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UE's College of Business & Engineering Lecture Series to Highlight Positive Community Impacts

The University of Evansville's (UE) College of Business & Engineering is proud to continue its Lecture Series which will highlight how institutional research and class engagement are making a positive impact on society. The upcoming Lecture Series is set to take place on April 11.

Associate Professor of Accounting and Mead Johnson Nutrition Endowed Chair in Business Dr. Rania Mousa will discuss what financial inclusion means in a post COVID-19 world during her presentation Reimagining Financial Inclusion in the Post COVID-19 World: The Case for Grameen America. Dr. Mousa identified and analyzed the key initiatives implemented by Grameen America in alleviating the financial hardships of its underserved female members, thereby contributing to the attainment of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Her paper has been published in the International Journal of Ethics and Systems. Dr. Mousa is also a recipient of the UE 2022-2023 Global Scholar Award and has presented her research at the Sustainable and Socially Responsible Finance Conference held at the Yunus Social Business Center at the University of Bologna in Italy.

Following Dr. Mousa's presentation, Dr. Beverly Brockman, Schroeder Family Dean, College of Business & Engineering and Dr. Chris Brockman, Professor of Finance, and Director of the Institute for Banking & Finance will present on the unique barriers confronting entrepreneurs in low-income communities. Their presentation A Managerial Perspective on Underbanked Entrepreneurs: Barriers to Lending and Community Partnership Solutions will highlight how the process of acquiring debt capital in the United States remains challenging, especially for low-income entrepreneurs. The authors will identify barriers to financial lending and present community-based partnership solutions to improve access to capital for underbanked entrepreneurs. Their research was published in the Journal of Economics and Finance Education.

Dr. Chris Brockman will then follow up with his presentation on Loan Opportunities through the UE Microloan Program. The UE Microloan Program is an experiential student-run program administered by the Institute for Banking and Finance in UE's Schroeder School of Business. Advisors for the Southwest Indiana Small Business Development Center serve as executive mentors for microloan participants, with funding for the program provided by Old National Bank.

The School of Business' dedication to promoting continuous learning will be further reinforced through these presentations. The Speaker Series is provided to highlight essential and emerging issues in business and engineering. It serves as outreach to the community and alumni as a form of engagement. Previously in the 2022-2023 academic year, the College of Business and Engineering hosted three Speaker Series Events.

Both in person and zoom options will be provided. For additional information on the event and how to register, please click here.

UE announces investiture of two faculty members

The University of Evansville's (UE) Schroeder Family School of Business Administration announced the investiture of two faculty members during a ceremony on Wednesday.

Rania Mousa, PhD was named the Mead Johnson Nutrition Endowed Chair in Business and Yolanda Obaze, PhD was named the Guthrie May Endowed Chair in Business.

Mead Johnson Nutrition

In 1993, the Mead Johnson Nutrition Endowed Chair in Business was established at the University of Evansville through a generous gift from Mead Johnson Nutrition and the Bristol-Myers Squib Foundation seeking to participate as responsible neighbors and members of the communities where its people live and work and where its facilities are located. The company understands its obligation to participate in and enhance the life of those communities. Originally known as the Bristol-Myers Squibb Chair, the Mead Johnson Nutrition Endowed Chair in Business is dedicated to building on the strengths of the University's business school. The goal is to give students the opportunity to study with an outstanding professor who will inspire them to achieve greater levels of excellence and make a life-transforming difference in their academic careers. This endowed chair honors Mead Johnson Nutrition's long-standing relationship with UE which began when the University moved to the City of Evansville in 1919. Throughout the years, representatives of the company have supported the UE as trustees, advisory board members, volunteers, and students. Mead Johnson has employed hundreds of University alumni.

Mead Johnson Nutrition Endowed Chair in Business Rania Mousa, PhD, Associate Professor of Accounting, holds a bachelor's degree in Accounting from the American University in Cairo, Egypt. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from Illinois Institute of Technology and a PhD in Accounting from the University of Birmingham in England. Mousa has been teaching at the University of Evansville since 2010. She teaches courses in Financial Accounting, Accounting Information Systems, Computer Accounting, and Forensic Accounting. Mousa's doctoral research centered on examining the implementation process of open standard reporting technologies in the United Kingdom's His Majesty's Revenue and Customs and Companies House. Her research has expanded to cover a wide range of areas, including accounting information systems, financial and non-financial reporting technologies, electronic government, financial inclusion, and pedagogical research in forensic accounting and accounting education. Over the last 13 years, Mousa has published 14 peer-reviewed publications, including 11 papers and three book chapters. During her tenure at UE, Mousa has received multiple awards, including the Schroeder Dean's Research Award in 2017 and Teaching Award in 2019. In August 2022, she received the American Accounting Association's Forensic Accounting Section's Best Teaching Innovation Award for a fraud case she created. This year she has received the 2022-2023 UE Global Scholar Award allowing her to present her paper on Grameen America's remarkable response to the COVID-19 pandemic at the University of Bologna in Italy.

Guthrie May Endowed Chair in Business - The Guthrie May Endowed Chair in the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration was established by the University of Evansville to honor Guthrie May for his long-standing devotion, effective leadership, and financial support to the University of Evansville, with the intent of promoting teaching excellence and community outreach by the Guthrie May Endowed Chair in the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration. Guthrie May graduated from Evansville College in 1931. Guthrie and his wife, Alice '34, were tremendous friends of their alma mater. This fact is best exhibited by the gift of their home, the May House, to UE to be used as the President's residence. To previous generations, the "American Dream" meant home ownership. Prior to World War II, the vast majority of Americans did not own their homes. More than anyone else, Guthrie May brought the "American Dream" of home ownership to Evansville. He built more than 7,000 homes in Evansville and in other communities across the country. He also was involved in the development and construction of shopping centers, business condominiums, and residential condominiums. Guthrie May's involvement with community leadership is clear from the many boards on which he served and activities in which he participated. He was a member of the University of Evansville Board of Trustees, the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporations Board of Directors, the Administrative Board of Trinity United Methodist Church, the Board of Directors of United Way of Southwestern Indiana, Evansville's Future Board of Directors, Metropolitan Evansville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Evansville Board of Realtors, the Evansville Rotary Club, Citizens National Bank Board of Directors, and many other boards. He was the recipient of many honors and awards from various charities and the local community.

Guthrie May Endowed Chair in Business Yolanda Obaze, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management. She also serves as the Director of the Center for Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Obaze obtained both her MBA and PhD from the University of North Texas. Obaze was instrumental in the creation and implementation of the Logistics and Supply Chain Management (LSCM) program and continues to teach a significant portion of the curriculum. She ensures the efficient running of the Center through cross-industry collaborations. Obaze currently serves as the Academic Advisor for the LSCM student organization, Business Professional of America student chapter, and the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at UE. In 2018, she received the Schroeder Dean's Service Award. She is passionate about her research in the humanitarian logistics field. Her doctoral research centered on the community-based context of humanitarian logistics and supply chain management. She continues her research by helping much of the community-based companies in the Evansville area. Obaze serves on the Board of Directors for both the Evansville Association of the Blind and the Potter's Wheel Ministries. Her research work also extends to Aces Haven, the on-campus food pantry that addresses food insecurity among students and the local community. Obaze received the Schroeder Dean's Research Award in 2019 and was a 2020 UE Global Scholar Award recipient. In 2019, she was awarded the Annual Decision Sciences Institute's Best Theoretical Paper Award for her work on social supply chain management.

Yolanda Obaze (left) and Rania Mousa (right)

UE Named a 2022-2023 College of Distinction

The University of Evansville has been recognized for its commitment to helping undergraduate students learn, grow, and succeed by Colleges of Distinction, a unique guide for college-bound students. UE has been named a 2022-2023 College of Distinction and an Indiana College of Distinction, and it also received recognition for a multitude of academic programs and campus departments. 

Colleges of Distinction uses a selection process not only of in-depth research but also detailed interviews with the schools, accepting only those that adhere to the “Four Distinctions.” This includes criteria of engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community, and successful outcomes. Combined, these principles ensure that students have a fulfilling and individualized college experience both inside and outside the classroom. 

“At our university, we are deeply committed to providing a well-rounded, transformative education that has a lasting impact on our students for years to come,” said Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz, president of UE. “This recognition from Colleges of Distinction speaks to our mission and the individual experiences of each of our students.” 

Aside from overall undergraduate recognitions, Colleges of Distinction also awards recognition in individual areas. UE earned recognition in the academic areas of business, education, engineering, and nursing. Colleges of Distinction also recognized the University’s career development, equity and inclusion, and military support

“The success of our academic programs and campus departments speaks to the endless efforts of our staff, faculty, and administration,” said Michael Austin, PhD, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs. “We are proud to deliver high-quality courses for our students while also providing academic quality, personal support, and career counseling  throughout their journey at this university.” 

About Colleges of Distinction 

Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has been committed to honoring schools throughout the U.S. for true excellence in higher education. The member schools within the Colleges of Distinction consortium distinguish themselves through their dedicated focus on the undergraduate experience. Its website provides dynamic college profiles, customized tools, and resources for students, parents, and high school counselors. For more information, and to learn how to become a College of Distinction, visit CollegesofDistinction.com

UE School of Business Maintains Accreditation by AACSB International

The University of Evansville Schroeder Family School of Business Administration has maintained its accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. 

AACSB International is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. The AACSB accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education. Less than 5% of the world's business programs have earned this distinction. 

Achieving accreditation is a rigorous process in which the school focuses on developing and implementing a plan to align with AACSB’s accreditation standards. After accreditation is achieved, the school takes part in a five-year continuous improvement peer review to maintain high quality and extend accreditation. 

“AACSB congratulates the University of Evansville and Dean Beverly Brockman on extending accreditation,” said Stephanie M. Bryant, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. “The intense peer-review process confirms a school’s continued focus on excellence in all areas, including teaching, research, curriculum development, and student learning. UE’s dedication to delivering high quality business education will create the next generation of great leaders.” 

The peer review team from AACSB concluded that Schroeder School faculty are deeply engaged in student learning and advising, research, service to community nonprofit boards, and professional consulting. The team also commended the robust program of student engagement within the School. Examples of student engagement include LEAD Forward, a leadership training program for students; the ACES Passport career development program; numerous business-focused student clubs; study abroad opportunities at Harlaxton College in the United Kingdom; and the 100% internship completion rate prior to graduation. 

“It’s a wonderful feeling to maintain our AACSB accreditation and continue the work of preparing business leaders of the future,” said Beverly Brockman, dean of the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration. “Our ongoing goal is to not only provide an exceptional learning environment, but also equip students with the skills and experience to achieve long-term professional success.”  

Brockman also noted the excellent outcomes for Schroeder School graduates. For the graduating classes of 2019 and 2020, an average of 96% were employed or in graduate school within 3 months. Additionally, the starting salary for graduates was over $49,000.

A UE business student shakes hands

UE Business School Listed as one of 10 Undergraduate Schools to Watch in 2020

The Schroeder Family School of Business Administration at the University of Evansville was included in Poets&Quants’s annual list of the top 10 undergraduate schools to watch. The Schroeder School joins other schools of business such as the Wharton School, Ross School, and Stern School in this prestigious list of programs that are “setting the standard for what students can expect and schools can achieve.”

The Schroeder School’s 100 percent job placement rate was a major factor in achieving this recognition. According to P&Q, the school’s impressive success beat out all “97 undergraduate business programs ranked by Poets&Quants.”

The article notes that Schroeder graduates get jobs, and “These aren’t just any jobs either. … Schroeder ranked #1 for their business degree helping them land their ‘dream career’ – topping highly-decorated programs like the Wharton School and Indiana University’s Kelley School. In the same survey, Schroeder alumni placed their alma mater among the ten-best business programs for alumni help in job hunting.”

Ben Johnson, Schroeder School’s interim dean, touts the school’s Office for Career Success for helping ensure students’ success. Students gain high level job experiences and a build a professional network that sees most students graduating with a job offer already in hand.

The Schroeder Family School of Business Administration currently educates 250 students in seven programs of study, including accounting, finance, global business, logistics and supply chain management, marketing, management, and economics. The AACSB-accredited business school is ranked #4 among small, private schools by U.S. News & World Report with the Finance and Accounting programs ranked #2 and #3, respectively.

Read the Schroeder School’s full profile at Poets&Quants, and learn more about the University of Evansville on our website.

AACSB International Recognizes Schroeder School of Business for Microlending Program

Today, AACSB International (AACSB)—the world’s largest business education network—recognized the University of Evansville’s Schroeder School of Business among 25 business schools as highlights of its Innovations That Inspire member challenge. An annual initiative, the challenge recognizes institutions from around the world that serve as champions of change in the business education landscape. This year’s theme, “Catalysts for Innovation,” emphasizes business education’s efforts to elevate entrepreneurial thinking and new business creation.

The Schroeder School is recognized for its Access to Capital and Expertise for Emerging Entrepreneurs (ACE3) program, which is sponsored, funded, and co-managed by Old National Bank. Students in the program manage a $100,000 portfolio, which offers microloans to women and minority owned businesses. Students interface with clients, review business plans, and serve as underwriters for loans.

“The demand for innovation that engages experts across disciplines and addresses the needs of both local and global communities has never been more apparent than in these unprecedented times,” said Thomas R. Robinson, president and CEO of AACSB. "We are honored to feature the Schroeder School for its valuable role in elevating entrepreneurship through research, teaching, and community engagement.”

Now in its fifth year, the Innovations That Inspire challenge has highlighted more than 120 business school efforts that exemplify forward-looking approaches to education, research, community engagement or outreach, and leadership. To date, members of AACSB’s Business Education Alliance have shared nearly 1,000 innovations, creating a robust repository in AACSB’s DataDirect system to inform and inspire fellow members and the industry.

For an overview of all featured innovations, visit aacsb.edu/innovations-that-inspire.

- ### –

About AACSB International

Established in 1916, AACSB International (AACSB) is the world’s largest business education alliance, connecting educators, learners, and business to create the next generation of great leaders. With a presence in more than 100 countries and territories, AACSB fosters engagement, accelerates innovation, and amplifies impact in business education. Learn how AACSB is transforming business education for a better society at aacsb.edu.

Contact:

AACSB International

MediaRelations@aacsb.edu

About Schroeder School of Business

The Schroeder School of Business currently educates 250 students in seven programs of study, including accounting, finance, global business, logistics and supply chain management, marketing, management, and economics. The AACSB-accredited business school is ranked #4 among small, private schools by U.S. News & World Report with the Finance and Accounting programs ranked #2 and #3, respectively. The Class of 2019 achieved 100% placement in graduate school or full-time employment by September 30, 2019 and earned an average starting salary of $49,720.  To learn more about the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration at UE, visit www.evansville.edu/majors/business.

UE Appoints Beverly Brockman as New Schroeder Family Dean of Business

Beverly Brockman, PhD, has been appointed Schroeder Family Dean of the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration (Schroeder School) at the University of Evansville. 

The appointment comes at the end of a nationwide search conducted by WittKieffer, an internationally prominent search firm, and a committee chaired by Martha Stilwell, Interim Associate Dean of the Schroeder School. The search committee included faculty, administrator, student, and trustee representatives.

“We are very happy to welcome Dr. Beverly Brockman as our next Schroeder Family Dean,” said Stilwell. “Dr. Brockman has an impressive academic record in both teaching and research, as well as administrative experience at an AACSB-accredited school. In addition, she has the visionary and leadership capabilities necessary to continue moving the Schroeder School forward in fulfilling our mission of preparing globally aware business professionals. We believe her passion for experiential learning and interdisciplinary collaboration are a great fit for UE, and we look forward to working with Dr. Brockman to continue providing a top-ranked business education at a small, private university.”

Brockman comes to UE with more than 20 years of experience in higher education. Most recently, she has served at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) as the George Lester Nation Centennial Professor of Entrepreneurship. In addition, for the past nine years, she has served as Department Head for the Marketing & Entrepreneurship Department in the Rollins College of Business at UTC.

Brockman earned her PhD in marketing from the University of Alabama and her master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Kentucky.

Coming to UE, Brockman brings with her experience in innovation and entrepreneurship, including establishing Solution Scholars, a self-sustaining interdisciplinary business research student consulting venture. While at UTC, she also oversaw the establishment of UTC Research Services and worked with a team to establish the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, helping to develop the center into a stand-alone, self-sustaining unit.

Throughout her years of experience, Brockman has been nominated or received many awards, including the Carolyn Thompson and Roger Brown UTC Community Engagement Award, Deans Merit Award, Max Finley Merit Award, and Faculty Development Grant.

“I am very excited about my upcoming move to UE! It presents a tremendous opportunity for personal growth, as well as a chance to contribute to higher education in a different way than I have in the past,” said Brockman. “There are some wonderful opportunities to build on the strong programs already in place in the Schroeder Family School of Business. For example, I think there are opportunities for distinct program development in entrepreneurship, connecting with UE’s Center for Innovation and Change, and leveraging its ‘Ashoka Changemaker Campus’ designation.”

The Schroeder Family School of Business Administration currently educates 250 students in seven programs of study, including accounting, finance, global business, logistics and supply chain management, marketing, management, and economics. The AACSB-accredited business school is ranked #4 among small, private schools by U.S. News & World Report with the Finance and Accounting programs ranked #2 and #3, respectively. The Class of 2019 achieved 100% placement in graduate school or full-time employment by September 30, 2019, and earned an average starting salary of $49,720.

To learn more about the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration at UE, visit www.evansville.edu/majors/business.

Beverly Brockman headshot

Murphy Publishes in Top Economics Journal

Dr. David Murphy's paper, entitled "Underground Knowledge: Estimating the Impacts of Soil Information Transfers through Experimental Auctions" has been accepted for publication at the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, an A* rated economics journal.

The paper explores the topic of soil degradation, a serious problem in many developing countries, which often necessitates the use of fertilizers to improve crop yields. However, smallholder farmers usually do not have sufficient information about their soil nutrient levels to make profit-maximizing decisions about fertilizer usage.

