How are you involved at UCA?

I work at the Veterans & Military Resource Center, and I am in the Student Veterans of America. I am able to work here and join SVA due to the courage of my parents. They both served in the military, and this is my way to show appreciation and do my part without enlisting.

I was “Most Outstanding Freshman” in the 51ÇŕÂĄ Bear Marching Band for color guard. I also was “Dean for a Day” last semester, one of the few students selected to meet with their College Dean as well as the Provost.

What drew you to the business industry?

Every time I see an advertisement, I analyze every aspect of it – why they chose the colors they are using, why that font, how there is blank space on one side, and how I could make it better. This constant analysis made me want to pursue marketing to better understand and improve all aspects related to marketing for wherever I end up working.

Tell us about your experience outside the classroom that will help your career.

Research
I learned about the opportunities and joy that arise from taking the path of doing research. I did not know much about how to take this path, but presenting at the Atlantic Marketing Association conference in September increased my interest. Dr. Jihoon Jhang and I presented “The Effect of AI Disclosure on Donation Intentions.” The study examined how AI disclosure influences donation intentions. It utilized a 2×2 between-subjects design, investigating whether revealing the use of AI and whether the girl in the photo was smiling or frowning impacted people’s willingness to donate.

Internship
I learned about the internship through Handshake. I chose my internship because it was related to my field and allowed me to view other aspects of the company and paths that are not related to my major directly. I was able to spend a week with each different sector of the company and broaden my knowledge of what it takes to run a business.

Service
I have also volunteered at the Arkansas Food Bank often, and it has helped me with soft skills. I talk to strangers while I volunteer, and it helps with networking. It helps me also be grateful for the position I am in and reminds me how important it is to give back.

What do you plan to do after graduation?

After I graduate in December 2024, I plan to go into the field of marketing and use the knowledge from my degree to leverage my application above others.

What tips or advice would you give to new, current, or prospective business students?

Network with your professors. Going to my professors during their office hours or talking to them in the hallways has helped them remember me and get to know me better. In turn, they can be a reference for you or you can know them better and feel comfortable asking questions in class. That all together helps not only you and the professor, but also other students who might follow your lead.

The faculty and staff were recognized for their exemplary service to the students and their peers in the College of Business as well as in their areas of study and impact in the community.

Dr. Michael Hargis

First, Dr. Michael Hargis was honored with the COB Impact Award. Dr. Hargis served for more than a decade as the College Dean before being selected as UCA’s Provost and executive VP of academic affairs.

Ms. Christy Peel

The second COB Impact Award for 2023-2024 was given to Christy Peel for her excellent service as one of COB’s Academic Advisors.

Dr. JiHoon Jhang
Excellence in Research Award

Dr. Jhang was presented this award by Dean Casey.

Dr. Jhang was honored with the Excellence in Research Award. His accomplishments include:

• Published 14 peer-reviewed journal articles from 2021-23 with 12 being A*
• eight of these publications came out in 2023
• many external collaborators and co-authors
• works-in-progress with several departmental colleagues
• recent research has focused on travel and tourism, both state-level priorities.

Dr. Joe McGarrity
Engaged Teaching Award

Dr. McGarrity was presented this award by Dean Casey.

Dr. McGarrity was chosen for this award for many reasons:

• For many years, he has helped students publish op-eds in local newspapers, and he has continued to do so. Getting students to write a polished and persuasive piece is labor intensive, andMcGarrity has created (and published) a method on how to efficiently edit and improve a first draft.
• He created a new class in Fall 2023, Law and Economics, and it was instantly a big hit.
• McGarrity has recently designed and implemented class experiments.
• McGarrity’s own column in the Log Cabin Democrat (every 2 weeks) is often applicable in economics class. Students regularly choose economics as a major because they enjoyMcGarrity’s Modern Political Economy class.
• He has also worked on writing textbooks and incorporates examples in class that he has learned from numerous sources gathered through textbook preparation.

Dr. K. Mike Casey
Innovative Teaching Award

Dr. Casey was presented with this award by Dean Casey.

