve Litvin, Daniel Guttentag
- Publication: International Journal of Hospitality and Management
Investigates comparative levels of concern Americans felt toward staying in Airbnbs versus hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing insights into consumer perceptions of safety.
Income Inequality and Party Alternation: State-Level Evidence from the United States
- Authors: Peter Calcagno, Alexander Marsella, Yan Zhou
- Publication: Contemporary Economic Policy
Tests whether income inequality affects party alternation for governors, finding that higher inequality increases alternation and has a nonlinear relationship with political outcomes.
Political Systems, Regime Memory, and Economic Freedom
- Authors: Peter Calcagno, Beatriz Maldonado, Todd Nesbit, Frankie Zeager
- Publication: Contemporary Economic Policy
Introduces “regime memory” as a concept to measure how past political systems influence current economic freedom, showing that democratic histories tend to improve economic freedom, while autocratic histories may reduce it.
Route Success: Case Study Connecting Design Thinking to Student Success
- Authors: Kristen McMullen, Cory Werkheiser
- Publication: International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies
- Synopsis:
This paper presents the results of an activity-based coaching program designed to facilitate career and life planning for undergraduate students. The semi-customized Life Design program helped students address challenges in designing their life paths, building capacity to overcome roadblocks and fear of making choices. Quantitative data showed the program significantly reduced career anxiety, improved hope for the future, and increased self-efficacy, offering insights for implementing institution-wide design thinking initiatives in higher education.
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IN THE NEWS
Price tag of Ashley River Pedestrian Bridge nearly doubles
Economics professor Frank Hefner discusses the true cost of Ashley River Pedestrian Bridge in local media coverage.You Can Make Money by Paying Your Taxes With a Credit Card – Here's How
Thomas Spade, senior instructor of accounting, talks to Money Geek about using credit cards to pay taxes.Economics professor weighs in on rising rent in Charleston
Christopher Mothorpe, Ph.D., associate professor of economics and department chair, talks to WCBD about local rent increases.Tourism revenue stabilizing after 'record-breaking' post-pandemic years
Economics Professor Mark Witte talks to Live 5 News about the tourism industry bouncing back after COVID-19.Ask the Experts: AI in Insurance
Jennifer Brannon Barhorst, associate professor of marketing, provided expert commentary to WalletHub on the impending use of AI digital humans for insurance company service encounters.What local experts have to say about the Carolina supply chain after Baltimore bridge collapse
Kent Gourdin, director of the Global Logistics and Transportation program, talks with WCNC-TV (Charlotte) about the economic impact of the Baltimore bridge collapse.Tourism Research in the News
Daniel Guttentag, director of the Office of Tourism Analysis, featured in news stories about responsible tourism initiatives and Charleston’s tourism industry.Kim Tribou Cited by Snopes in DOD Audit Article
Kimberly Tribou, assistant professor of accounting, cited as an expert by Snopes.com in an article about the Department of Defense’s first audit.
Faculty Research Featured in TaxNotes
Billy VanDenburgh‘s and Mike Braswell‘s comprehensive article on corporate income tax reporting was featured on the cover of the December 9, 2024 issue of Tax Notes Federal.