In this paper, Murphy conducted two-round experimental auctions to determine whether providing information and fertilizer recommendations from inexpensive soil testing kits to farmers in western Kenya affected their behavior and ability to optimize their input choices.

We auctioned organic and inorganic agricultural inputs, dividing farmers into information treatments. We find that providing soil information has significant effects on farmers’ willingness to pay for inputs. We then use Monte Carlo simulations to show that there is potential for high net benefits to farmers from individualized soil tests. These results suggest that soil testing can be a cost-effective method to increase food security in the region.

Rania Mousa Publishes a Chapter in the Encyclopedia of Organizational Knowledge, Administration, and Technology

Rania Mousa, an associate professor of accounting has a peer-reviewed Chapter accepted for publication in a 5-Volume Encyclopedia of Organizational Knowledge, Administration and Technology.

The Chapter is titled “The Risk Assessment Enhancement Process at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation." The Chapter examines how the FDIC developed a bank examination tool application to support its risk assessment process. The Chapter explains the challenges, benefits and development stages through the application of the "Rational Unified Process" which is founded in the System Development Life Cycle methodology. The study is of particular importance to Chief Information Officers and Data Strategists involved in implementing and developing technology solutions in regulatory banking authorities. Publisher: IGI Global. The release date is July 2020.

Atefeh Yazdanparast Served as Judge for the American Marketing Association Collegiate Case Competition

Atefeh Yazdanparast, Associate Professor of Marketing, was recently invited to serve as a judge for the American Marketing Association (AMA) Collegiate Case Competition. This nationally recognized competition is a year-long event that brings together top marketing students to work on a business challenge submitted by a sponsoring organization.

Schroeder School of Business Rises in National Rankings

The University of Evansville’s Schroeder Family School of Business Administration has risen 19 spots from #71 to #52 in the 2020 Poets & Quants for Undergrads Best Undergraduate B-School rankings, the leading online publication for undergraduate business education news.  The Schroeder School is ranked #3 among small private schools.

This year’s upward movement can be attributed to feedback from the Class of 2017, whose graduates can now reflect on their time at the university and its impact on their post-graduate lives. The Schroeder School is ranked #28 in “Academic Experience” as rated by UE alumni this year, up from #64 last year. The School ranked second among all participants with a score of 9.43/10 regarding whether the alum’s business school experience was life-changing.

“These high alumni rating scores are indicative of the life-transforming student experience provided by the University of Evansville and the Schroeder School,” said Ben Johnson, UE’s interim Schroeder Family Dean. “It is a testament to our faculty, staff, and administrators across campus.”

The Schroeder School received the only perfect score (10/10) on any of the 17 scaled questions, among all schools on this year’s survey. This “A+” question related to business school faculty availability for informal discussions about the course outside of class. The Schroeder School also received an “A” ranking in the following categories based on alumni responses:

  • Business faculty available for mentoring and non-academic topics
  • Extracurricular opportunities which improved business skills
  • Contact with practicing professionals in the business community
  • Effectiveness of business program’s academic advising
  • Accessible alumni willing to help connect with potential employers
  • Business degree will be instrumental in reaching dream career

The Schroeder School’s “Employment Outcomes” are also very strong, coming in at #41 this year. As noted in Forbes as the highest among all schools, 100% of the Class of 2019 graduates were employed or in graduate school by September 30, 2019.

The rankings are based on a representative survey of over 49,000 recent graduates (5,958 respondents) and school-reported data across 97 schools focusing on admissions standards, academic experience, and employment outcomes, each of which accounts for one-third of the final ranking.

UE Professor Awarded Best Theoretical Paper of the Year

Yolanda Obaze, PhD, assistant professor of supply chain management and director of the UE Center for Supply Chain Management, was awarded Best Theoretical Paper of the Year at the 50th annual Decision Sciences Institute (DSI) Conference, November 23 – 25, 2019.

The Decision Sciences Institute is a global society of more than 2,700 academics and practitioners dedicated to creating, developing, fostering, and disseminating knowledge to improve managerial decisions and decision-making involving systems and people. The Institute, which celebrated its 50th Anniversary this year, hosts an annual conference to achieve its mission. The conference, held in New Orleans, Louisiana, was themed on “Transforming Decision Sciences Through Emergent Technologies.”

Obaze’s paper, titled “The Social innovation of community-based logistics and supply chain management,” was one of more than 200 submitted, and was the winner of the Theoretical Paper Category.

The abstract for the paper reads: “The application of logistics and supply chain management (LSCM) into community-based initiatives allows for the collaboration of mixed social and economic networks and the innovative and improved movement of value-added resources to end-consumers in underserved communities. The literature review paper introduces a conceptual framework, accessible to scholars and practitioners that describe how the existing, dynamic and innovative capabilities of using LSCM supports social innovation and further creates social value in the community-based context. The proposed framework offers a basis for further empirical studies.

Rania Mousa has paper accepted at Qualitative Research in Accounting and Management Journal

Rania Mousa, Associate Professor of Accounting, has a paper accepted for publication in the Qualitative Research in Accounting and Management, which is one of the top journals specialized in qualitative accounting research. 

The paper is titled, A Case Study of XBRL Implementation and Development at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Using data collected from the FDIC and representatives of the software development and banking industries, the research examines the Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) technology implementation process at the FDIC as part of the larger Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s Central Data Repository modernization project. The research incorporates the well-established Diffusion of Innovation Theory and gauges the impact on the FDIC’s stakeholders’ internal organizational processes. It also presents an empirical assessment of the agency’s recent development of Inline XBRL to support the bank examination process, which was never reported in accounting, information systems or public administration literature.

Editorial Article on Building Essential CPA Skills with a Modified Monopoly Game in Rania Mousa's Accounting class

Associate Professor of Accounting Rania Mousa has been featured on an editorial article titled, "Build Essential CPA Skills with a Modified Monopoly Game." The article has been posted on Course Hero website as part of the Faculty Club's Best Lessons initiative.

Course Hero is an online learning platform where over 30 million course-specific study resources are contributed by a community of students and educators. Last July, Mousa was invited by the organizers of Course Hero Summit in San Francisco to deliver an academic presentation on her research paper that has empirically tested the alignment of the game's self-reported learning outcomes with the AICPA Core Competency Framework over the course of five years. The research paper has been published in Accounting Research Journal.

UE's Schroeder School of Business Ranked Number 4 in the Nation by U.S. News & World Report

The University of Evansville’s Schroeder School of Business has been ranked as number four nationally among small private universities by the 2019 U.S. News & World Report.

Additionally, the publication recognized Schroeder School as having the number 37 accounting program and the number 36 finance program in the nation among all business schools. This is the first time that the school has been ranked on the accounting and finance lists nationally. Among small private business school peers, Schroeder’s accounting program is number three and its finance program is number two in the ranking.

“We are proud to be ranked as one of the best small private business schools in the nation,” said Schroeder Family Dean Ben Johnson. “The Schroeder School’s strong career placement outcomes and distinctive experiential learning programs provides our students an outstanding educational experience.”

University of Evansville Named #6 Best College in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report

The University of Evansville has been named the sixth best college in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges Rankings. UE rose one spot overall this year and has appeared in the top 10 for more than a decade.  

UE was also recognized for success in its engineering and business programs, commitment to undergraduate teaching, its work with veterans and international students, and for study abroad and social mobility.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science at UE has moved up six spots over last year and was recognized as the #19 best engineering school among small private institutions in the country.

The Schroeder School of Business was named the #4 best undergraduate business school in the country among small private institutions. UE’s accounting program was ranked #3, and finance was ranked #2 among small private colleges.

For the first time this year, UE was recognized as one of the best schools for undergraduate teaching. Schools ranked in this category are chosen for having “faculty with an unusually strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.”

“The outstanding dedication of our faculty is no secret to our students,” said UE president Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz. “UE professors are exceptionally devoted to student success, so it is particularly exciting to be recognized nationally for this commitment.”

The University was also recognized as the #5 Best College for Veterans in the Midwest and a Top Midwest school for International Students.

Additionally, UE was highlighted in the category, Best Study Abroad Programs to Look For. The methodology for this category states that “study abroad programs at these schools involve substantial academic work abroad for credit - a year, a semester, or an intensive experience equal to a course - and considerable interaction with the local culture.

“To be recognized on a national level in so many categories directly speaks to the caliber of the UE education and experience,” said Shane Davidson, vice president for enrollment and marketing. “We are particularly proud of the study abroad ranking, as our program at Harlaxton College is a cornerstone of the UE experience for so many of our students.”

When studying abroad at Harlaxton College in Grantham, England, UE students live alongside faculty members in a unique learning environment and are immersed in the local culture through the Meet-a-Family program. Financial aid packages also travel along with students to Harlaxton, making a semester abroad within reach for UE students of any major.

UE was also recognized as a top performing Midwest school for social mobility. This category “measures how well schools graduated students who received federal Pell Grants.” Pell Grant recipients typically come from households whose family incomes are less than $50,000 annually, though most Pell Grant money goes to students with a total family income below $20,000.

The U.S. News & World Report rankings are designed to help prospective students and their families evaluate college choices. The Best Colleges rankings are available online at www.usnews.com/colleges and will be published in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2019 guidebook, on newsstands later this month.

U.S. News and World Report rankings infographic

Atefeh Yazdanparast publishes in Journal of Business Ethics, a Top 50 Financial Times Business Journal

Atefeh Yazdanparast, Associate Professor of Marketing, has a paper accepted for publication in Journal of Business Ethics, a highly ranked journal and one of the top 50 business journals used by Financial Times for research ranking.

The research, titled "Consequences of Moral Transgressions: How Regulatory Focus Orientation Motivates or Hinders Moral Decoupling," follows an experimental design approach and contributes to the moral reasoning literature on how brands can mitigate the impact of moral violations on consumer evaluations.

Atefeh Yazdanparast has a paper accepted for publication in Psychology & Marketing

Atefeh Yazdanparast, Associate Professor of Marketing, has a paper accepted for publication in Psychology & Marketing.


The paper titled "Investigating the Marketing Impact of Consumers’ Connectedness to Celebrity Endorsers" is grounded in parasocial relationship and social connectedness theories and tests a model of connectedness to the celebrity, attitude towards the celebrity, receptivity towards the celebrity-endorsed message, and purchase intention of the celebrity-endorsed market offering using a structural equation modeling approach.

University of Evansville Celebrates 161st Commencement Ceremony on May 11

The University of Evansville bestowed 497 degrees upon 475 graduates during the 161st commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11. President Christopher Pietruszkiewicz presided. 

Several awards were given at the ceremony including the Mabel Dillingham Nenneker and Guthrie May Outstanding Senior Award, the Alumni Association's Outstanding Teacher Award, and the Eykamp Prize. Additionally, three honorary degrees were given during the celebration. 

Full information on the award recipients is as follows: 

2019 Mabel Dillingham Nenneker and Guthrie May Outstanding Senior Award
Each year, a committee of students and faculty selects an award recipient for the most outstanding senior. The selection is based on high academic performance, a commitment to service, outstanding leadership, and involvement in diverse campus activities. The award is named for two of the University’s most respected alumni, Mabel Dillingham Nenneker and Guthrie May. 

This year’s recipient is Chace Avery. He truly embodies the spirit of philanthropy, innovation, and changemaking that are at the heart of the University of Evansville experience.

As a biochemistry student, research led Avery to an internship with the National Institutes of Health where he performed data analysis on a clinical trial focused on patients with severe insulin resistance.

While president of his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Avery created a new philanthropy event called the Patriot’s Run to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project where participants ran a 5k wearing backpacks, mirroring our US troops who wear heavy backpacks every day.

Avery says the pride and joy of his UE experience has been his involvement in Habitat for Humanity. He served as the President for Habitat for Humanity for two years, during which time he planned and executed the nation’s first Habitat for Humanity Barn Blitz. This event brought 200 UE students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members together to build 30 yard barns to accompany Habitat for Humanity Homes in Evansville. He also worked on the 499th Habitat for Humanity House in Evansville and was part of the inaugural Evansville team to build a Habitat for Humanity House while abroad in Portugal. To bring his involvement full circle, he will be building another home with UE students in Chacala, Mexico after graduation.

Avery also took a ChangeLab class focused on the development of Tiny Homes for the homeless in Evansville and was able to serve at a women’s shelter called Ruth’s House. He was a part of Student Christian Fellowship, an active Orientation Leader, and was a co-founder for the University’s Ballroom Dancing Club.

Avery has done all of the above while still maintaining an outstanding academic record, appearing on the Dean’s list every single semester of his UE career.

In August, Avery will attend Indiana University School of Medicine to pursue a medical specialty in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. He says he plans to continue making a difference in the world of medicine through innovative philanthropy, just as he has at UE.

UE Alumni Association Outstanding Teacher Award
Professor Atefeh Yazdanparast was awarded the 2019 UE Alumni Association's Outstanding Teacher Award. Yazdanparast is highly revered by students and colleagues alike. Many say she is the best professor they’ve ever had and others think the best instructor at UE!

Dean Rawski says she is an exceptional teacher and scholar, and connects well with her students.

Yazdanparast received her Ph.D. in Marketing with a minor in Business Anthropology from the University of North Texas in 2012. Since joining the UE faculty in 2012, she has been the recipient of the 2018 Dean’s Teaching Award, the 2018 National Society of Leadership and Success Excellence in Teaching Award, Class of 1961 Faculty Fellowship Award in 2017, Global Scholar Award in 2015, and the Dean’s Research Award in both 2014 and 2016. 

Recently, Yazdanparast was named the 2019 Master Scholar award recipient by Marketing Management Association as part of an international competition to recognize marketing scholars who have engaged in innovative and impactful research. Following a multi-disciplinary and multi-method approach, Yazdanparast conducts qualitative and quantitative research and collaborates with researchers in other disciplines. Focusing on decision making, a majority of her intellectual contributions fall within the areas of social psychology of consumer behavior and the interplay of consumers and technology and her work has been published in many journals.

Yazdanparast teaches several marketing courses including digital marketing, marketing research, principles of marketing, and consumer behavior. She is committed to providing experiential learning opportunities for her students, and they have incorporated more than 20 marketing projects for local and global businesses.

Eykamp Prize
The 2019 recipient of the Eykamp Prize is professor Kristy Miller.

Since arriving at UE, she received the Sadelle and Sydney Berger Service Award for her involvement with student recruitment; and her efforts have been successful as her department has seen increased enrollments. She was also selected as one of the Evansville Business Journal’s 20 under 40, an honor that recognizes young leaders who make a difference in their community.

Miller is chair of the Department of Chemistry and instrumental to recruiting and retaining the best and brightest students to her department. In addition to mentoring Chemistry majors, she maintains contact with alumni and supports them throughout their professional careers. To keep alumni engaged in the life of the University, Dr. Miller hosts engaging events on campus, giving them a reason to return to Evansville.

Miller has also played a key role in fundraising to support her department. Most recently, she received funds to support undergraduate research and a distinguished lecture series from the Jean Dreyfus Lectureship.

Faculty Honored at Celebration of Teaching Excellence

The First Annual Celebration of Teaching Excellence was held on Monday, May 6, and honored faculty teaching accomplishments and activities in pedagogical development during the academic year. This was the first year that the Eykamp Center for Teaching Excellence offered two certificates for faculty members who met requirements of engagement and participation in ECTE sponsored events.

Faculty members earning the 2018-2019 New Faculty Engagement Certificate were:
Alison Jones, Lecturer/Transition to Teaching Coordinator, School of Education
Julie Merkle, Assistant Professor of Biology, Department of Biology
Sara Petrosillo, Assistant Professor of English, Department of English

Faculty members earning the 2018-2019 Teaching Development Certificate were:
Heather Fenton, Assistant Professor of Management, Schroeder School of Business Administration
Lisa Marie Hale, Assistant Professor of Education, School of Education
Jessie Lofton, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Mary Lombardo-Graves, Assistant Professor of Special Education, School of Education
Diana Rodríguez Quevedo, Associate Professor of Spanish, Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures

Finally, the inaugural Leadership in Teaching Excellence Award was presented to Diana Rodríguez Quevedo, Associate Professor of Spanish, for her commitment to her personal teaching development, supporting the growth of others, and strengthening teaching excellence across the campus community.

Congratulations and thank you to all of our faculty colleagues for their commitment to teaching excellence at the University of Evansville!

The Celebration of Teaching Excellence was hosted by the Eykamp Center for Teaching Excellence and made possible with the generous support of Rita and Richard Eykamp.

Congratulations 2019-20 Global Scholars

The Center for Innovation & Change is pleased to announce the Global Scholars for the 2019-20 academic year. Congratulations to Dr. Amanda Kerr, Assistant Professor of Economics; Dr. David Murphy, Assistant Professor of Economics; Ms. Johnna Denning-Smith, Assistant Visiting Professor and Faculty Director of the MS in Leadership Program; and Dr. Lorena Andueza, Associate Professor, Spanish and TESL.

Amanda Kerr
Assistant Professor, Economics
Dr. Kerr will be studying the impact of time-saving appliances on gender equality, education, and health outcomes in China and India.

David Murphy
Assistant Professor, Economics
Dr. Murphy will study whether accurate plot size information and fertilizer optimization can increase crop yields among small-scale farmers in Kenya.

Johnna Denning-Smith
Assistant Visiting Professor and Faculty Director of the MS in Leadership Program
Ms. Denning-Smith will expand her knowledge of Design Thinking, discover ways to promote that process throughout campus, and make UE the go-to place for Design-Thinking and innovation training in our community and beyond.

P. Lorena Andueza
Associate Professor, Spanish and TESL
Dr. Andueza will study real conversations between doctors and patients in different Spanish speaking countries, compare their socio-pragmatic strategies, and apply the results of this research to the teaching of Medical Spanish in the U.S.

As Global Scholars, the recipients of this award will engage in scholarship, curriculum development, and activities related to preparing our students and community for global leadership, citizenry, and success. The Global Scholars program is supported by the John H. Schroeder Global Scholar Endowed Fund and the Lilly Endowment.