Dr. Casey was chosen for this award because:

• He combines active research on AI usage in the classroom with his various courses, specifically CISA 3300 Introduction to Computer Architecture and Programming and CISA 3328 Systems Analysis and Design.
• He has carefully constructed lessons appropriate for novice programmers to understand the strengths and weaknesses of generative AI relating to creating computer programming code. These lessons take the form of instructor-led demonstrations, in-class exercises, as well as homework-style assignments.
• Casey demonstrates and encourages students in the systems analysis and design course to explore the use of generative AI to find more efficient and innovative approaches to solving complex problems.
• Of particular note is how he has incorporated a highly relevant marketplace innovation into his course materials in a very short period of time. In doing so, he has been able to maintain an appropriate level of rigor while simultaneously helping students discover proper ways to use this new technology and prepare them for its usage in industry.

Dr. Karen Oxner
Excellence in Service

Dr. Oxner was presented with this award by Dean Casey.

Dr. Oxner serves as MAcc Program Coordinator, where she advises all the MAcc students and also serves as Graduate Faculty Coordinator for the Department. She is nominated in this category because of two things:

1. Dr. Oxner always shows up. She is always there for what is needed from her. She is active in faculty meetings and offers guidance and opinions. She does this with measured consideration and a comparison to her high ideals and standards. Everything she offers is valuable even if it is not the route taken.
2. Dr. Oxner has been an amazing representative on the Graduate Council. Her efforts to focus on what is right for students has an impact on the way UCA’s undergraduates and post-bacc students are being given opportunities to register for graduate-level courses when appropriate.

Susan Shaw
Societal Impact Award

Susan Shaw was presented with this award by Dean Casey.

Susan Shaw is an active member of COB’s faculty in many ways that impact our students and our community.

• Shaw has served as IT Career Camp director for 5 years directly working with junior high and high school students to inspire them into careers in IT and related fields
• She has led the Analytics case competition at Manhattan College for 2 years, leading teams of graduating seniors to a nationwide competition in data analytics on topics such as food safety and security in sub-Saharan Africa
• She is a “Girls Who Code” faculty advisor. This is a new club that includes students from under-represented demographics and exists to inspire them to complete their academic goals in IT-related disciplines
• Even with all this extra activity for students outside the classroom, Shaw is completing her DBA and working on her dissertation.

Dr. Garner was presented with this award by Dean Casey.

Dr. Ben Garner
Exemplary Boundary Spanner Award

Dr. Garner was chosen because:

• Dr. Garner has created two new upper-division courses – Managing Customer Relationships and Content Marketing – and shepherded both through curriculum committee processes. He highlights experiential education in both.
• In the Managing Customer Relationships course, he has partnered with the UCA Foundation and Arkansas PBS so that students can have hands-on experiences.
• In the Content Marketing course, he has worked with different Arkansas tourism organizations so that students can produce real-world media content in both written and video formats.
• Aside from his teaching and research at UCA, he released his own conservation documentary this year.

Dr. Horpedahl was presented with this award by Dean Casey.

Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl
Exemplary Boundary Spanner Award

Dr. Horpedahl was chosen for this award because of his extraordinary ongoing impact:

• He co-authored The Future of Arkansas Tax Reform that offers detailed suggestions to AR lawmakers on the best way to reform AR taxes.
• Horpedahl regularly offers his expertise in media stories: 9 different outlets including New York Times, Financial Times, Newsweek, and Bloomberg; Six op-eds in City Journal, Arkansas Business, Arkansas Dem Gaz and others; 3 television appearances; participant on 5 podcasts; 52 blog posts covering economic data and news, with over 40,000 unique views.
• For the past 12 months, he has engaged over 19,000 followers earning over 41 million impressions through posts covering economic news and statistics on current events.
• In addition to his usual media appearances, Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl is also participating in an important form of outreach and public service, as a member of the “Property Tax Advisory Council” in Montana. This council was called by the state’s Governor and has been meeting throughout 2024. Dr. Horpedahl has been providing a national perspective, as well as bringing his experience from Arkansas tax reforms to assist Montana as they try to lower property taxes for homeowners.

Recognition at the Annual UCA Convocation

Ms. Deanna Abrego, Admin to the Dean, was recognized as a finalist for UCA Employee of the Year.

Ms. Deanna Abrego was given this plaque by President Houston Davis.

Dr. Ashley Phillips was recognized as a finalist for the UCA Public Service Award.