Dean's Teaching Awards

The Academic Deans have awarded the Dean’s Teaching Awards for 2018-2019.

The faculty members being honored are:

  • Kate Schwartzkopf-Phifer, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy from the College of Education and Health Sciences
  • Jessica Lofton, Assistant Professor Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Rania Mousa, Associate Professor of Accounting from the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration
  • Derek Jones, Assistant Professor of Philosophy from the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences
  • Thomas Josenhans, Professor of Music from the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences

Congratulations to our deserving faculty members!

Rania Mousa invited to an education summit

University of Evansville associate professor of accounting Rania Mousa has been invited to participate in a “Course Hero Education Summit,” which will be held in the San Francisco Bay Area on July 19.

This is an invite-only summit, where a selective group of educators seeking to advance innovation in education and celebrate excellence in teaching are invited from universities around the country. Mousa will deliver a presentation on the Monopoly™ board game as an innovative learning strategy that has been used in Mousa’s Introduction to Financial Accounting course (ACCT 210) at UE for nine years. 

Mike Zimmer has article published

Mike Zimmer, University of Evansville Professor Emeritus of Economics, has had a paper published in the current issue of Cogent Economics and Finance.

The paper, coauthored with Robert Nakosteen of the University of Massachusetts, is entitled "Latent Earning Capacity and the Race Marriage Gap".

Zimmer thanks the University of Evansville for a research sabbatical in 2014 that allowed him to complete the foundation work for this research.

Yazdanparast has paper accepted at International Journal of Innovation Management

Atefeh Yazdanparast, University of Evansville associate professor of marketing, has a paper accepted for publication in the International Journal of Innovation Management.

The paper titled “Comparing Service, Product, and Process Innovations: Insights from the Internal Supply Chain Network of a European Steel Manufacturing Firm” investigates and compares managerial perceptions of the three types of innovation (service, product, and process innovations) within the context of cross-functional network of a European steel manufacturing firm. The insights result in the development of a typology of innovation projects based on origin, context, scope, benefits, and degree of complexity. The findings embedded in Resource Based View and Service Dominant Logic, reveal divergent aspects of the three types of innovation such as disparate reasons for undertaking each type of innovation and distinct internal and external success factors, as well as convergent aspects of the innovation types such as similar challenges. 

Accounting student presents at a national research conference

Emily Schmitt, a University of Evansville student majoring in accounting, recently presented research at the National Council Undergraduate Research Conference in Kennesaw State University. Her research was chosen from 4,000 submissions.

Schmitt’s research was titled, “The Conundrum of the Singaporean Banking System,” and examined the high ranking of Singapore on two opposite financial indices: The Financial Secrecy and Transparency Indices. Schmitt’s research also investigates the role of the Monetary Authority and Banking Act to reveal the reason(s) for the contradictory ranking figures. As an honors student, Schmitt also presented this paper at the UE Student Research and Honors Symposium on April 3.

Her research is supervised by UE associate professor of accounting Rania Mousa and was inspired by topics covered in forensic accounting course.

Yazdanparast named recipient of 2019 Marketing Management Association Master Scholar Award

Atefeh Yazdanparast, associate professor of marketing, was named the 2019 Marketing Management Association (MMA) Master Scholar award recipient at the MMA International Conference in Chicago. The MMA Master Scholar competition recognizes and honors outstanding marketing scholars that have engaged in innovative and impactful practices in research. The engagement of other faculty, students, and/or community in accomplishing research, and a history of effective scholarship with an innovative approach to conducting research are considered by the panel of judges in identifying the recipient of the award.

Economics students attend conference in St. Louis

University of Evansville economics students attended the Midwest Economics Association Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, over spring break. They were accompanied by David Murphy, UE assistant professor of economics.

While there, they interacted with researchers at various universities and at the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, networked, and planned research that they will present at upcoming conferences.

 

Econimics Students standing in front of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis

UE Schroeder School of Business Ranked #1 for Getting Students Targeted Jobs

The University of Evansville’s Schroeder School of Business has earned two impressive career outcome rankings from Poets & Quants (P&Q). UE was ranked #1 among small business schools (#64 overall) for helping their students land a job with a specific targeted company. The University was also listed at #3 among small business schools (#86 overall) for immediate career placement within three months of graduation. Average starting salaries in the Schroeder School of Business are $50,700. The rankings are featured in P&Q’s article "Schools That Get You the Job You Really Want".

P&Q determined the rankings by surveying alumni regarding careers within three months after graduation in the industries they desired and for the companies that they targeted.

“Schroeder students have bright futures,” said Greg Rawski, Schroeder Family Dean. “This ranking is another affirmation of our efforts to provide our students a high quality education aligned with an exceptional career placement experience.”

Yazdanparast has paper accepted by Journal of Retailing & Consumer Service

Atefeh Yazdanparast, University of Evansville associate professor of marketing, has had a paper accepted by the Journal of Retailing & Consumer Services

The paper, titled "Does Parasocial Interaction with Weight Loss Vloggers Affect Compliance?," draws on parasocial interaction theory and social comparison theory and follows an experimental research design. The research examines the role of video blogger (vlogger) characteristics, consumer readiness, and health consciousness among white Caucasians and Mexican Americans using structural equation modeling and mediation analysis techniques.

UE Schroeder School of Business Ranked as a Best Undergraduate Business School

The University of Evansville’s Schroeder School of Business has been ranked 71 (#3 among small private business schools) in the third annual Best Undergraduate Business Schools 2018 rankings by Poets & Quants for Undergrads, the leading online publication for undergraduate business education news.

“It’s great to have the Schroeder School of Business recognized by Poets & Quants as one of the best business schools,” said Greg Rawski, Schroeder Family Dean. “It is particularly heartening to know that our alumni highly value our faculty for their teaching excellence and mentorship, and receive a signature experience in career outcome support.”

The rankings are based on a representative survey of more than 13,000 recent graduates and school-reported data across 88 schools focusing on admissions standards, academic experience, and employment placement. Recent graduates were also asked about the ability of faculty to connect with students. The Schroeder School did well in this area, receiving an A+ for mentoring students and an A for faculty’s availability outside of the classroom. The Schroeder School was ranked 34 (#3 among small private schools) for quality of teaching.

The Schroeder School was ranked at 42 (#3 among small private universities) in the career outcome category. Poets & Quants stated that the school performed well in this category by “doing something that might seem simple on the surface but is not always that easy. It got its students jobs. Nearly 96% of the graduating Class of 2018 that were seeking jobs were employed full-time within three months of graduation.”

The Schroeder School has recently placed graduates at leading companies like Cisco Systems, Fiat Chrysler, Deloitte, Disney, and a slew of other blue chip firms and companies.

Schroeder seniors place at the 92nd percentile on Major Field Test

University of Evansville Schroeder School of Business seniors recently placed at the 92nd percentile on the Business Major Field Test (MFT). This year’s performance was headlined by management (97th percentile) and marketing (96th percentile), however international business, accounting, and economics were also above the 90th percentile. Additionally, accounting majors placed at the 99th percentile on the accounting portion of the exam.

The MFT is taken by over 500 business schools.

The Schroeder School is ranked #3 nationally among small private universities by 2019 US News and World Report, with specialty rankings among all business schools of #37 (#1 among small private schools) in accounting and #36 (#2 among small private schools) in finance.

Obaze to speak at November Andiron Lecture

Yolanda Obaze, University of Evansville assistant professor of supply chain management, will be the speaker for the Andiron Lecture on November 28. The lecture will begin at 4:00 p.m. in Eykamp Hall, Room 252, Ridgway University Center. This event is free and open to the public.

Obaze will be discussing "Co-creation of Value Using Logistics and Supply Chain Relationships."

A maturing stream of logistics and supply chain literature has focused on supply chain relationships to understand how these relationships can impede or create a sustainable competitive advantage. Concurrently, researchers seek to understand how traditional supply chain management practices can be adopted into complex networks of various organizations that have a plethora of motives, missions and values.

Obaze’s current research looks into complex supply chain relationship management and practices – in particular, how supply chain relationships that enable economic and social networks can be complex and yet achieve sustainable goals. 

Obaze earned her BA from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna Nigeria, and her MBA (strategic management and marketing) and PhD degrees from the University of North Texas, Denton, Texas. Her research interests include service systems, complexities and marketing theories, operations and supply chain management, logistics systems, and humanitarian logistics and supply chain management. She is an active member of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences, Production and Operations Management, South West Decision Sciences Institute, Decision Sciences Institute, and Association of Collegiate Marketing Educators.

For further information, call the series coordinator Annette Parks at 812-488-1070 or the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences at 812-488-2589.

Murphy speaks at Economic Outlook Luncheon presented by Fifth Third Bank

David Murphy, University of Evansville assistant professor of economics, spoke at the annual Economic Outlook Luncheon presented by Fifth Third Bank at the Tropicana Convention Center on Wednesday, November 7. His remarks focused on the divergent trends in growth between the United States and China, and implications for the global economy. Along with Murphy, speakers included Tom Jalics (Fifth Third Bank and lead event sponsor), Jerry Conover (Indiana University), and Sudesh Mujumdar (USI). 

Murphy presents research at NEUDC conference at Cornell University

David Murphy, University of Evansville assistant professor of economics, presented his research entitled "Chatting at Church: Information Diffusion through Religious Networks" at the highly selective annual North East Universities Development Consortium conference, this year held at Cornell University on October 27-28. 

he research shows a causal relationship between mutual religious association and the formation of social ties, which increases the probability of sharing information with and trusting a peer. Data for this research were collected in villages of Kenya in 2016 as part of Murphy's dissertation research.

Dean Rawski serving on AACSB peer review team at Dominican University

Greg Rawski, Schroeder Family Dean at the University of Evansville, recently served on a Continuous Improvement Review (CIR) peer review team at Dominican University.

Rawski joined deans Jim Brodzinski (Valparaiso) and Ross Dickens, (Tennessee Martin) in the review process. He will also serve on Bellarmine University’s AACSB CIR peer review team in Fall 2019.

Yazdanparast presents research at Association for Consumer Research Conference

Atefeh Yazdanparast, University of Evansville associate professor of marketing, presented her research titled "A Phenomenological Examination of Internet Addiction: Insights from Entanglement Theory" at the Association for Consumer Research Annual Conference in Dallas. 

The research employs a qualitative approached based on phenomenological interpretations of consumer narratives to provide a better understanding of human-digital technology relationships at the level of lived experiences and examine how Internet addiction and its various forms are shaped.

Kerr's paper accepted for publication in Journal of Human Capital

Amanda Kerr, assistant professor of economics in the University of Evansville’s Schroeder School of Business, has had a paper accepted for publication in the Journal of Human Capital. 

Her paper examines how the introduction of female inheritance rights implemented in four Indian states between 1986 and 1994 impacts the educational achievement and labor force participation of children 

She investigates time varying state amendments to the Hindu Succession Act of 1956, which provided equal inheritance rights to both male and female children. 

Using data from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series for India (IPUMS India), she finds that children living in states that implemented reforms experience an increase in the probability of completing primary school and a decrease in the probability of participating in the labor force.

Performing a triple difference analysis, she finds that these results are larger for Hindu children, specifically Hindu females and Hindu children living in rural areas.

UE Schroeder School of Business Places Third in Conexus Logistics Case Competition

A student team from the University of Evansville Schroeder School of Business won third place in the Third Annual Conexus Logistics Case Competition held recently in the Rolls Royce board room in Indianapolis. The event is sponsored by Conexus Indiana.

This year’s team was made up of both business and engineering majors. Students participating from UE included Mohammed AlAamri, McKenna Lewis, Jessica Rollins, and Austyn Stierwalt. The team was mentored by Dr. Yolanda Obaze, Sethlyn Morgan, and Terry Stumpf.  

At the competition, four-member teams from 19 Indiana universities vied to develop the best solution to a global logistics-related issue. The teams was given a real industry case problem with roughly 36 hours to prepare and present recommendations. The top three winning teams were awarded a cash prize and the UE team took home $1,000. UE placed ahead of teams from Indiana University, three teams from Purdue University (business, engineering, and technology), Valparaiso, University of Southern Indiana, among others.

“This is a strong competition and continues our momentum in our new Logistics and Supply Chain Management major ” said Greg Rawski, Schroeder Family Dean.

UE’s team took 3rd place (2016) and 4th place in (2017). The Schroeder School is ranked as the number 3 small private business school in the nation in the 2019 US News & World Report best undergraduate business programs ranking. UE’s Logistics and Supply Chain Management program was also recognized as one of the top programs in the country by study.com for 2018.

UE's Schroeder School of Business Ranked Number 3 in the Nation by U.S. News & World Report

The University of Evansville’s Schroeder School of Business has elevated its ranking to number three nationally among small private universities by the 2019 U.S. News & World Report.

Additionally, the publication recognized Schroeder School as having the number 37 accounting program and the number 36 finance program in the nation among all business schools. This is the first time that the school has been ranked on the accounting and finance lists nationally. Among small private business school peers, Schroeder’s accounting program is number one and its finance program is number two in the ranking.

“To be ranked as one of the best small private business schools in the nation is quite inspiring,” said Schroeder Family Dean Greg Rawski. “The Schroeder School’s strong career placement outcomes and distinctive experiential learning programs provides our students an outstanding educational experience.”

Schroeder students to attend the 2018 IBA Annual Convection

The Indiana Bankers Association (IBA) sponsored six Schroeder students to attend the 2018 IBA Annual Convection in French Lick, IN on September 9-10, 2018. The IBA Convention is composed of C-level executives from 102 of Indiana’s banks.

Students attended the opening keynote address, sessions throughout the day and networked at the convention. Students, Dr. Yasser Alhenawi, and Sethlyn Morgan are in the picture above with IBA Chairman Clay W. Ewing of German American Bank. Schroeder’s finance program was recently ranked #2 among small private universities by 2019 US News & World Report and was also ranked #3 among small private business schools in the nation.

UE Schroeder Family School of Business Students standing with Clay Ewing.

UE Ranked Number 7 Best College in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report

The University of Evansville has been named seventh best college in the Midwest in U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges rankings. UE has risen two spots in this year’s overall ranking, and was again named as one of the top 10 value colleges in the Midwest.

The University was also recognized as one of the Most Innovative Schools in the Midwest for the first time. Top college officials from across the country made nominations for this list, selecting institutions known for making the most innovative improvements in curriculum, faculty, campus life, technology, or facilities.

In May 2018, UE was designated as a Changemaker Campus by Ashoka U for its role as a leader in social innovation and changemaking in higher education. UE is the first Changemaker Campus in Indiana.

The University was listed on several other U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges lists this year. UE’s Schroeder School of Business was named the number three best undergraduate business school in the nation among small private colleges, with its accounting and finance programs coming in at number one and number two respectively.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science was named the number 25 best undergraduate engineering school in the nation among small private colleges with no doctorate.  

The University was also recognized as the number six Best College for Veterans in the Midwest and a Top Midwest School for International Students and remains a Top 10 Best Value college.

Infographic. Details of graphic appear as text in the news article.

“To be recognized nationally on so many levels speaks volumes about the great programs, great people, and great qualities of this University,” said Shane Davidson, vice president for enrollment and marketing at UE. “We are especially proud of making the most innovative list—innovation and changemaking are at the heart of the UE experience.”

The U.S. News & World Report rankings are designed to help prospective students and their families evaluate college choices. The Best Colleges rankings are available online at www.usnews.com/colleges and will be published in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2019 guidebook, on newsstands later this month.

UE professor David Murphy interviewed by Eyewitness News

University of Evansville professor David Murphy was recently  interviewed by Eyewitness News about a recent economic study on Indiana's economy. Murphy noted that while the report touched on real problems, there are also many reasons to be optimistic about Indiana's economy.

UE’s ACE³ Program Named Finalist in National Competition

The University of Evansville’s Access to Capital and Expertise for Emerging Entrepreneurs (ACE³) program has been selected as a Pioneer (finalist) in the Unlocking ₵hange Challenge: Innovations for Financial Wellbeing, Resilience, and Freedom. This nationwide competition seeks to find and support leading social entrepreneurs and innovators across the country.

The ACE³ program was one of 10 finalists chosen out a group of 140 entries. The four Champions (winners) of the challenge will be announced on Oct 3. Each winner will receive $50,000 to support their programs.

Representatives of ACE³ will soon be going to New York to attend the Unlocking ¢hange Challenge event. While there, they will have the opportunity to network, participate in workshops, and discuss the Ace³ program, sponsored by Old National Bank.

The challenge is a collaboration between BNY Mellon, an American worldwide banking and financial services holding company, and Ashoka, the world’s largest group of social entrepreneurs and changemakers.

The University of Evansville was recently named a Changemaker Campus by Ashoka U, an Ashoka initiative. UE received the recognition due to its leadership in social innovation and changemaking in higher education. It’s one of 50 universities world-wide with this distinction and the first in Indiana.

The ACE³ program is sponsored, funded, and co-managed by Old National Bank and is located in the Schroeder School of Business’s Institute for Banking and Finance under the direction of Yasser Alhenawi, UE associate professor of finance. ACE³ manages a $100,000 portfolio, which offers microloans to women, minority, and disadvantaged owned businesses. Students interface with clients, review business plans, and serve as underwriters for loans.

“ACE³ gives students the opportunity to gain invaluable skills and real-world experience while making a positive impact in the community,” said Greg Rawski, Schroeder Family Dean.

The Schroeder School of Business is the nation’s fastest riser (+38 places) in the 2018 U.S. News & World Report Best Undergraduate Business Programs and is ranked Number 4 among small private business schools nationally.

Mousa presents at American Accounting Association Annual Conference

Rania Mousa, University of Evansville associate professor of accounting, has presented a new pedagogical approach to demonstrate the use of XBRL technology in filing annual financial reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (mandated since 2009). 

A step-by-step filing demonstration was created by Mousa due to the lack of coverage of such methods in accounting textbooks. The filing process can be easily integrated into the instructor materials.

The presentation was delivered during the American Accounting Association Annual Conference held in National Harbor, Maryland.

Yazdanparast serves as track chair and presenter for 2018 AMA Summer Educators' Conference

Atefeh Yazdanparast, University of Evansville associate professor of marketing, served as a track chair for the higher education and marketing track at the 2018 AMA Summer Conference recently held in Boston. 

She also presented two research projects, one examining morality violations and brand evaluation in the political context, and the other focusing on the dark side of digital technology and victimization of the 21st century consumers. This is the fourth year that Yazdanparast has served as the chair of the marketing for higher education special interest group at the AMA.

University of Evansville Announces Berger Awards for 2018

University of Evansville professors Laura Dwyer and Robert Dion were honored recently with the 2018 Sydney and Sadelle Berger Awards for Scholarly Activity and Service. They were presented with the awards by Charlie Berger during UE’s Fall Conference.

UE associate professor of management Laura Dwyer was given the Berger Award for Scholarly Activity. Dwyer has significantly contributed to the research community. She is a prominent scholar and teacher specializing in the areas of organizational behavior, human resources, decision making, and leadership.

Dwyer has a strong interest in publishing in peer-reviewed pedagogical journals in the areas of business education and higher education. Of particular interest is Dwyer’s research titled “Leadership self-efficacy and managers' motivation for leading change.” This research has received 416 citations since its publication in 2002 in the Journal of Organizational Behavior

Dwyer continually shares her knowledge by delivering seminars and workshops at Harvard Business School, Northwestern University, and University of Colorado.

She has received UE’s Schroeder School of Business Dean’s Service Award, the Dean's Research Award, and the Dean's Teaching Award twice. Dwyer has also received a Teaching Fellows Grant from the Center for Teaching Excellence.

UE associate professor of political science and chair of law, politics, and society Robert Dion was the recipient of the Berger Award for Service. Dion is committed to serving UE and the community and to promoting diversity and equal rights for all people.

He has been chair of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Human Relations Commission for several years. He has been a featured speaker at statewide meetings of all Indiana human rights agencies and a delegate to conventions of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies. Dion is a longtime member of the Evansville Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series board.

At UE, Dion has received the United Methodist Exemplary Teaching Award and serves on several committees and boards, including the Diversity Lecture Series board and the MLK Day Committee. He chairs UE’s Constitution Day committee and works with We the People, a national program dedicated to teaching secondary school students about the US. Constitution.

He is regularly interviewed by local, statewide, national, and international news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Le Monde, the BBC World Service, The Guardian, and Radio Canada.

Yazdanparast speaks at the 2018 Digital Summit

Atefeh Yazdanparast, University of Evansville associate professor of marketing, was a speaker at the 2018 Digital Summit Virtual Conference organized by Stukent.

Focusing on digital marketing and marketing analytics, academic and industry speakers offered insights on digital and social media marketing and provided course structure and optimization tips. The industry track included speakers from Godaddy, Semrush, Buffer, Chamber Media, and BlitzMetrics. The academic track included speakers from the University of Evansville, Brigham Young University, Western Michigan University, and California Polytechnic State University.

UE’s ACE³ Program Named Semifinalist in National Competition

The University of Evansville’s Access to Capital and Expertise for Emerging Entrepreneurs (ACE³) program has been selected as a Driver of Financial Wellbeing national semifinalist in the Unlocking ₵hange Challenge. This nationwide competition seeks to find and support leading social entrepreneurs and innovators across the country. A total of 27 semifinalists were chosen from 107 entrants.

The challenge is a collaboration between BNY Mellon, an American worldwide banking and financial services holding company, and Ashoka, the world’s largest group of social entrepreneurs and changemakers.

The University of Evansville was recently named a Changemaker Campus by Ashoka U, an Ashoka initiative. UE received the recognition due to its leadership in social innovation and changemaking in higher education. It’s one of 50 universities world-wide with this distinction and the first in Indiana.

The ACE³ program is sponsored, funded, and co-managed by Old National Bank and is located in the Schroeder School of Business’s Institute for Banking and Finance under the direction of Yasser Alhenawi, UE associate professor of finance. ACE³ manages a $100,000 portfolio, which offers microloans to women, minority, and disadvantaged owned businesses. Students interface with clients, review business plans, and serve as underwriters for loans.

Greg Rawski, Schroeder Family Dean, noted that, “ACE³ provides our students with invaluable skills, real-world experiences, and makes a positive impact in the community.”

The Schroeder School of Business is the nation’s fastest riser (+38 places) in the 2018 U.S. News & World Report Best Undergraduate Business Programs and is ranked Number 4 among small private business schools nationally.

University of Evansville student Tyra Baker earns Gold Badge in coding

University of Evansville student Tyra Baker has earned a Gold Badge in coding through a partnership between the Independent Colleges of Indiana and Eleven Fifty Academy. Baker is majoring in economics at UE.

 This was the second summer for Smart Launch Tech, a coding program designed for liberal arts students. One hundred percent of the 19 students from 14 private colleges around the state completed the month-long program on June 29, each earning the industry- and state-recognized Gold Badge Certification from Eleven Fifty, headquartered at Launch Fishers. 

The students learned the basics of HTML, CSS and Java Script in a four-week boot camp held on the campus of Franklin College during the month of June. They completed assignments demonstrating badge competencies and compiled an e-portfolio, presented at the end of the program. Featured speaker at the Gold Badge award ceremony was Scott Jones, founder of Eleven Fifty and veteran early-stage entrepreneur, inventor, strategist, and venture capitalist.

In addition to coding, students were exposed to the wide range of career possibilities within the tech field, including project and marketing management, data analysis, compliance, security, and design. Students also traveled to Indianapolis tech businesses including High Alpha, Pattern89, Kinney Group, and One Click.  During these visits, they had the chance to speak with company leaders and employees and gain exposure to tech working environments and protocols.

Smart Tech Launch was created to marry the technical skills of coding with the problem-solving approach of a liberal arts education.

“Technology alone is not enough,” Apple founder Steve Jobs said. “It’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields results that makes our hearts sing.”

Funders for this summer’s program, made available to students free-of-charge, included ICI, a nonprofit association representing the 30 private, nonprofit colleges and universities in the Hoosier state; Eleven Fifty Academy, a nonprofit dedicated to producing technology and talent; and the Council of Independent Colleges through a venture fund grant.  Sustainability planning is now underway.

Schroeder Faculty Awards

Congratulations to the 2018 Schroeder Dean’s award recipients: Dr. Atefeh Yazdanparast (teaching excellence), Dr. Walayet Khan (scholarship), and Dr. Yolanda Obaze (service).

Dr. Yazdanparast, Associate Professor of Marketing achieved another outstanding year in the classroom. She provides her students with numerous experiential learning opportunities to connect to businesses. All of her classes ranked in the “higher” category for excellent teacher.

Dr. Khan published three peer reviewed journal articles in the past year in Emerging Markets and Trade, Quarterly Journal of Finance and Accounting, and Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance. Dr. Khan also has three papers under review.

Dr. Obaze has made a substantial impact on the Schroeder School’s logistics and supply chain management program earning Conexus Indiana’s endorsement, creating the program’s new LSCM Advisory Board, supporting development for new experiential student opportunities, supervising our LSCM teams 4th place finish in the Conexus Indiana case competition, and recruiting new LSCM faculty. In addition, Dr. Obaze serves on the Faculty Senate, Honors Program Faculty, FYS Imagineering, Diversity House/Mentors and Fellow Scholars, and Change Team (ChangeLab) committee. The Schroeder School is the “fastest riser” nationally in the 2018 US News & World Report ranking.

Khan receives the 2018 Research Award

Walayet A. Khan, University of Evansville professor of finance, was awarded “2018 Dean’s Research Award” of the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration. Khan has an extensive ongoing research agenda in the area of the emerging markets.

Zimmer Has Paper Published in Labour Economics Journal

Mike Zimmer, University of Evansville Professor Emeritus of Economics, has had a paper published in Labour Economics (Volume 52: June 2018).

The paper, entitled "Youth-Age Characteristics as Precursors of Power Couple Formation and Location Choice", is coauthored with Robert Nakosteen of the University of Massachusetts and Sofia Tano and Olle Westerlund, both of Umea University in Sweden.

Zimmer thanked the University for granting him a sabbatical in 2014, which made it possible for him complete the foundational work for this research.

Schroeder alumna completes Boston Marathon

Congrats to Schroeder accounting alumna Kelby Laughner (Jenkins) who completed the Boston Marathon in 3:06.

Kelby Laughner (Jenkins) holding marathon ID sign

Schroeder seniors achieve 93rd percentile on Major Field Test; Accounting seniors 99th

The University of Evansville Schroeder School of Business seniors placed at the 93rd percentile on the Major Field Test (MFT). Over 500+ business programs take the MFT nationally. Schroeder accounting students scored at the 99th percentile on the accounting section of the exam.

Schroeder is ranked #4 nationally among small private universities by the 2018 US News & World Report.

Yazdanparast has paper accepted for publication

Atefeh Yazdanparast, assistant professor of marketing and Mead Johnson Endowed Chair in Business, has had a paper accepted for publication in the Journal of Macromarketing. The paper is titled "Advertising and Pseudo-Culture: An Analysis of the Changing Portrayal of Women in Print Advertising."

It follows a content analysis and a semiotic analysis of print advertisements over a period of 48 years and investigates the use of mass media, specifically advertising, in cultural transformation projects to weaken cultures and replace them with a crafted pseudo-culture. Drawing on the theory of pseudo-culture, the research develops a conceptual framework underlying pseudo-culture formation themes and identifies major tools/processes through which pseudo-cultures may be formed, promoted, and/or abolished.

Khan publishes emerging market research

Walayet A. Khan, University of Evansville professor of finance, has published three co-authored research papers all related to the emerging markets.

The articles are:

  • "The Effect of US Stock Market Uncertainty on Emerging Market Returns.” Emerging Markets Finance and Trade.
  • “Do Islamic Banks Optimally Balance the Trade-Off in Capital Structure Mix? A Comparison Approach.” Quarterly Journal of Finance and Accounting,
  • “Dynamic Co-integration and Portfolio Diversification of Islamic and Conventional Indices: Global Evidence, Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance.

Khan talks about stock market

Walayet Khan, University of Evansville professor of finance, was interviewed by Channel 14 about the recent volatility in the stock market. Khan told Channel 14 that good corporate earnings and global growth give the market a strong foundation. He is optimistic the market will rise again and that 2018 will be a good year. The entire interview can be seen on Channel 14’s website.

Kerr publishes chapter in Handbook of International Trade and Transportation

Schroeder School of Business professor Amanda Kerr has contributed to the Handbook of International Trade and Transportation. The Handbook is unique in pulling together key insights of international trade and transportation while highlighting what we know about their intersection and ideas for future research.

Kerr contributed the chapter, "Gravity, distance, and international trade," which was written with colleagues from Clemson University and Drexel University.

Mousa publishes paper on innovative pedagogical approach

Rania Mousa, University of Evansville associate professor of accounting, has had a paper accepted for publication in the Accounting Research Journal. The paper is titled “Addressing the AICPA Core Competencies through the Usage of the Monopoly™ Board Game.”

A total of 550 UE students played the game in Mousa’s introductory financial accounting class (ACCT 210) as part of a course project in which they analyzed business transactions and created financial statements. Students were also asked to share what they had learned from the project in 10 bullet points. The ‘learning outcomes’ were graded based on inclusion rather than content. A longitudinal empirical analysis of 5500 self-reported learning outcomes revealed their alignment with the American Institute of CPA’s Core Competency Framework. The framework defines a set of essential personal and professional skills needed by students transitioning into the accounting profession. In addition, the study informs academics as to the implications of engaging students in an innovative class activity that incorporates the use of Excel’s basic functions and features.

The paper was presented at the American Accounting Association Conference in August in San Diego.

Mousa said that she is “grateful to all students and alumni enrolled in ACCT 210 during 2010-15 for sharing their valuable feedback in their course projects.”

UE partners with Toyota Indiana to support Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program and Changemaker Challenge

Announcing the Toyota Indiana Scholarship for Logistics and Supply Chain Management Students.

The University of Evansville has received a generous gift of $100,000 from Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana. The majority of the gift –$90,000—will be used to launch the University’s new Logistics and Supply Chain Management (LSCM) Program. The remainder of the funds will continue Toyota’s long-standing support of the University’s annual Changemaker Challenge competitions for area high school students and UE students.

“We are proud to partner with the University of Evansville on this milestone,” said plant vice president Tim Hollander. “This program will help to fill a need for trained and qualified candidates for many employers in our region and create opportunities for students to build careers with longevity.”

UE’s new Logistics and Supply Chain Management (LSCM) Program will be introduced in the fall of 2018. The University’s Schroeder Family School of Business Administration will be the first private University in Indiana accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International to offer an undergraduate major in logistics and supply chain management.

New college graduates in the supply chain management field are highly sought after with a 6:1 demand-to-supply ratio. UE’s program will prepare students with knowledge and skills desired by employers. In addition to a rigorous course of study, students in the program will take part in high level experiential learning opportunities such as internships.

“Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Indiana is a world-class manufacturer and a great corporate partner,” said Greg Rawski, Schroeder Family Dean at UE. “We are excited to launch this distinctive LSCM program, which provides students great placement opportunities and rewarding careers.”

Part of the Toyota gift designated for the LSCM program will fund ten $5,000 scholarships. These one-year scholarships will be awarded to each of the 10 students in the cohort that will begin the program. 

In 2018 U.S. News & World Report ranked the Schroeder School of Business #4 among small private schools and among all business schools Schroeder was the fastest riser (+38 places) to #183 overall. Schroeder average starting salaries are now at $50,500. 

Alhenawi officially licensed in Indiana as registered investment adviser and financial planner

Associate professor of finance Yasser Alhenawi has completed a two year process to be officially licensed in Indiana as a registered investment advisor and financial planner. The licensure will have a positive impact on Alhenawi‘s approach to experiential learning in the classroom.

Alhenawi’s students have achieved a 23% return in the market this past year in the Donaldson Capital Management Investment Program – 2% higher than the S&P 500. The Schroeder School’s Finance program has been ranked #1 among over 500 small universities and the school is also nationally ranked #4 by 2018 US News & World Report among small business schools.

Schroeder team publishes in top journal

Sethlyn Morgan, Atefeh Yazdanparast, and Greg Rawski published their article "Creating a Distinctive Business Career Outcome Program" in the Journal of Vocational Education and Training.

Morgan is director of UE's Center for Career Success. Yazdanparast is a UE assistant professor of marketing and Mead Johnson Endowed Chair in Business. Rawski is the UE dean of the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration.

Their article describes the Schroeder Office of Career Success and its customized career placement strategy which has achieved a five year 98% placement rate, raised starting salaries by 18%, and increased the quality of placements in the school. The Schroeder School was recently nationally ranked by US News & World Report as the #4 small private business school. 

UE Schroeder School of Business is “Fastest Mover” in US News & World Report Rankings

The Schroeder School of Business at the University of Evansville has elevated its ranking to number 4 nationally among small-private universities by U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, Schroeder is the “fastest mover” among all business schools moving up 35 places to #183 overall.

“We are very pleased with the recognition from U.S. News & World Report which continues the school’s forward momentum,” said Schroeder Family Dean Greg Rawski. “Our students connect with our talented faculty and our portfolio of experiential programs are creating bright futures for our students.”

The Schroeder School of Business has achieved a 98% career placement rate – one of the best rates in the nation for five straight years—and its graduates have an average starting salary above $48,500.

“In our Schroeder Office of Career Success we offer customized support for each student,” said Rawski. “Last year, we graduated a student who initially accepted a job offer with a starting salary of $55,000 as a sophomore, 22 months before she graduated.”

In 2015, the Schroeder School was recognized as having the Number 1 Accounting and Finance programs among over 500 small universities by Masters of Finance Degrees. 

Yazdanparast has paper accepted journal

Atefeh Yazdanparast, assistant professor of marketing, has had a paper accepted by the European Journal of Marketing, an A* ranked journal by the Australian Business Deans Council.

Following an experimental design and drawing on objective self-awareness theory and self-affirmation theory, the research establishes a link between self-awareness, emotions, and motivations by empirically testing the consequences of self-standard discrepancies. The results indicate that pride inducing exercises could act as self-affirming factors to intervene the undesirable outcomes of body image dissatisfaction.

UE Ranked Third Best Midwest Value University by U.S. News & World Report, Among Other Honors

Among other honors, the University of Evansville has been named a Best Midwest Value school in the annual Best Colleges rankings by U.S. News & World Report. UE was ranked third, up 10 spots from last year. This ranking is based on the school’s academic quality and net cost of attendance for a student receiving the average need-based financial aid.

UE was also a top-ten institution in the region -- ranked ninth among 165 institutions in the Best Regional Universities: Midwest category -- based on measures of academic excellence, faculty resources, student selectivity, and class sizes.

The University was listed in other Best Colleges U.S. News & World Report rankings, as follows:

UE’s Schroeder School of Business was ranked as the number four Small Private Business School in the nation, moving up from the number 10 spot in last year’s list. Additionally, the Schroeder School of Business is the fastest mover among all business schools, moving up 35 places to number 183 nationally.

In addition, UE was ranked at number 24 on the list of small private universities with the Best Undergraduate Engineering programs accredited by ABET. This ranking was based solely on the judgments of deans and senior faculty at peer institutions. The engineering program ranked 103 overall.

“Ranking as we did in these categories is just one of the many indicators confirming our success in maintaining the highest academic quality at the University of Evansville,” said UE President Thomas A. Kazee.

The University of Evansville was also ranked seventh on the Nation’s Most Military Friendly Schools list and as a Top Midwest School for International Students.

Additionally, UE was named one of the Best Schools for Study Abroad. To be considered, the study abroad program had to involve substantial academic work - a year or a semester, or an intensive experience equal to a course - and considerable interaction between the student and the culture. College presidents, chief academic officers, deans of students, and deans of admissions from more than 1,500 schools nominated up to 10 institutions with stellar examples of study abroad programs. The colleges and universities that were mentioned most often made the Best School for Study Abroad list.