Dr. Ashley Phillips was given this award by President Houston Davis.

Congratulations to all our award winners this year!

Why did you choose the subject you teach?
I enjoy marketing and sharing my passion for this area with students. I love doing research and film projects that allow me to meet people in the community and help solve real-world challenges.

What tips or advice would you give to new, current, or prospective business students?
One of the best pieces of advice I can give students is to be curious and learn as much as possible about different career fields to find the best fit for you. This includes job shadowing, interviewing potential employers, and doing internships.

Share about your research.
Recently with Dr. Candice Hollenbeck at UGA on how the concepts of authenticity and scarcity work at a local farmers’ market. Our goal was to develop a theoretical understanding of how factors like natural scarcity influences consumers’ behavioral shopping patterns and attitudes. I have done research on farmers’ markets and consumer behavior for many years, and I also find the concept of authenticity very interesting.

What have you learned from doing this research?
We found that when people go shopping in a place like a farmers’ market, consumers tend to trust vendors when they talk about products being scarce. This is because fruits, vegetables, and agricultural products are influenced by the weather and growing conditions. In other words, the products may be limited that year because of a drought. This is different from, say, Gucci handbags or limited edition Pokemon cards that are artificially limited because the company wants to increase the value of each product.

What do you hope others will learn or gain from your research?
We hope through this project, businesses can understand the relationship between authenticity and scarcity, and then amplify scarcity messages that are true and trustworthy.

Related Article: Garner Leads Marketing Students to Learn & Serve Community During Project for Arkansas PBS

Last fall, Dr. Garner’s class got some hands-on experience with sales cold-calling, a project that also served the community. This spring, Dr. Garner is teaching two web classes on Principles of Marketing and an in-person class on Content Marketing. During the summer he will teach Basic Marketing online and Content Marketing in person. Next fall, he will teach two in-person Principles of Marketing courses and an in-person Advanced Selling course.

In his personal life, Dr. Garner also recently released his documentary which will air on Arkansas PBS on April 11. Based on his childhood experiences and using his professional skills, he created a piece that he hopes will inspire others to conserve natural resources like the Little Red River.

Why did you choose the subject you teach?
I grew up in a family of CPAs as my father and two uncles all worked as accountants at one time or another. Being surrounded by conversation that centered on different types of businesses intrigued me and led me to the college of business. Initially not wanting to follow in my family’s footsteps, I began my academic career studying finance. However, I realized that I wanted a deeper understanding of the source material that I was employing to evaluate the performance and valuation of companies. I switched my major to accounting and have never looked back.

After earning his BS and MPAcc in Louisiana, Dr. Cating likes to celebrate LA traditions such as Mardi Gras with the UCA Accounting department.

What about your job brings you the most joy?
I get the most joy interacting with students in the classroom to get them excited about accounting and succeeding on the CPA exam as a direct result of my course as they begin their careers.

What tips or advice do you have for students?
Always seek to have an open dialogue with professors outside of class, regardless of your major (but especially in your major). The more interaction and knowledge that professors have with and about you, the more they can help you connect with potential employers both before and after graduation.

Share about your recent research and its importance.
I collaborated with and , both from the University of Arkansas, on an article published in Review of Accounting Studies in October 2023. In our article, ,” we examine the effects of local newspapers on firms’ information environments. With newspaper employment dropping precipitously in the last few decades, we posit that these changes will harm local firms’ information environments. In this study, we ask whether the intensity of local newspapers relative to the local economy (i.e., local news intensity) influences the information available about local publicly traded firms in the capital markets.

[Added note for context: to help potential investors and other outside entities analyze the health of the company and understand risks to the company’s financial performance or other issues, such as the impact of the company’s business on communities.]

Consistent with local news improving information environments, we find that volatility, spreads, and illiquidity increase as local newspaper intensity declines and that this is associated with firms’ importance in their local economy. We further find that for firms that are more important in their community, or have busy analysts, less local newspaper intensity is associated with significantly lower analyst accuracy and higher forecast dispersion. This is consistent with local newspapers improving information environments, even for sophisticated and likely remote information intermediaries. We also investigate how stakeholders respond to declines in local news and find that managers increase the amount of forward-looking disclosures while analysts increase coverage.