“Study abroad is engrained in our culture here at the University of Evansville,” said Kazee. “From our intensive program at Harlaxton College in Grantham, England, to the many service trips we consistently take to places like Guatemala and China, UE students have ample opportunities to contribute on a global level.”

The U.S. News & World Report rankings are designed to help prospective students and their families evaluate college choices. The Best Colleges rankings are available online at www.usnews.com/colleges and will be published in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2018 guidebook, on newsstands later this month.

Rankings infographic. Details appar in new article.

UE Student Trevor Lax Earns Gold Badge in Coding through Smart Launch Tech

University of Evansville student Trevor Lax recently completed training in Smart Tech Launch – a coding program for liberal arts students. Independent Colleges of Indiana and Eleven Fifty Academy partnered to create Smart Launch Tech as a way to marry the technical skills of coding with the problem-solving approach of a liberal arts education.

Lax, who studies economics and cognitive science at UE, was among the first cohort of students from ICI private colleges to complete Smart Tech Launch’s inaugural program.

He and the other 14 students in the cohort learned the basics of HTML, CSS, and Java Script. They completed assignments demonstrating badge competencies and compiled an e-portfolio, presented at the end of the program. Each participant earned the industry- and state-recognized Gold Badge Certification from Eleven Fifty, located at Launch Fishers. 

In addition to coding, students were exposed to the wide range of career possibilities within the tech field, including project and marketing management, data analysis, compliance, security, and design. In addition to classroom instruction, the students made field trips to Indianapolis tech businesses, speaking with their leaders and employees and gaining exposure to the tech working environment and protocols. Students also had the opportunity to interact with the Indy Tech Fellows, new graduates in a two-year Tech Point program to place talent with leading companies, fast tracking careers and contributing to the Indianapolis community.

ICI is a nonprofit association representing the 30 private, nonprofit colleges and universities in the Hoosier state. Eleven Fifty Academy, a nonprofit dedicated to producing technology and talent, provided the funding and in-kind services for this proof-of-concept pilot. Sustainability planning is now under way.

UE professor Mike Zimmer has journal article published

University of Evansville professor emeritus of economics Mike Zimmer has had an article published in the current issue of Cogent Economics and Finance 5(1): 1348327.

The paper, entitled "Marriage Dissolution Among American Men, 2003-2010: The Roles of Measured Earnings and Latent Selection," is coauthored with Professor Robert Nakosteen of the University of Massachusetts.

UE marketing students develop digital marketing plan for Direct Care for Me

University of Evansville marketing students have developed a digital marketing plan for Direct Care For Me (DCM), a Nashville, Tennessee, company cofounded by UE alumnus Matthew Taber.

DCM helps primary care physicians convert to direct primary care, a low cost, no insurance necessary, payment model. The company’s goal is to provide patients with access to low cost health care and to simplify the way physicians practice medicine.

Five student teams researched the DCM business model and industry characteristics, analyzed various aspects of the company’s marketing activities, and developed digital marketing strategies and tactics. The project involved multiple visits and interactions between the students and Taber to assure validity and relevance.

At the University of Evansville, digital marketing is an upper level marketing course that focuses on digital technology and modern marketing techniques to help businesses reach their potential by connecting with their target audiences in a more effectively and efficiently. Timely courses and projects such as digital marketing are integral in helping businesses prosper and presenting students with knowledge and skills required to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment.

 

“Such experiential projects as these challenge students to be critical observers and creative planners at levels beyond the regular course content,” explained UE assistant professor of marketing Atefeh Yazdanparast. “Students are provided with the opportunity to make a difference in the business community, thereby gaining confidence in their abilities as future business leaders.”

 

Taber said his collaboration with the UE student teams was very professional and yielded high quality results.

“The feedback and recommendations provided by the students were extremely valuable. The depth of their analysis will help us to take our business to new places that we did not think were even within our reach. The suggestions by students have greatly helped us communicate better with prospects.”

“As a UE alumnus,” Taber added, “I am grateful for having had the opportunity to work with the University on this project. Connecting with students helped me change my perspective about marketing a company in the era of digital technology.”

UE marketing students sitting at round table for class task

Yazdanparast has paper accepted in Journal of Marketing Management

Atefeh Yazdanparast, University of Evansville assistant professor of marketing, has had a paper accepted for publication in the Journal of Marketing Management.

The paper, titled "The Dark Side of Consumer Life in the Age of Virtual and Mobile Technology," explores the nature of consumer-technology relationship, specifically virtual and mobile technology, at the level of lived experience.

The findings reflect eight important facets of technology-related dark-side consumer behavior that, in one way or another, cause harm to the individual user, other consumers, or society at large.

Rawski has paper published in international journal

UE Schroeder Family School of Business Greg Rawski has published a journal article, “User Engagement in Social Media,” in the International Journal of Information Technology and Management.

Rania Mousa is the recipient of the Dean's Research Award 2017

Rania Mousa, associate professor of accounting, has received her second 2017 Dean's Research Award. The award was given in recognition of Mousa's latest paper, "The evolution of electronic filing process at the UK's HM Revenue and Customs: The case of XBRL adoption.

The paper has been published in the Journal of Tax Research, one of the top five journals in taxation in the world.

The paper chronicles and analyzes the history of legacy electronic reporting systems at the British tax authority over the last 50 years, which culminated in adopting XBRL, the latest technology used by US federal agencies, SEC and FDIC, to process corporate data in regulatory filings.

Yazdanparast publishes in Journal of Consumer Marketing

Atefeh Yazdanparast, assistant professor of marketing, has had a paper accepted for publication in the Journal of Consumer Marketing.

In two experiments, this research identifies new communication approaches through which political marketers can reach out more effectively to voters. The research examines the impact of different WOM/e-WOM political messages (shallow vs. deep) delivered through various communication channels on voters’ message evaluation, believability, attitude towards the message and communication, message involvement, voting intentions, and WOM/e-WOM intentions.

The results suggest that political WOM/e-WOM messages received via different communication modes are perceived differently by age-based voting cohorts.

Also, the complexity of message impacts behavioral intentions of age-based voting cohorts differently. Older (younger) voter cohorts are more receptive to complex and detailed (short and brief) messages. Political message involvement mediates the relationship between message believability and voting intentions as well as WOM/e-WOM intentions.

Yazdanparast and Alhenawi have manuscript accepted

Atefeh Yazdanparast, assistant professor of marketing, and Yasser Alhenawi, associate professor of finance, have a new manuscript accepted for publication in the Financial Service Review. Their work explores the role of psychological characteristics in household borrowing decisions.

In the manuscript, they report evidence that the attitude toward borrowing and the intuition to borrow are not always consistent and, more interestingly, the discrepancies between the two vary across personalities.

Further, they show that borrowing options are not homogenous and are motivated differently. They find that individuals with greater need for material resources have stronger intentions for mortgages, home improvement loans, business loans, personal loans, and payday loans. In contrast, individuals with greater need for arousal have stronger intentions for home improvement loans, business loans, student loans, personal loans, and payday loans.

The Financial Service Review is a reputable academic journal known for its strong affiliation with professional licensing institutions like the Certified Financial Planning Board.

Conexus Indiana endorses UE’s Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program

The University of Evansville Schroeder School of Business’s new logistics and supply chain management program (LSCM) has been endorsed by Conexus Indiana Logistics Council. UE plans to launch the program in the fall of 2018.

Conexus Indiana is a forum of Indiana executives and thought leaders representing air, infrastructure, rail trucking, warehouse/distribution, waterborne, and advanced manufacturing and service firms. The Schroeder School is the first private AACSB business school in Indiana to receive its endorsement.

UE Schroeder Family School of Business Dean Greg Rawski said the endorsement “continues the forward momentum we’ve created which connects our students to top Indiana logistics executives. It creates exciting opportunities. There is a 6:1 demand-to-supply ratio for new college graduates in the supply chain field, and our LSCM program will prepare students with the knowledge and skills desired by those employers.”

In addition to rigorous study, students in the program will participate in high level experiential learning opportunities. The Schroeder School of Business will create the center for logistics and supply chain management which will house experiential student programs and connect LSCM students to corporations. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 12-to-1, students will benefit from close faculty mentorship. Students will also attend a speaker series where they can learn from individuals with logistics and supply chain management experience.

In 2016, a UE student team took third place among 17 Indiana colleges in the Conexus Logistics Case Competition. These colleges, some with established LSCM programs, vied to develop the best solution to a logistics-related issue.

Yolanda Obaze, UE assistant professor of supply chain management, noted that the team’s placement was impressive considering their limited exposure to the field of logistics and supply chain management. The achievement, she said, is a good indication of future successes when UE’s new LSCM program is implemented.

To learn more about logistics and supply chain management at UE, please contact the office of admission at 812-488-2468 or visit the business section of UE's website.

Professor Khan has paper accepted for publication

Walayet A. Khan, professor of finance, co-authored a paper with Ghulam Sarwar, California State University, titled, “The Effect of US Stock Market Uncertainty on Emerging Market Returns.” The paper is forthcoming in the Emerging Markets Finance and Trade (journal), 2017.

Khan presented another paper with the same coauthor (under review now) titled,” Examining the Interactions of US Market Risks and Emerging Market Returns in an Integrated System: Global Evidence” at the 2016 annual meeting of the Financial Management Association

Rawski has paper published in international journal

Greg Rawski, Schroeder Family dean in the School of Business Administration, and Don Hudson have published their paper “Antecedents and Consequences of IPPD Effectiveness” in the International Journal of Innovation Management.

UE to Launch New Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program

The University of Evansville will launch a new logistics and supply chain management (LSCM) program in Fall 2018. There is a 6:1 demand-to-supply ratio for new college graduates in the supply chain field.

“We have listened to our regional business community and responded,” said Schroeder Family School of Business Dean Greg Rawski, “Our LSCM program will be impactful and will fortify our 98 percent career placement rate – one of the best in the nation.”

The LSCM program at UE will prepare students with the knowledge and skills desired by employers. In addition to a rigorous course of study in UE’s Schroeder School of Business, students in the program will take part in high level experiential learning opportunities such as:

• Internships at large, global corporations

• Annual attendance at the Indiana Logistics Summit

• Participation in a mock Walmart warehouse program at the University of Arkansas

• LSCM technology training through SAP University Alliance

The Schroeder School of Business will also create the center for logistics and supply chain management which will house experiential student programs and connect LSCM students to corporations.

With a low student-to-faculty ratio of 12-to-1, students will also benefit from close mentorship from Schroeder School of Business faculty members. Students will also attend a speaker series where they can learn from individuals with experience in logistics and supply chain management.

In October 2016, a UE student team took third place among 18 Indiana colleges in the Conexus Logistics Case Competition. These colleges, some with established LSCM programs, vied to develop the best solution to a logistics-related issue at this contest.

“The UE team’s third place win”, says Yolanda Obaze, UE assistant professor of supply chain management, “was very impressive considering they have had limited exposure to the field of logistics and supply chain management.”

UE’s Schroeder Family School of Business Administration maintains accreditation with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. (AACSB). The Schroeder School will be the first private AACSB accredited program in Indiana to offer an undergraduate major in logistics and supply chain management.

To learn more about logistics and supply chain management at the University of Evansville, please contact the office of admission at 812-488-2468 or visit the business section of UE's website. 

Professors' paper accepted by Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting

A paper by Schroeder School of Business professors Yasser Alhenawi and Martha Stilwell has been accepted for publication in the Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting. This is a highly esteemed journal recognized by several PhD-granting institutions as a prestigious research outlet.

The paper is co-authored by Alhenawi, associate professor of finance, and Stilwell, assistant professor of accounting.

The manuscript presents and tests a hypothesis that value creation in merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions is determined by not only the target’s pre-acquisition value, as indicated by earlier studies, but also by the acquirer’s competency (among other factors). Further, the paper employs statistical procedures and model-building techniques in order to develop and validate parsimonious Altman-style predictive models, which reasonably identify successful M&A deals. The models are statistically significant, robust to out-of-sample testing, and shed more light on a few existing theories in corporate transforming events.

University of Evansville Signs Exchange Agreement with Paris School of Business

The University of Evansville signed an exchange agreement with the Paris School of Business (PSB) this week. The signing ceremony took place in President Tom Kazee’s office on  UE’s campus on Tuesday, November 15.  

PSB is especially interested in bolstering their students’ English communication skills while completing required coursework at a top-notch institution accredited AACSB, the gold standard for business schools. For UE students, PSB will provide a superlative option for UE business students as well as those in arts and sciences programs such as foreign languages and international studies.

“This multilateral arrangement, several months in the making, is one that we hope to replicate with other partners around the world in order to attract more diverse students to UE and Harlaxton while providing additional opportunities abroad for our Indiana-based students,” said president Kazee. “This agreement is unique in that Paris School of Business students will study at the Evansville campus in the fall semesters and Harlaxton in the spring semesters. This provides their students with two distinct, yet connected, study abroad experiences on two continents.”

PSB students would also have the option of spending an entire academic year on the Evansville campus as they work closely with UE faculty and students.

President Kazee shaking hand of the President of the Paris School of Business

UE Schroeder School of Business Third in Conexus Logistics Case Competition

The University of Evansville Schroeder School of Business won third place in the Conexus Logistics Case Competition held in Indianapolis. October 12-14. Teams from 18 Indiana colleges vied to develop the best solution to a logistics-related issue at this contest. This was the first time for the event, which was sponsored by Conexus Indiana.

The goal of the competition was to increase awareness of logistics career opportunities and build the pipeline of students seeking logistics careers.

During the event, students had networking access to many of the state’s highest ranking logistics executives while working in teams to develop the winning response to a real-world logistics business case. The scenarios presented to the students to solve represented issues regularly faced by today’s industry leaders in high-tech logistics environments.

Early on October 12 each team was presented with a case to solve for a fictitious company. Taking on the role of that company’s logistics team, they were given 36 hours to come up with a solution. The contest culminated with the teams’ case presentations to the judges and the awarding of cash prizes, which ranged from $5,000 (first place), $2,000 (second place), and $1,000 (third place).

During the event, team members also attended an executive networking dinner, and gathered for a daylong workshop hosted by the Indianapolis law firm, Frost Brown Todd LLC. A reception followed the workshop at the Indianapolis Zoo where students discussed potential careers and future job roles with business representatives.

Yolanda Obaze, UE assistant professor of supply chain management, noted that the UE team’s third place win was particularly impressive as they have had limited exposure to the field of logistics and supply chain management. The University is planning to launch a new logistics and supply chain management program.

Obaze believes the UE team’s success despite lack of experience in the field is a good indication that this new program will thrive.

UE’s Schroeder School of Business recognized nationally by U.S. News & World Report

The Schroeder School of Business at the University of Evansville has been ranked number 10 in the nation among small private universities by U.S. News & World Report.

“We are very pleased with the recognition from U.S. News & World Report,” said Schroeder Family Dean Greg Rawski. “Our talented faculty and experiential programs are transforming the lives of our students. The Schroeder School is a great home and is a smart investment.”

The Schroeder School of Business has achieved a 98 percent career placement rate – one of the best rates in the nation, and its graduates have an average starting salary of $48,000.

In 2015, the Schroeder School’s accounting and finance programs were ranked #1 in the nation among small universities by Masters of Finance Degrees. In February of this year, the Schroeder School’s accreditation was reaffirmed by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

#10 Best Undergraduate Business Program of 2017 infographic

UE Recognized a Best Regional University by U.S. News & World Report

The University of Evansville has again been named one of the Best Regional Universities: Midwest in the annual Best Colleges rankings by U.S. News & World Report. UE was eighth in this year’s ranking, which is based on measures of academic excellence such as student graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, and class sizes. The list includes approximately 200 schools, and rankings are designed to help prospective students and their families evaluate college choices.

UE was also named on the Best Value – Regional Universities (Midwest) list. This ranking is based on the school’s academic quality and the net cost of attendance for a student receiving the average need-based financial aid.

UE was listed in other Best Colleges U.S. News & World Report rankings as well, including: Best Colleges for Veterans, a top 10 Best Undergraduate Business Program among small private colleges, and a Best Undergraduate Engineering Program.

“We are pleased to again be recognized as a Best Value in the Midwest and as one of the Midwest’s top universities,” said UE president Thomas A. Kazee. “The recognitions in this report reflect our continued commitment to providing students with a high quality, affordable education.”

The Best Colleges rankings are available online at www.usnews.com/colleges and will be published in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2017 guidebook on newsstands later this month.

Infographic. Details appear in the news article.

Mindy Sagez featured in Evansville Business article

UE adjunct professor Mindy Sagez is featured in an article in the current Evansville Business magazine. To read the story, visit the EvansvilleLiving.com website.

Yazdanparast and Becker present at conference

Atefeh Yazdanparast, assistant professor of marketing, and Lora Becker, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience director, presented their global scholar study at the 2016 Global Marketing Conference at Hong Kong on July 21-24.

Their paper Emotions and cosmetic surgery motivations across cultures: A Neuromarketing investigation was presented in the Neuromarketing Science and Business Association/Global Research and Business Social Platform for Marketing and Management.

The conference boasted a representation of 51 countries. 

Yazdanparast and Becker present global scholar study

Atefeh Yazdanparast, assistant professor of marketing, and Lora Becker, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience director, presented their global scholar study at the 2016 Global Marketing Conference at Hong Kong on July 21-24.

Their paper Emotions and cosmetic surgery motivations across cultures: A Neuromarketing investigation was presented in the Neuromarketing Science and Business Association/Global Research and Business Social Platform for Marketing and Management.

The conference boasted a representation of 51 countries. 

Yazdanparast has paper accepted at the American Marketing Association

Atefeh Yazdanparast, assistant professor of marketing, has had a paper accepted for presentation and publication in the proceedings of the 2016 American Marketing Association conference. The research focuses on the role of providing congruent/in-congruent haptic referencing on increased processing ease while making online purchase decisions of products with salient material properties

UE School of Business Maintains Accreditation by AACSB International

The University of Evansville has been notified that the UE Schroeder School of Business has maintained its accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.