These results provide insights into the methods by which stakeholders attempt to improve firms’ information environments when local news coverage fades.

In Spring 2024, Dr. Cating can be found teaching undergraduate in person and online and the graduate .

Dr. Cating such as the Arkansas Legislative Audit (ALA), a group that works to prevent fraud and other crimes, to help students understand the many opportunities available and to help them network with potential employers.

Why did you choose economics?
A teacher in high school explained to me that studying economics would equip me with skills to be able to understand the complex world. Life is full of choices because we have scarce resources. Economics provides the principles and tools to be able to understand why individuals, governments and businesses make the choices they make.

Teaching economics affords me the opportunity to contribute to other peoples lives by instilling in them some real-life skills that they need in their day-to-day lives.

What about your job brings you the most joy?
The joy comes from seeing my students perform to the best of their ability. It takes discipline to be successful in class. Discipline to show up in class and engage. Discipline to do all the homework on time and discipline to study for the exams. I am happy when my students realize that sooner than later.

With regards to research, I enjoy being able to work with other faculty from various disciplines. For the research I am presenting on the 27th, I am working in collaboration with Dr. Rania Al-Bawwab from the EFIRM Department and Dr. Yeil Know from the department of Mathematics.

What tips or advice would you give to new, current, or prospective business students?
My advice to all students includes:
1. Engage your professors more in class as well as during office hours. Ask questions when you don’t understand. It shouldn’t take extra points for you to schedule a meeting for office hours.
2. Engage your fellow students more. There are students from different backgrounds and cultures and engaging them will enrich your experience of different cultures. I deliberately assign group activities to facilitate peer to peer engagement. You can also form study groups to discuss the materials.
3. It is important not to procrastinate on your homework and assignments. I try to make the homework and assignments due the same day and time all throughout the semester to make it easier to remember the deadlines.

Your research: Describe what you studied or what problem you wanted to solve.
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the poorest region in the world. Despite being rich in natural resources including mineral reserves, the exploitation of the resources has not resulted in improved living standards in the region. Research shows that weak economic, political and legal institutions are a major contributor to why Sub Saharan Africa remains poor. Weak institutions encourage corruption and vice versa. When democracy swept through Africa in the early 1990s, people were hopeful that democracy would foster stronger institutions which would in turn encourage economic growth in the region. Three decades later, Sub Saharan Africa remains poor and is the most corrupt region in the word according to the 2022 Transparency International Report. Did democracy help or it did not?

Why did you choose this research topic?
In my conversations with some of my friends from other African countries, it is apparent that there is a perception that democracy has not yet yielded the economic benefits people were expecting. One of the possible reasons is that public corruption persists, in some cases worse than it was under autocratic rule. To my knowledge, no one has formally investigated whether the problem stems from the type of transition from autocratic regimes to democratic regimes can explain the difference in the corruption experiences in the different Sub-Saharan African countries after the switch to democratic regimes. Answering the question will help inform on how to improve governance in sub-Saharan Africa and hence improve the well-being of the people living in the area. In addition, some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have experienced military coups. This research can also inform on the process of returning to democracy.

What have you learned from doing this research?
Our initial analysis revealed no significant pattern on the experience of Sub-Saharan African countries with regards to corruption before and after transitioning from autocracy to democracy. Further analysis that considers that there are many other factors that can influence the level of corruption reveals that democracy and institutions matter. Improving the institutions, especially the economic institutions can help Sub-Saharan African countries curb corruption and hence improve the livelihood of the residents in this region. Our next step in the process is to select some of the countries and investigate further to establish causation rather than just an association.

What do you hope others will learn or gain from your research?
The hope is that through this research others will gain a better understanding of the experience of Sub-Saharan African countries before and after transitioning from autocratic rule to democratic rule. We hope that others will get a deeper insight into the level of corruption in Sub-Saharan African countries and hopefully interest them into wanting to contribute to research on ways to reduce the level of corruption in the region to better the livelihood of the residents in the region.

Dr. Kalulu is presenting his research on October 27 at 12:30pm in COB Room 206 for any who want to see him speak about his research in person. He can also be found in the classroom this fall teaching Global Environment of Business and Intermediate Macroeconomics. Students can register for his as the professor teaching those same classes in spring 2024, and in summer 2024, he is set to teach Modern Political Economy and Global Environment of Business.