 

Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. The AACSB accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education. Less than five percent of the world's business programs have earned this distinction.

“It takes a great deal of commitment and determination to earn and maintain AACSB accreditation,” explained Robert D. Reid, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. “Business schools must not only meet specific standards of excellence, but their deans, faculty, and professional staff must make a commitment to ongoing continuous improvement to ensure that the institution will continue to deliver the highest quality of education to students.”

The AACSB peer review team concluded that Schroeder School of Business faculty members are highly engaged in the success of their students and are distinctive in their portfolio of experiential learning programs. The team also commended the Schroeder School of Business’s recent #1 national ranking for its accounting and finance programs among small universities by Master of Finance Degrees.

Dean of the Schroeder School of Business Greg Rawski said that it was “a great feeling to maintain our AACSB accreditation and continue the positive momentum in the Schroeder School of Business. We strive to not only provide students with an exceptional learning environment, but also to give them a customized career placement experience. We have achieved a 98 percent career placement rate for four consecutive years and have seen a 20 percent increase in the starting salaries of our graduates.”

 

United Methodist Exemplary Teacher Award Presented to UE Economics Professor

University of Evansville assistant professor of economics Omer Bayar received the 2015 United Methodist Exemplary Teacher Award during UE’s Winter Commencement exercise on December 16. The award is given annually by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church. It recognizes excellence in teaching at United Methodist Church-related institutions of higher education. 

During his time at UE, Bayar has served on many University and Schroeder Family School of Business Administration committees such as Admissions and Standards, Undergraduate Research, the Student Success Team, and Honors Program. Bayar is very student-centered. He is known as an outstanding professor, often teaching a diverse group of majors in his courses. In addition, in 2014 he led a Contemporary European Business Issues study abroad course to the University’s British campus, Harlaxton College, and his native homeland, Istanbul, Turkey.

Bayar earned his Ph.D. in economics with concentrations in monetary economics, international economics, and applied econometrics from the University of Tennessee where he received the J. Fred and Wilma A. Holly Fellowship. His research focuses on monetary policy adjustment, interaction of the housing market and the macro economy, and the effect of international sporting events on trade. His research has been published in five peer reviewed journal publications, three of which were accepted in top-tier journals.

UE Receives Ball Brothers Foundation Venture Fund Grant for New Neuromarketing Center

The University of Evansville has been awarded a Ball Brothers Foundation Venture Fund Grant of $22,000 for its newly instituted Neuromarketing Research Center. Through the Neuromarketing Research Center, interdisciplinary student teams serve clients by testing responses to various marketing elements and tactics using leading-edge neuroscience techniques.

“The Neuromarketing Research Center is a great example of the interdisciplinary training that occurs at the University of Evansville,” says UE associate professor of psychology Lora Becker.

UE assistant professor of marketing Atefeh Yazdanparast explains that neuromarketing is a relatively new research discipline that combines neuroscience with marketing.

“This emerging field goes beyond traditional tools of research and focuses on consumers’ reactions to marketing stimuli. We are proud to equip our students with neuromarketing research techniques, a valuable competitive edge in today’s dynamic and highly competitive market.”

The Neuromarketing Center is a part of the University’s successful GAP program.

“In this program,” explains Jill Griffin, executive director of the Institute for Global Enterprise, “undergraduates of all majors obtain real-world experience and build professional confidence while producing real results for actual companies.”

UE vice president of marketing Don Jones adds that “students and their business clients will both benefit from the unique insights delivered through this innovative approach. The Neuromarketing Research Center will facilitate the convergence of the latest ideas from neuroscience applied to the most challenging opportunities for business.”

The program will also offer opportunities for UE faculty and students to engage in neuromarketing research on a global level. Yazdanparast and Becker will kick off this global research with initial work in Australia and China this year.

The Ball Venture Fund was created in 1999 to enable the Ball Brothers Foundation to take an active role in encouraging and supporting creative efforts at Indiana’s independent colleges and universities. The program, administered by the Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), provides seed money for innovative start-up programs at ICI member institutions.

The GAP Program is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

 

Lora Becker advising student at a computer

UE Appoints Greg Rawski as Dean of UE Schroeder Family School of Business Administration

Greg Rawski has been appointed dean of the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration at the University of Evansville.  

“We’re very excited that Greg Rawski, who has served as interim dean this past year, has agreed to become the Dean of the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration,” says UE president Thomas A. Kazee.  “Greg brings a remarkable level of energy and vision to the position, and I’m confident that we’ll see great things happening in the Schroeder School in the years ahead.”

Rawski earned his Ph.D. and his M.B.A. in international business from the University of Toledo, and his B.A. in business administration from Bluffton University. He came to the University of Evansville in 2005 as an assistant professor of management, later taking on the position of associate dean in the Schroeder School of Business.

While at UE, Rawski has had a strong vision for a successful business program preparing students for their future in a global environment. Well-known for innovative and experiential learning in his classes, Rawski has connected students with regional companies including Toyota Motor Manufacturing and Koch Enterprises. His classes have performed community service projects benefiting 9-11 relief effort, tornado victims, the American Red Cross, and the YMCA. Rawski has been recognized as a Global Scholar, and has received the Exemplary Teacher of the Year award, the Berger Award for scholarship, and the Dean's teaching and research awards.

“It is an honor to serve as the Schroeder Family Dean and continue our momentum,” says Rawski. Recently the Schroeder School’s accounting and finance programs were ranked number 1 in the nation among 500 small universities by Master of Finance Degrees. Our Schroeder school faculty are excellent teachers and our job placement rate is one of the best in the Midwest at 98 percent. Several of our students are starting careers with salaries over $50,000 in the market.”

To learn more about Greg Rawski and the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration at UE, visit www.evansville.edu/majors/business

Greg Rawski in front of the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration building

Junior Achievement and University of Evansville Partnership Bringing Celebrity Entrepreneur Daymond John to Speak at Free Evansville Event October 20

Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana and the University of Evansville have partnered to bring celebrity entrepreneur, Daymond John, to Evansville this fall. The free public event will be held at 7:00 p.m. on October 20, 2015, at the Victory Theatre in downtown Evansville. 

“Collaborating with Junior Achievement was a natural fit,” says UE president Tom Kazee. “Both JA and UE support the education of all students at all levels. We empower future generations to make a difference in the world by providing them with a rich educational foundation.”

The event, An Evening with Daymond John, will serve as both the culmination of JA’s 50th anniversary celebrations as well as this year’s special event for UE’s annual Patricia H. Snyder Concert and Lecture Series, which brings renowned speakers to Evansville at no cost to the public.

“This wonderful collaboration with UE comes at a perfect time for our organization as we celebrate 50 years of educating students in financial literacy, work readiness and especially entrepreneurship,” says Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana president Theo Boots. “Even if someone never owns a business, entrepreneurial skills can be applied to any career to enhance performance and quality of life. We are excited for Daymond to share his wisdom and life experiences with the people of our communities.”

Over the last 20 years, John has evolved from one of the most successful fashion icons of his generation to a highly sought after branding expert, author, consultant, and speaker. John’s creative vision and strong knowledge of the marketplace created FUBU (For Us By Us), one of the most iconic fashion icons in recent years.

In 2009, John joined the cast of the ABC entrepreneurial business show, Shark Tank, and has since become a household name.  On the show, John and four other prominent executives listen to business pitches from everyday people hoping to launch their company or product to new heights.

“John’s entrepreneurial success aligns well with the ‘anything is possible’ message we send to our students at both UE and JA,” says Kazee. “His expertise will provide students with sound advice for pursuing their dreams and goals in the future.”

For more information about the partnership and the event, visit www.evansville.edu/jaswin/daymond or call University Relations at 812-488-2241 or Junior Achievement at 812-425-8152. 

Daymond John headshot

Junior Achievement and University of Evansville to Announce Details of Partnership at Press Conference May 20

Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana and the University of Evansville will hold a joint press conference on Wednesday, May 20 at 10:00 a.m. to announce the details of an upcoming partnership. The press conference will be held in the atrium of the school of business on UE’s campus.

Theo Boots, president of JA of Southwestern Indiana, and UE president Tom Kazee will both speak at the press conference. Among other things, this partnership will include a free public event featuring a major celebrity in the fall.

The press conference will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. and both Boots and Kazee will be available for media interviews immediately following.

The atrium is located just inside the southern-most doors on the east side of the school of business building at the University of Evansville. Visitors may park on the oval drive just off Lincoln Avenue, and parking passes are available upon request. You can view our campus map or call 812-488-2241 for more information.

For more information about the press conference, contact University Relations at 812-488-2241 or JA at 812-425-8152. 

University of Evansville Announces Outstanding Senior Awards at 157th Commencement Ceremony

Hlawn K. Zathang, an accounting major from Indianapolis, Indiana, and Nathan Graves, an education major from Renssalaer, Indiana, were named the University of Evansville’s Outstanding Seniors during today’s Commencement Ceremony at the Ford Center. 

The Mabel Dillingham Nenneker and Guthrie May Outstanding Senior Service Awards are the highest honors the University presents to one female and one male senior. They are named for two of the University’s most respected alumni, Mabel Dillingham Nenneker and Guthrie May.

Zathang was the recipient of the Mabel Dillingham Nenneker Outstanding Senior Service Award. She graduated with an accounting degree and has earned sufficient credit hours to sit for the Certified Public Accountant exam following graduation.

In 2008, Zathang moved with her family to America from Burma (now Myanmar). Nobody in her family spoke English, so she committed to learn English fast in order to assist her family with the transition. Zathang has also volunteered to assist other refugee families relocate to America. She is one of approximately 10,000 Burmese people now living in south Indianapolis. Through these experiences, Zathang became inspired to give back by helping others.  Since her arrival in Evansville, she has volunteered at the Evansville ARC Industries, Little Sisters of the Poor, and Pine Haven Nursing Home. 

Zathang is involved with the Burmese American Institute, a not-for-profit organization that helps students and people in the community focusing on college research, tutoring, and childcare development. Zathang helps students with research, tracks cash flow for the Institute’s program, calculates staff payroll, organizes participant, staff, and organization partner files, and assists with fiscal reporting.

Overall, Zathang says, “It is obvious that through my four years at the University of Evansville, I have not only grown in an education aspect, but I also discovered what it means to be a good citizen. I also realize the size of my responsibility starting with my family, to the community, and to the world.”

The Guthrie May Award was presented to Graves, who was also the ceremony’s senior keynote speaker. He graduated with a bachelor of science in special education and elementary education, and will attend Vanderbilt University in the fall to pursue a master’s degree for a future in higher education.

Graves helped incoming and potential students as an admission ambassador and orientation leader, and was involved with local schools through practicums and internships. He served as event coordinator for an after school program that finds homes for those whose situations leave them without a place to live.

Graves was inspired to enroll in a social responsibility class to become more culturally competent, and participated in training provided by the Anti-Defamation League. He went on to lead small group discussions on campus in an effort to educate others in diversity and acceptance.

His list of involvements is long, but he says it’s not titles, the clubs, or the committees that matter - his participation was always with the goal to understand people better and to help in situations where there was opportunity to make a positive impact on others and help people.

“As I look forward to a career in higher education,” Graves says, “I know that each day will provide me with an opportunity to do something meaningful for the rest of my life. It will not be easy, and I may not get a lot of rest at night, but I can be a part - even if it is a small part - of a crucial time in a person’s life that can transform the way they choose to see and engage in the world.”

Lima Stock Exchange Officer Spoke with UE Students

Mr. Miguel A. Zapatero, Chief Business Development Officer at the Lima Stock Exchange, spoke to UE students via phone (from his office in Lima, Peru) in Smythe Hall (Room 170), Schroeder School of Business Building, on April 14. The title of his presentation was “Building Capital Markets in the Emerging World: the case of Peru.” There were nearly 50 students present.   

During his presentation he highlighted the country’s recent performance including 6% growth rate, 2.9 % inflation, low deficit, declining public debt, improved credit rating and emerging middle class. He also stated that Peru is the leading producer of silver, gold, zinc, tin, lead and copper in Latin America and ranks among the top five in the world.

He presented statistics showing that the Peruvian index outperformed composite emerging market index in recent years. He also stated the exchange has developed a shared electronic trading platform for trading of 4 emerging markets securities – Mexico, Peru, Chile and Columbia. The four economies together produce 2 trillion dollars of GDP.

Lastly he pointed out that as per Doing Business Index, 2014, the World Bank, Peru is ranked as number 2 in Latin America and 42nd in the world. 

Mr. Miguel A. Zapatero giving lecture to room at UE

UE Appears on Buzzfeed’s List of the 27 Most Underrated Colleges in America

The popular social website, Buzzfeed, has listed the University of Evansville as one of the 27 Most Underrated Colleges in America. 

The suggestion came from Ashton Thompson, who says, “they have the No. 1 study abroad program in the nation. You get to spend a semester at the Harlaxton Manor in England. Basically you get to live and study in a castle!!! How does it get any cooler than that?”

View the full list of colleges and visit our Facebook page to join the conversation about underrated aspects of UE. 

Dr. Greg Rawski talks #1 Accounting & Finance Program with Eyewitness News

Dr. Greg Rawski, dean of the Schroeder School of Business, joined Kayla Moody on Eyewitness News to discuss the recent ranking which named UE’s accounting and finance program as the number one degree program in the nation among small colleges.

 

UE’s Accounting and Finance Programs Named #1 in the Nation Among Small Colleges

The University of Evansville’s program for accounting and finance has been named the number one degree program in the nation on the 30 Great Small Colleges for an Accounting and Finance Degree list by Master of Finance Degrees

“The University of Evansville may be small, but they take care of the students,” notes the Master of Finance Degrees website in its description of the university.  “Accounting program graduates have a job placement rate of 100% and are often hired by major national and regional firms. Students electing to pursue a graduate degree are regularly placed at the top accounting schools in the country including the top two for graduate accounting programs: the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.”

Dr. Greg Rawski, dean of the Schroeder School of Business at UE, is thrilled to receive the national recognition. “Our faculty and staff work hard to ensure the success of our students, seeing to it that they receive an exceptional education and achieve strong career placement – both indicators of a smart collegiate investment,” he says.

Rawski also notes that graduates are regularly placed in the “big four” accounting firms, which include Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young, and KPMG.

Dr. Tom Kazee, president of the University of Evansville, credits graduate success to the hard work of UE faculty members, which includes a well-rounded educational experience.

“Our students leave with a strong liberal arts foundation that makes them desirable to employers around the world,” he says. “Accounting and finance majors have the opportunity to collaborate on a number of highly experiential programs throughout their time as UE students. They enter the job market with a level of experience highly unusual for undergraduate business majors.”

One such example is the University’s Institute for Banking and Finance that offers abundant hands-on learning opportunities to accounting and finance students. The IBF has five experiential programs where UE students interface directly with clients on projects such as microloans for new minority and women owned business, financial literacy education for new parents, a farm lending fellowship program, investments, financial research, and risk management.

The Schroeder School of business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). UE accounting students scored in the 99th percentile on the accounting portion of the 2014 major field test and Schroeder School of Business students are at the 96th percentile for the exam overall. Additionally, 98 percent of Schroeder School of Business graduates from May 2014, and 100 percent of the accounting graduates, were employed in their chosen profession within six months of graduation.

Master of Finance Degrees used criteria including accreditation, national ranking, and unique program features to assemble its list of 30 Great Small Colleges for an Accounting and Finance Degree. All data used in the analysis of UE’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration’s major in finance came from College Navigator, a tool from the National Center for Education Statistics.

For more information on the Schroeder School of Business, please contact University Relations at uerelations@evansville.edu or by phone at 812-488-2236.

UE’s Delta Sigma Pi Presents Business Leadership Awards

The University of Evansville’s chapter of Delta Sigma Pi bestowed its annual business awards on Thursday, February 12 in a ceremony on UE’s campus.

Pat Wempe, co-owner of ProRehab, PC, was given the Business Leader of the Year award. Chris Traylor, co-president of Traylor Brothers, Inc., received the Business of the Year award on behalf of the company. Alissa Fricke was presented the Young Business Leader of the Year award.

Wempe earned his bachelor of science in physical therapy degree from UE, and completed certification as developed by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists. He is a board certified clinical specialist in sports physical therapy and a NSCA certified strength and conditioning specialist.

ProRehab, founded in 1999, has corporate headquarters and locations in Evansville, Indiana, along with sites in Newburgh, Haubstadt, Vincennes and Rockport, Indiana, and Henderson, Madisonville and Bowling Green, Kentucky. It sends volunteer therapists to a clinic in Haiti, and is a clinical education site for university professional programs.

Traylor Brothers, Inc., was founded in 1946 by William F. Traylor. The company was later led by his son Thomas W. Traylor, and is now under the guidance of the third generation: co-presidents Christopher and Michael Traylor. One of the nation’s leading heavy civil contractors, the company handles bridge, underground, and marine projects.

The firm’s home office is in Evansville, Indiana. The company also has offices in Alexandria, Virginia, and Long Beach, California.

Fricke graduated from UE with a degree in communication. At UE she received the Mabel Dillingham Nenneker Outstanding Senior Service Award for most outstanding senior woman and was the student elected member of the Board of Trustees and Alumni Association Board of Directors. Fricke serves as mentor to UE students and in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. She is president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association. In June 2014, she started Thrive Marketing Strategies.

Delta Sigma Pi is a professional fraternity organized to foster the study of business in universities; to encourage scholarship, social activity, and the association of students for their mutual advancement by research and practice; to promote a closer affiliation between the commercial world and students of commerce; and to further a higher standard of commercial ethics and culture and the civic and commercial welfare of the community.

UE Schroeder School of Business Students Participate in Career Events

University of Evansville Schroeder School of Business students recently participated in two career and networking activities in Indianapolis, Indiana. A fall career fair, sponsored by UE and its consortium, was held Tuesday, October 28, in the Indiana Convention Center 500 Ballroom. Eighty-eight employers were in attendance and interviewed the students. Also on that day, the students attended an alumni luncheon networking event. Guest speaker at this event was UE alumna Starla West, a nationally recognized image coach.