Dr. Kalulu has been researching this topic for years. See Dr. Kalulu speak about “Economic Freedom of the World” to a group of Arkansas educators at a Teaching Free Enterprise in Arkansas workshop in fall 2018.

Why did you choose marketing?
I am a market researcher by trade, being in the MR industry for 5 years before going back to get a doctorate in marketing, so I could be a university professor.

What have you studied in your research?
I have studied the Marketing & Distribution of Preventive Health Care (PHC) information. I have been publishing in the area for 20+ years, finding new niches to focus my efforts. I have learned the demographics, activities, behaviors, social media tendencies of PHC consumers, across generational cohorts. I’m always looking for another publication opportunity in a good health care marketing journal.

What tips or advice would you give to new, current, or prospective business students?
1. Work hard in school so you can determine what your special gifts are.
2. Don’t be overburdened with hours on a job while in school; work the hours necessary to survive; don’t be buying new cell phones or a new car or buying too much of anything; just get through school with some good grades so you have the skills and grades to be competitive in the job market once you graduate. Students should heed my advice based on my 35+ years of teaching, research and consulting; I have a good feel for what it takes for students to succeed.

What about your job brings you the most joy?
1. engaging students and seeing their success after graduation
2. getting manuscripts published in health care journals
3. teaching market research
4. the collegiality in the department of marketing and management; it is the best; good dept chair too!

This fall, Dr. Cangelosi is teaching Principles of Marketing and Marketing Research & Data Management. Students can plan to take these classes taught by Dr. Cangelosi in the spring. He also will be presenting an abstract at the 2023 Atlantic Marketing Association Conference in September 2023.

The team’s policy proposal focused on the problem of methane emissions from landfills coupled with a lack of recycling. They proposed a landfill tax on business to incentivize a reduction in waste while increasing federal revenue. The funds from this tax would be used to fund infrastructure and innovation for climate initiatives, as well as reduce the national debt.

is dedicated to building a sustainable economic and fiscal future for America’s next generation and is the only nationwide, campus-based campaign focused on engaging and empowering students to build a sustainable economic and fiscal future. Up to Us leaders are aware of the importance of fiscal and economic issues, and work to advocate for changes in their communities and beyond. Colleges and universities across the country are engaged through impactful, creative campaigns that highlight the importance of addressing the national debt and other fiscal issues for America’s future generations.

The TOP 5 TEAMS from our 2023 Case Competition
First Place Team Spring 2023
– 51ÇŕÂĄ: Aligning Fiscal and Climate Policy

Teams 2-5 Spring 2023 (Ranked Alphabetically)
– Slippery Rock University: Improving US Healthcare: Affordable & Effective Care
– Slippery Rock University: Promoting Effective & Fiscally Responsible Climate Policy
– Slippery Rock University: Rethinking Higher Education: A Path to Reform
– William & Mary: Innovative Clean Energy Standard Policy

See the reportĚý´ĄĚýĚýRead the News Release

The results showed that hair testing is a more effective method to detect the regular use of hard drugs and drug users than the US Department of Transportation (DOT).

The US Department of Transportation classifies truck driving as a safety-sensitive occupation. For this reason, federally regulated operators of commercial vehicles are required to pass a pre-employment drug test. Urine testing is the primary, federally accepted method. Trucking Alliance carriers supplement DOT urinalysis by requiring drivers to also pass a hair drug test. Hair testing is reliable and accurate due to its longer look-back period to identify regular drug use.

In 2021, 88,021 licensed truck drivers applied for jobs at seven Trucking Alliance member trucking companies. The USDOT required drivers to take both urinalysis and a hair drug test. Here were the results:

• Four-thousand three-hundred sixty-two (4,362) applicants failed hair tests whereas four-hundred three (403) failed urine.
• If participating carriers did not use hair testing, they likely would have hired three-thousand four-hundred four (3,959) drivers that failed hair tests. It is likely these individuals are now driving for another carrier, given hair testing results cannot be submitted to the drug and alcohol clearinghouse.
• Hair testing delivered 11x (5.16%/0.46%) higher overall positivity rate, more frequently detected every drug class, and better detected hard drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines/methamphetamines, and opioids.

“Hair tests uncover 11 times more drug users than a urinalysis but the marked difference in positive cocaine, amphetamine/methamphetamine, and opioid tests is most troubling,” observes Dr. Doug Voss at the 51ÇŕÂĄ, who conducted the survey. “These results underscore the inability of urinalysis alone to remove hard drug users from the truck driver population.”

Because USDOT’s Clearinghouse doesn’t accept hair test results, those four-thousand three-hundred sixty-two (4,362) drivers are likely still driving 80,000-pound tractor trailers for other companies, even though the Trucking Alliance companies disqualified them.

The news release announcing these results stated that “the Trucking Alliance has formally requested USDOT’s trucking agency – the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration – to include positive hair tests on the agency’s list of ‘actual knowledge’ of a truck driver’s drug use. If granted, these positive hair test results will be submitted to the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and the names of those drivers will be known by other employers.” Read more about the pros and cons of this application.

The data was independently provided by J.B. Hunt Transport, Knight-Swift Transportation, Schneider, Maverick USA, KLLM/FFE Transportation Services, US Xpress, and Cargo Transporters. All 50 states+DC are represented in the sample.

In “The Role of Government in a Free Society” group led by UCA Economics Professor, Dr. Collin Hodges, and Department Chair, Dr. Tom Snyder, ten participants read and discussed works by scholars such as Adam Smith, J.S. Mill, John Locke, and Karl Marx, as well as more contemporary works by Milton Friedman, Friedrich Hayek, Robert Nozick, and John Rawls to examine what a variety of economists, political philosophers, and public policy experts have contributed to this topic. The group also traveled to Dallas in September to participate in a group summit with other universities that completed the same readings. Students were awarded $500 on November 14 for their participation this semester.

A second reading group also met this semester and awarded $500 scholarships to students who participated in the philosophy and law reading group called “Landmark Supreme Court Cases” led by Business Law Professor Dr. Anthony McMullen and Philosophy Professor Dr. Jacob Held. Over the course of ten weeks, students in this reading group studied major Supreme Court opinions covering topics such as economic freedom, federalism, equal protection, privacy, and intellectual property rights. Working through these decisions helped students understand the rule of law, Constitutionalism, and the role the judicial branch plays in our government.

All students were required to gain acceptance into the program and actively participate in the program throughout the semester.

For questions about reading groups and the application process continuing reading, or contact Suzanne Massey at smassey@uca.edu.

The following UCA faculty served as Track/Session Chairs:

• Dr. Xuechen Gao, Assistant Professor of Finance (Finance Track Chair)
• Dr. Alexander Chen, Professor of Management (Finance Session Chair)
• Dr. Samira Shirzaei Nichols, Assistant Professor of CISA (Analytics Track/Session Chair)
• Dr. Vance Lewis, Assistant Professor of Management (Organizational Behavior & Theory Track/Session Chair)

On Thursday, April 7, the following faculty and students presented papers:

• “Covid-19, Vaccine and E-payment Adoption Behavior of Germans” – Dr. Alexander Chen, Dr. Jim Downey (Professor of CISA), and Niklas Iking (COB undergraduate student)
• “Firms Characteristics, Platforms, and Its Industry on Usage of E-Payment Systems among Merchants in Shanghai, China” – Dr. Alexander Chen, Dr. Xuechen Gao, Dr. Jim Downey
• “Spiritualities and Urbanization on Perceptions of Ethics among College Students in China” – Dr. Alexander Chen, Kelsey Hagan (COB graduate student), Dr. Michael Rubach (Professor of Management), and Naikao Wang (COB graduate student)

On Friday, April 8, the following faculty and students presented their papers:

• “Covid-19, Vaccine and Brazilian E-Payment Adoption Behavior” – Dr. Alexander Chen, Dr. David McCalman (Associate Professor of Management), Matheus Tupinambe August de Brito (COB undergraduate student)
• “Covid-19, Vaccine and Mexican E-Payment Adoption Behavior” – Dr. Alexander Chen, Adrian Juarez Castellanos (undergrad student), Tracy Suter (Chair of Marketing and Management, Associate Professor of Marketing)