The Schroeder School of Business has a 98 percent placement rate and continues to make strong connections with employers for its students.

Students

World Bank Economist Speaks with UE Students

Farrukh Iqbal, Country Director in the Middle East for the World Bank in Washington, D.C., recently spoke with students in the Schroeder School of Business via video conference. His topic was "Global Economy:  Have We Turned the Corner Yet?" Iqbal, who obtained his PhD from Yale in 1981, spoke at the behest of UE Professor of Finance Walayet Khan, research director for the Institute for Global Enterprise.

The event was open to the public.

 Students in attendance benefitted greatly from the conference. Their comments included:

"The well-rounded global education received at this school will no doubt open doors for my future." - Jana Mikuscova

"It is amazing to have one of the economists at the World Bank dedicate his precious time to sharing information with us about the global economy." - Jason Rizk

"Being able to have a professional talk to us makes college seem more realistic and relevant." - Belen Robles

Attracting global business leaders to share information with students and local businesses is part of the mission of the Institute for Global Enterprise, which is funded through support by the Lilly Endowment.

UE to Host Global Business Event

The Tri-State World Trade Network, the University of Evansville, and the University of Southern Indiana are teaming up with area businesses and industries to host an event designed to help college students learn about the skills necessary to work with global companies. The event, A World of Opportunity, will take place from 6- 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 8 in Eykamp Hall at the University of Evansville.

The guest speaker will be Randy Alsman, former president of Mead Johnson Nutritionals, who will discuss attributes executives from international companies in southern Indiana look for when hiring. After hearing Alsman’s address, students will rotate through breakout sessions where they will hear from 10 companies about qualities needed to work globally, career paths, and entry-level opportunities. A networking event after the breakout sessions will give students opportunities for one-on-one discussions with these industry officials.

The Tri-State World Trade Network, supported by The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana, promotes exporting and international trade in the Tri-State by sponsoring educational activities, programs, and events designed to increase knowledge, promote understanding, and encourage participation in international trade.

Event registration for college students begins at 5:30 p.m.

Accuride Experts Helping College Kids Design a Better Wheel

The Henderson Gleaner
Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Personnel from Accuride Corp's Henderson-based engineering department are challenging University of Evansville students this week to design a better wheel as part of the school's ongoing Innovation week.

Cross-disciplinary student teams of three to six students are competing in the Innovation Week Design Challenge. Teams are tasked with developing a conceptual design according to a challenge from the corporate sponsor, Evansville-based Accuride: to develop a lightweight aluminum wheel for the commercial vehicle industry that meets numerous technical requirements.

Throughout this week, students are working closely with UE faculty advisers, learning to use a 3-D printer, hearing from guest speakers, gaining insight from a midweek feedback session with Accuride and building a proof-of-concept model.

On Friday, student teams will give brief presentations and submit their proof-of-concept models to a panel of judges consisting of Accuride personnel and UE faculty and staff. The winning team will receive a $1,000 cash prize provided and presented by Accuride during a reception that evening.

“Accuride welcomed the opportunity to support the university’s Innovation Week Design Challenge for its ability to spark the imagination and team-based collaboration of the next generation of college students,” Craig Kessler, Accuride’s vice president of engineering, said in a statement. “The scholarship we will provide the winning team is another demonstration of the commitment Accuride has to the Evansville community and its respect for the quality of students attending the University of Evansville.”

The Innovation Week Design Challenge is supported by the Institute for Global Enterprise and the Kern Entrepreneurship Education Network. The Institute for Global Enterprise is funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc.

“Given today’s intense interconnectedness, rapid pace of change, and growing complexity of global challenges, innovation is essential for progress and success for our future graduates and our civic, public, and private sectors,” according to Katie Ciccarelli, executive director of the Institute for Global Enterprise. “We hope that Innovation Week inspires our students and community members to make an impact by developing global and entrepreneurial mindsets.”

Accuride is a leading North American producer of wheel-end components for the global commercial trucks and trailers. Its Henderson plant produces steel rims and wheels for the industry.

Institute for Global Enterprise Presents First-Ever Innovation Week; Accuride Sponsors Student Design Challenge

A keynote address from innovation strategist John Kao, a student design competition, and a $1,000 prize are just a few highlights of the first Innovation Week, September 16-20, presented by the University of Evansville’s Institute for Global Enterprise.

“Given today’s intense interconnectedness, rapid pace of change, and growing complexity of global challenges, innovation is essential for progress and success for our future graduates and our civic, public, and private sectors,” said Katie Ciccarelli, executive director of the Institute for Global Enterprise. “We hope that Innovation Week inspires our students and community members to make an impact by developing global and entrepreneurial mindsets.”

Innovation Week features two free, public lectures:

• Institute Speaker Series presents John Kao, 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 17 at the Victory Theatre in downtown Evansville. Dubbed “Mr. Creativity” by The Economist, Kao is an innovation strategist and the author of Jamming: The Art and Discipline of Business Creativity and Innovation Nation: How America is Losing Its Innovation Edge, Why It Matters, and What We Can Do to Get It Back.

• Social innovator Tyler White, noon Friday, September 20 in Eykamp Hall (Room 251), Ridgway University Center. White, a UE senior, will discuss how he became a social innovator at age 19. White is the founder of Fields of Dreams Uganda, an organization that provides hope for the orphaned and vulnerable children of Uganda through soccer and education.

In addition, cross-disciplinary student teams of three to six students will compete in the Innovation Week Design Challenge. Teams are tasked with developing a conceptual design according to a challenge from the corporate sponsor, Evansville-based Accuride Corporation: to develop a lightweight aluminum wheel for the commercial vehicle industry that meets numerous technical requirements. 

Throughout the week, students will work closely with UE faculty advisors, learn to use a 3-D printer, hear from guest speakers, gain insight from a midweek feedback session with Accuride, and build a proof-of-concept model.

On Friday, September 20, student teams will give brief presentations and submit their proof-of-concept models to a panel of judges consisting of Accuride personnel and UE faculty and staff. The winning team will receive a $1,000 cash prize provided and presented by Accuride during a reception that evening.

“Accuride welcomed the opportunity to support the University’s Innovation Week Design Challenge for its ability to spark the imagination and team-based collaboration of the next generation of college students,” said Craig Kessler, Vice President of Engineering. “The scholarship we will provide the winning team is another demonstration of the commitment Accuride has to the Evansville community and its respect for the quality of students attending the University of Evansville.” 

The Innovation Week Design Challenge is supported by the Institute for Global Enterprise and the Kern Entrepreneurship Education Network. The Institute for Global Enterprise is funded by a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Members of the media are welcome to cover all Innovation Week events. For a full schedule, please visit the Institute for Global Enterprise website.

$1,000 PRIZE - Innovation Week Design Challenge

Info Session Friday, Sept. 13 at 4pm in SB 162

Students are invited to participate in the Innovation Week Design Challenge to compete for a $1,000 team prize, which will be awarded by Accuride, the Design Challenge corporate sponsor. Join us for an informal info session and to form a team this Friday, September 13th at 4pm in SB 162.

Cross-disciplinary student teams of 3 to 6 members will spend a fun-filled week competing to develop a conceptual design that provides an innovative solution to Accuride’s challenge.  Students will have access to advisors from the faculty, be instructed in the use of 3-D printing as an innovation tool, be called to action by a special guest speaker, nationally-known innovation strategist John Kao, gain insight during a mid-week informal feedback session with Accuride, and build a proof-of-concept model.  Most important, the competition will enable the teams to increase their appreciation of cross-disciplinary innovative problem-solving techniques.  All Design Challenge conceptual designs will be evaluated on Friday, September 20, 2013 during a 10-minute student presentation and submittal of a proof-of-concept model to a panel of judges consisting of Accuride personal and UE faculty/staff.  The winning team of the Design Challenge will receive a $1,000 cash prize provided and presented by Accuride during a special reception that evening.

Part of Innovation Week, the Design Challenge is supported by the Institute for Global Enterprise and the Kern Entrepreneurship Education Network.

Full Calendar of Design Challenge Events:

Monday, Sept. 16
4-5:30pm

Innovation Week Design Challenge Kickoff with Accuride
Smythe Lecture Hall
SB170

Tuesday, Sept. 17
3-3:30pm

3-D Printing, Manufacturing and Innovation
Dr. John Layer
KC100

3:45-4:45pm
?Electronic files needed for 3-D Printing
Dr. John Layer instruction for student teams participating in the Innovation Week Design Challenge

Wednesday, Sept. 18
4-6pm

Accuride Mid-week Informal Feedback Session for Student Teams
SB 273 (By appointment only)

Thursday, Sept. 19
4pm

Deadline for Design Challenge Student Teams to Submit 3-D Printing Requests
(Submit electronically to Dr. Layer)

Friday, Sept. 20
4-6pm

Design Challenge Pitches and Judging
Smythe Lecture Hall / SB 170

6-7pm
Design Challenge Award Presentation and Reception
Dunigan Lounge / SB 160

Fields of Dreams' Co-Founder Tyler White, Social Innovator and UE Senior to Tell His Story on Friday, Sept. 20 at a Free Luncheon

The campus community is invited to enjoy a free luncheon and presentation by UE senior, Tyler White.  To attend this event, please RSVP to ck116 by Sept. 17.

Tyler White co-founded Fields of Dreams Uganda at the age of 19. Tyler will share his story of how he became a social innovator in creating a new organization and model that addresses social needs and is strengthening the civil society of Uganda. Fields of Dreams provides hope for the orphaned and vulnerable children of Uganda through the vehicles of soccer and education.

This is a SSB Passport approved event sponsored by the Institute for Global Enterprise and is part of Innovation Week.

September 16 - 20 Innovation Week at UE

The Institute for Global Enterprise presents Innovation Week at the University of Evansville, taking place from Sept. 16-20.

Given today’s intense interconnectedness, rapid pace of change and growing complexity of global challenges, innovation is essential for progress and success for our future graduates and our civic, public and private sectors. You are invited to participate in the Innovation Week events, which include the Institute for Global Enterprise Speaker Series event featuring John Kao, the weeklong Design Challenge, a presentation on 3-D Printing and Innovation, and a presentation by Social Innovator Tyler White on his organization, Fields of Dreams Uganda.

At UE and USI Business Schools, It's all About Developing Entrepreneurial Skills Early

Mary Biever, special to EBJ

Monday, August 5, 2013

As colleges strive to provide opportunities for students to develop the skills they need to become entrepreneurs and to successfully launch businesses, the lessons no longer start and end in the classroom.

Locally, the schools of business at the University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana have embraced programming to nurture the entrepreneurial skills of their students.

UE requires all of its business students to participate on an entrepreneurial team that develops a small business. Approximately 80 to 90 students enroll each year in the two-semester sequence, most often as sophomores.

“During the first semester, teams develop business proposals that are reviewed by a panel for their profit potential and also their risks,” said Peter Sherman, associate professor of management in UE’s Schroeder School of Business. “The panels determine an interest rate for a startup loan so the students can begin and develop their business during the second semester. Part of the students’ grade for the semester is based upon the performance of their business.

“Students who overcome barriers while developing a business and create their own balance sheets learn from those experiences and then learn more in their upper-level finance courses.”

Businesses UE students have developed through the program include an academic-styled Facebook, a tanning salon and a business that featured custom-tailored business suits. One team hosted a writing competition, selected the winning book, published the book and then developed a marketing plan for book sales.

Students who have graduated from UE have taken what they learned to develop their own businesses. Jenna Stratman has successfully built the online magazine RegaleMag.com since her graduation.

Sherman appreciates the support of the local business community.

“There’s a strong level of energy in this community to encourage an entrepreneurial spirit,” he said.

The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana, the Southwest Indiana Small Business Development Center and Evansville SCORE all work with students to share an outside-the-classroom, real-world perspective.

USI has developed an entrepreneurship minor that is open to all undergraduates.

“The entrepreneurship minor was launched in 2010 to give students a full-immersion learning experience,” said Bryan Bourdeau, an instructor with USI’s Romain College of Business. “Our three-management-course sequence moves students out of their comfort zone by pushing them to higher accountability and standards. The real-life scenarios we use add a sense of urgency to our projects. Students prefer it.”

The students learn to develop businesses using a Business Model Canvas, a new approach used to supplement or replace traditional business plans. The Business Model Canvas offers a “lean” approach to business planning, providing quick opportunities to respond to changes.

“Students learn that it’s OK to fail with a business idea. They learn to fail fast and move on,” Bourdeau explained.

“Our teams have transparent accountability,” Bourdeau said. “If a team member is not meeting standards or completing tasks on schedule, the other team members have the option to ‘fire’ or ‘vote’ that member off the team.

The team member who is voted out then has the option to withdraw from the course or complete all future assignments and the final presentation individually. We’ve only had one member voted off a team, but he learned from the experience and completed the course, doing all work and completing the final presentation by himself.”

About 20 students are enrolled in USI’s entrepreneurship minor. They are a mix of majors, with some students studying in the school of business and others studying in fields including education.

“We work to develop an entrepreneurial mindset,” Bourdeau said. “Our program changes how students in many different fields look at things.”

USI’s Technology Commercialization Academy, which has trained students the past two summers, brings together business and engineering majors. This summer, four teams with a total of 16 students analyzed patents developed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division. They explored commercial uses for patents for radio intelligence, intuitive interfaces and fire control lasers and developed nonmilitary, commercial uses for the patents.

The final products created included a wristband to use in amusement parks that tracks children, ride wait times, cash and ticket information; an inventory tracker for warehouses and retail stores; a device to track customers in a store; and a device for large institutions to track people and quickly identify emergency/disaster situations.

Students in the academy worked full-time for five weeks, developing their products and business proposals that they presented at Crane as well as at USI.

“Through the academy, I’ve learned how to plan a business and run it,” said Pedro Alfaro, a USI junior mechanical engineering major. “I have also learned what is needed to obtain financing to start a business. I have applied some of what I’ve learned by sharing it with my dad, who is a business owner who runs a car lot.”

Michelle Muse is a USI junior who is majoring in marketing and business administration, with a minor in entrepreneurship. She worked with three engineers on her team and said, “I helped them with a business model. I like taking something and developing it into a marketable product.”

Muse added that her experiences with Startup Weekend Evansville the past two years helped prepare her for the academy. Startup Weekend Evansville has hosted team members from the area business community, as well as students from USI and UE. Participants work on teams for 54 hours in a weekend to develop a product, a marketing strategy and a presentation for angel investors.

High schools are also beginning to offer entrepreneurial tracks. The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp.’s New Tech Institute started an Entrepreneurial Academy in 2012, which had 25 high school juniors enrolled. Those students spent last year studying finance, accounting, and networking and will augment their studies during their senior year with internships.

“I want to help our students learn as much as possible,” said Barbara Nichols, business educator and facilitator at New Tech’s Entrepreneurial Academy. “Some students think they would one day like to have their own business. By experiencing this early, when they go to college, they will have more insight into business.”

New Tech Institute’s Entrepreneurial Academy participants partnered last year with Aurora, a local nonprofit that works to alleviate area homelessness. Five teams of academy students developed potential business plans for Aurora’s clients. The teams presented their proposed business plans to Aurora’s board of directors, which then selected one of the plans, a commercial cleaning business, as something their clients could develop and launch.

Students at UE, USI and New Tech Institute all plan to participate in the 2014 Startup Weekend Evansville. The 2013 weekend had a 20 percent increase in attendance from the first one in 2012, and two of the ideas that were presented have now been launched. Andrew Moad, a USI-Crane partnership manager, has launched Fence Chips. Neil Kassinger, a USI student in the entrepreneurship program, filed a patent for his product and has launched his company, Strap Holster.

Bourdeau said local entrepreneurial programs, the Technology Commercialization Academy, and Startup Weekend work together.

“They strengthen our local entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Bourdeau said. “We need a collaborative culture. We bring together like-minded individuals and give people an outlet to develop new ideas. We help people move from ideas to action, to take those great ideas to the next level.”

  © 2013 Scripps Newspaper Group — Online

Innovation Strategist John Kao to Speak in Indianapolis, Evansville September 17

The Institute for Global Enterprise, part of the Schroeder School of Business at the University of Evansville, will host innovation strategist John Kao in Indianapolis and Evansville on Tuesday, September 17. As part of the Institute Speaker Series, Kao will discuss global competitive innovation for organizations, nations, and individuals.

Kao’s appearance in Indianapolis is presented in partnership with the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. local time, and Kao will speak at noon at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, 650 N. Meridian St. Each ticket costs $20 and includes lunch. Guests may purchase a maximum of four tickets through the University of Evansville website or calling 812-488-2706, or through the Rotary Club of Indianapolis at www.indyrotary.org or 317-631-3733.

Kao will speak that evening in Evansville at 7:00 p.m. local time at the Victory Theatre, 600 Main St. This event is free and open to the public, with no tickets required. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and seating is first come, first served; however, guests planning to attend the complimentary event in Evansville may pre-register online to receive preferred seating. A confirmation email will be sent the week of the event with instructions for seating. For more information, please contact the Institute for Global Enterprise at 812-488-2455 or globalindiana@evansville.edu.

Kao – dubbed “Mr. Creativity” and “a serial innovator” by The Economist – is a leading authority on innovation, organizational transformation, and emerging technologies. Over the past two decades, he has been a trusted advisor to senior leaders of both public and private sector organizations in the development of innovation strategies and capabilities. He has advised the governments of Finland and Singapore on their innovation strategies, as well as leading firms such as Nike, Intel, and BASF. Kao also chairs the World Economic Forum’s Global Advisory Council on Innovation and the Institute for Large Scale Innovation.

Kao is the author of Jamming: The Art and Discipline of Business Creativity and Innovation Nation: How America is Losing Its Innovation Edge, Why It Matters, and What We Can Do to Get It Back. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MD from Yale School of Medicine. Kao is also a Tony-nominated producer of film and stage, and spent a summer playing keyboards for Frank Zappa.

The Institute for Global Enterprise wishes to thank Old National Bank for their generous support of this Institute Speaker Series event.

The Institute for Global Enterprise is funded by a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc.

UE Students to Help Nonprofit Organization Launch Medical Facility in Dominican Republic

As part of an intensive summer course in applied process development – and an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a developing country – 15 University of Evansville students will spend the next two weeks in the Dominican Republic.

From July 23-August 6, UE business, communication, engineering, and nursing students will work with the nonprofit organization G.O. Ministries to develop plans for the organization’s new medical facility, currently under construction in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

UE’s interdisciplinary, faculty-led team is tasked with creating process developments (such as determining efficient patient flow, how to secure medications and archive patient medical records, and more), business plans, and equipment and supply recommendations consistent with accepted United States practices.

The two-week course, for which students will receive three hours of academic credit, includes a classroom portion taught by UE professors, as well as fieldwork and observation at the existing G.O. Ministries medical clinic and other relevant sites in the Dominican Republic. The students will receive instruction in health administration, process development, and business plan development.

At the conclusion of the course, students will present their findings to G.O. Ministries for implementation in the new medical facility, scheduled for completion in Summer 2014.

“I think I’ll grow as a result of this opportunity through the application of what I’ve learned in class, but I’ll also have my eyes opened to another culture,” said Jacquelyn Ballard, a business administration and international studies student from St. Louis, Missouri, United States. “I hope that this changes my perspective in how I view the world and my own values. On a professional level, I believe this will expose me to many different aspects of business in a very hands-on way, helping me understand exactly where I would like to focus or specialize.”

“Working with a multidisciplinary team provides me with new thought processes and chances to see the world through the eyes of other people,” said Brenna Siscoe, a nursing student from Dugger, Indiana, United States. “With new ways to view the world and all we have, I am able to be a more well-rounded worker and human being.”

"I decided to take part in this opportunity because I felt that I had a lot to offer this organization and that it would be a life-changing experience for me personally," said Vaughn Ahlf, a mechanical engineering major from Evansville. "Through the University, I participated on a team that took first place at the Lawerence Tech Innovation Encounter competition, where I learned problem-solving techniques and gained experience working with a multidisciplinary team. I also feel that my experience working as a mechanical engineering intern at the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center would help me with the medical aspect of this project."

UE faculty members accompanying the group are Amy Hall, White Family Endowed Professor and chair of the Dunigan Family Department of Nursing and Health Sciences; Richard Deer, director of UE’s Center for Intensive Experiential Education; and Jill Griffin, director of the Global Assistance Program in UE’s Institute for Global Enterprise. John Layer, associate professor of mechanical engineering, will deliver online course components.

Layer facilitated the relationship between UE and G.O. Ministries after he traveled to Haiti and the Dominican Republic with the organization. He saw opportunities for UE students to be involved in the design and planning phase of the organization’s projects.

Since then, University of Evansville students have assisted G.O. Ministries on projects in the Dominican Republic (assessing a 40-acre potential building site and designing a three-story building in 2008 and developing a solar water heater in 2010) and Mongolia (designing two new buildings and creating business plans for craft businesses in 2012).

“Over the last five years, the relationship with G.O. Ministries has led to transformational experiences for many of our students,” said Layer. “When students travel to developing countries, they often return home with a new sense of purpose and desire to make an impact. In addition, they benefit from working with an interdisciplinary team to address real-world problems and create solutions.” 

UE students traveling to the Dominican Republic are Vaughn Ahlf, Jacquelyn Ballard, Ryan Bassemier, Laura Best, Brandi Blosl, Abby Browder, Mathew Brown, Heather Browning, Renee Croce, Gaby Fifer, Rachel Mendoza-Santiago, Shannon Osiecki, Breianna Simpson, Brenna Siscoe, and Brynne Thompson.

The University of Evansville wishes to thank the Institute for Global Enterprise, the Center for Intensive Experiential Education, and the Lilly Endowment for their generous support of this educational experience.

Ciccarelli to Lead Institute for Global Enterprise

The University of Evansville and the Schroeder School of Business are pleased to announce that Katie Ciccarelli will become the executive director of the Institute for Global Enterprise, effective August 1.

Ciccarelli replaces Dan Miller, the Institute’s retiring executive director.

The Institute for Global Enterprise, a part of the Schroeder School of Business, exists to create opportunities and challenges that prepare students to contribute and succeed in a global economy. Additionally, IGE serves as a partner to regional business by providing ongoing education and external resources that enhance a company’s ability to grow, expand, and successfully compete in a worldwide marketplace and environment.

“I have immense enthusiasm for the future of the Institute for Global Enterprise under the leadership of Katie Ciccarelli,” said Steven Standifird, PhD, dean of the Schroeder School of Business. “Her background, experience, and perspectives make her uniquely qualified to guide this initiative into the future. Katie will build on the foundation laid by Dan Miller, and will expand the Institute’s mission of creating valuable global opportunities for both students and regional businesses."

For the past year, Ciccarelli has served as the director of program development for the Institute at UE. Her role has included developing executive education programs, leading study abroad opportunities, and participating in shaping the vision for the future of the Institute. Prior to relocating to Evansville, Ciccarelli was associate director of the Ahlers Center for International Business at the University of San Diego, where she was also an adjunct professor of international business. She has worked, taught, and studied in Italy, Thailand, France, Portugal, and Brazil. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of California at Davis, and she earned an International MBA from the University of San Diego.

Dan Miller has led the Institute for the past two years. Prior to joining UE, Miller served as president of the Office Furniture Division of Kimball International. Before that, he led Whirlpool’s efforts in Latin America. Miller, a 1970 UE graduate, will continue to be involved in the Institute as its first-ever global executive in residence, a role that will allow him to contribute to the Institute’s mission on an ongoing basis.

The Institute for Global Enterprise at UE is funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment.

Katie Ciccarelli headshot

Students Explore European Business Issues in United Kingdom and Turkey

Seven University of Evansville students started the summer with a unique study-abroad opportunity: a two-week Contemporary European Business Issues course in the United Kingdom and Turkey.

Led by Omer Bayar, UE assistant professor of economics, the course ran from May 2-17 and allowed students to experience and examine cultural differences and their impact on business practices in Europe.

The course included on-site corporate visits, guest speakers, and cultural visits. In the United Kingdom, students visited sites including Buckingham Palace, Parliament/House of Commons, the British Museum, Harlaxton Manor (home to UE’s British campus, Harlaxton College), the Bank of England Museum, the European Commission, SS&C Technologies, and Land Rover. In Turkey, site visits included the Hagia Sofia, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, Dolmabahce Palace, Karadeniz Holding, and Eczacibasi Vitra.

The course focused on the current state of the European Union and economic conditions, as well as the factors that affect the business climate in these countries and their interconnections with the rest of the world. Students heard firsthand from executives who are navigating today’s challenging global business environment, and learned about specific strategies firms are taking in order to retain and increase their global competitiveness.

"This course was intellectually stimulating and eye-opening. It brings real-world experiences into perspective far more than a typical course," said Dustin Dubay, a student at Maine's Husson University who participated in the program. "Through the company visits, tours of the cities, and experiential learning, I developed a larger global perspective and have a broader appreciation for other parts of the world. This was one of the best experiences of my life, and I would recommend it for anyone!"

"What I learned on this trip can't really be bought with tuition money or learned in a classroom," added UE student Andrew Waldron, an economics major from Marion, Illinois. "The experiences I've had and the connections I've made via this program are of nameless value. I know that I am not only a better candidate for employment in the modern business world, but I am also a more culturally aware person."

Students completing the course were UE's Zeyad Alawadhi, Nathan Edmiston, Naomi Garcia, Cory Hart, Veronica Jackson, Jordan Kendrick, and Andrew Waldron, and Dustin Dubay of Husson University.

This program was made possible in part by the generous support of the Lilly Endowment.

UE Business Students Launch Partnership with Moroccan University

With a new partnership between Al Akhawayan University in Ifrane, Morocco, and the University of Evansville, students in an upper-level marketing course had the opportunity to work in groups six times zones apart.

The students, using Skype for live lectures and Facebook for group work, planned out cross-cultural export plans. The AUI students focused on identifying suitable non-governmental organizations (similar to non-profits) to work with and finding products, while UE students developed marketing strategies. One of the four groups developed an export plan for Amlou, a Moroccan product similar to peanut butter, and another looked at exporting rugs.

“I went in with notions that the ten Moroccan students from AUI would possess vastly different ideas and perspectives,” said senior Catherine Albers, a marketing and management major. “However, those notions were replaced once I realized we were more alike than any of us expected.”

Students said the biggest challenges were dealing with the time zones, technology, and slight cultural differences. “Communication was a problem at first,” said senior Chelsea Abplanalp, a business management and global business major. “But it just took getting used to.”

The class was taught by Peter Rosen, an associate professor of management information systems, on the UE side, and Nicolas Hamelin, PhD, from Ifrane. “The students showed a lot of commitment to their groups,” Rosen said. “But, the most exciting part of the course was when both universities met at Harlaxton College over spring break.”

For an entire week, AUI and UE students met to work on final presentations at Harlaxton. In relation to the course, the group traveled to Cambridge, and were treated to a lecture in Moroccan politics at St. Anthony’s College.

Next fall, Rob Montgomery, a professor of marketing, is teaching a similar course through an on-going partnership with China.

Distinguished Professor Jaime Alonso Gomez to Visit UE

The University of Evansville’s Office of Academic Affairs invites the community to a presentation by Jaime Gomez, PhD, distinguished professor of international business at the University of San Diego and professor of international strategy and management at the Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico.

Gomez will present “Building a Sustainable World through Innovation Driven Social Enterprise” at 4 p.m. Monday, March 25 in Smythe Lecture Hall (Room 170, Schroeder School of Business Building). The lecture is free and open to the public.

With a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, a master’s in applied systems design, and a PhD in applied economics and managerial science, Gomez has interests that extend across multiple disciplines. His work experience has been international in character and global in impact. He believes in education in its most comprehensive interpretation – a foundation for societal development through which students become socially responsible individuals instilled with a moral obligation to others and to society as a whole. His work and his values epitomize the concept of the social entrepreneur.

For more information, please contact the Office of Academic Affairs at 812-488-1178.

The Institute for Global Enterprise is also supporting Gomez’s visit to the University of Evansville. On Tuesday, March 26 from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Gomez will lead an Executive Education Forum on “Strategies for Global Competitiveness,” open to the local business community. For more information and to register, please contact Katie Ciccarelli, Institute for Global Enterprise director of program development, at kc204@evansville.edu or visit http://evansville.edu/execedforum.

This program was made possible in part by the generous support of the Lilly Endowment.

Spring Break and Lifelong Lessons in Brazil

For seven University of Evansville students, a spring break trip to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil, was equal parts business, fun, personal and professional development.

Katie Ciccarelli, director of program development for the Institute for Global Enterprise, says, "It is one thing for students to learn about the world's seventh largest economy in the classroom, and another when students make the world their classroom.”

They learn first-hand what challenges and opportunities companies are currently facing abroad while developing their global mindset as they become fascinated by the local customs, culture, and successful business practices. The course, “Contemporary Business Issues in Brazil,” included a mix of business and communications majors.

Senior Kate Schlarf, a global business and Spanish major, was able to meet with the very people she had been corresponding with through her commercial development internship at Berry Plastics. “The trip taught us to look at things from a different angle and to consider cultural influences when working with different countries,” she says.

The group also met with UE alumnus Julia Khokhlova, sales manager at Cummins Brasil, another Indiana-based company.

Senior Shawn Robey, a business management major, sat down with the president of Boeing Brasil. Robey says the program allowed him to experience opportunity outside of Evansville and gain confidence. “This program allowed me to see that there is so much adventure and so many new things to be discovered. I’ve had a few job interviews before,” he says. “But after meeting with the president of Boeing Brazil, I was able to be myself and not let nerves get me.”

Partly funded through UE’s Lilly Endowment, the Institute for Global Enterprises hopes to offer students the chance to become global citizens and connect to the world of business. “I would never have been able to grow as much as I have personally and professionally,” Robey says. “It was eye-opening.”

This program was made possible in part by the generous support of the Lilly Endowment.

Jim Schaefer Named Outstanding Educator by Indiana CPA Society

Jim Schaefer, professor of accounting at the University of Evansville, has received the Outstanding Educator Award for 2012 from the Indiana CPA Society.

The award recognizes a college accounting professor who is distinguished for excellence in classroom teaching and for active involvement in the CPA profession.

Schaefer joined the University of Evansville in 1990 after completing his Doctor of Business Administration in accounting from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He has been awarded the University of Evansville’s Dean’s Teaching Award twice as well as the Delta Sigma Pi Professor of the Year award twice. In 2010, Schaefer was the lead author of the seventh-most popular article in the Journal of Accountancy.

His involvement in the Indiana CPA Society includes service on the board of directors, ethics committee, and as discussion leader on the topics of A&A and ethics.

Ken Schmidt to Speak in Indianapolis, Evansville March 14

The Institute for Global Enterprise, part of the Schroeder School of Business at the University of Evansville, will host former Harley-Davidson communications director Ken Schmidt in Indianapolis and Evansville on Thursday, March 14. As part of the Institute Speaker Series, Schmidt will discuss “Going Global: Succeeding in the International Marketplace.”

Schmidt’s appearance in Indianapolis is presented in partnership with the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. local time, and Schmidt will speak at noon at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, 650 N. Meridian St. Each ticket costs $20 and includes lunch. Guests may purchase a maximum of four tickets through the University of Evansville at www.uealumnionline.com/kenschmidt or 812-488-2706, or through the Rotary Club of Indianapolis at www.indyrotary.org or 317-631-3733.

Schmidt will speak that evening in Evansville at 6:00 p.m. local time at the Aiken Theatre at The Centre, 715 Locust St. This event is free and open to the public, with no tickets required. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., and seating is first come, first served. For more information, please visit www.globalindiana.com or contact the Institute for Global Enterprise at 812-488-2455 or globalindiana@evansville.edu.

Schmidt has been associated with Harley-Davidson Motor Company since 1985, and his success in helping rebuild the company’s brand played a vital role in the motorcycle legend’s turnaround from the brink of ruin to global dominance.

In his role as Harley’s director of communication, Schmidt shaped the company’s positioning and served as its primary spokesperson to the media and financial communities. Now semi-retired, Schmidt provides brand-building expertise to many of the world’s best-known businesses. But to this day, Harley-Davidson remains his primary business partner and his strongest passion.

He co-wrote a book, 100 Years of Harley-Davidson, which is the best-selling motor sports book of all time. He has appeared on network television numerous times, and spoken to hundreds of audiences around the world.

The Institute for Global Enterprise wishes to thank Old National Bank for its generous support of these Institute Speaker Series events, and Bud’s Harley Davidson for its support of Schmidt’s Evansville appearance.

This program was made possible in part by the generous support of the Lilly Endowment.

Ken Schmidt sitting on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle

Business Recognition Awards to Honor G. Michael Schopmeyer, Berry Plastics

This week, the University of Evansville’s chapter of the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity will present its annual Business Recognition Awards to local attorney G. Michael Schopmeyer and Berry Plastics Corporation.

The awards will be presented at a luncheon at noon Friday, February 8 in Eykamp Hall (Room 251 in the Ridgway University Center). Members of the media are welcome to cover the event.

“The recipients of the Business Recognition Awards are chosen each year by the student members of Delta Sigma Pi,” said Stephen Standifird, dean of the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration. “The program honors local business leaders and businesses that exhibit transformational leadership in the community and serve as role models to future business leaders.”

Schopmeyer, named Business Leader of the Year, is co-managing partner of Kahn, Dees, Donovan, and Kahn law firm and a 1980 graduate of the University of Evansville. He has 30 years of experience practicing as a business attorney, and his skills center on resolving and closing business, construction, environmental, and real and intellectual property disputes and transactions. His career includes service as a private practitioner, government attorney, arbitrator, and civic leader.

Berry Plastics Group Inc., named Business of the Year, provides plastic consumer packaging and engineered materials. With world headquarters in Evansville, Indiana, the company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BERY. Randy Hobson, the company’s executive vice president, commercial development and a 1988 graduate of the University of Evansville, will accept the award.

Delta Sigma Pi is a professional fraternity organized to foster the study of business in universities; to encourage scholarship, social activity, and the association of students for their mutual advancement by research and practice; to promote a closer affiliation between the commercial world and students of commerce; and to further a higher standard of commercial ethics and culture and the civic and commercial welfare of the community.

Nationally Renowned Analyst to Present Free, Public Talk at UE

Hilliard Lyons’ John Roberts, who has been named one of the nation’s leading analysts by The Wall Street Journal and Forbes, will speak at 4 p.m. Monday, January 28 in Smythe Lecture Hall (Room 170) in the University of Evansville’s Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building. His presentation, “Life as an Analyst and 2013 Market Outlook,” is free and open to the public.

Roberts is senior vice president and director of research for Hilliard Lyons, one of the nation’s oldest investment firms. Roberts oversees a research team of 15 investment and research analysts and support staff. Hilliard Lyons’ research department analysts have been recognized numerous times at the national level by The Wall Street Journal’s “Best on the Street,” and over the survey’s 20-year history, six research analysts have been placed in the top five among their respective industry groups a total of 17 times.

Roberts has been ranked as the top REIT analyst by The Wall Street Journal and has been rated as a top 10 equity analyst by Forbes.com. Before joining Hilliard Lyons in 1997, John served as vice president, director of research and chief financial officer at First Honolulu Securities. He has also been a mergers and acquisitions analyst at Mills Dowling, a senior securities analyst at 13D Research, and a senior securities analyst in the REIT group at Stifel Nicolaus.

Roberts holds an MBA in finance and operations management from Syracuse University and a BS in business economics from Fordham University.

For more information, please contact UE’s Schroeder Family School of Business Administration at 812-488-2851.