The Walker School is supported by a team of faculty and staff members who are committed to providing students with a first-class educational experience. Meet our administration and staff, advisory board, and full-time and adjunct faculty from the departments of Business, Management, and Mathematics and Computer Science. 

Administration & Staff

Faculty Name

Dr. Simone Cummings

Dean

 

(314) 246-5951
EAB 300
deansbt@webster.edu

David Porras

Dr. David Porras

Associate Dean

 

(314) 246-8621
EAB 300
porrasd@webster.edu

Debbie Ray

Debbie Ray

Director of Operations

(314) 246-7685
EAB 323
kountzde@webster.edu

Denise Harrell

Denise Harrell

Director, Recruitment and Program Promotions

(314) 246-8713
EAB 312
harreldm@webster.edu

Lucy Bodet

Lucy Bodet

Academic Advisor, Cohort Programs

(314) 246-3124
EAB 334
bodet@webster.edu

Jack Croghan

Jack Croghan

Program Administrator, Sports & Entertainment Management

(314) 246-7021
EAB 342
johncroghan40@webster.edu

Merryl Hall

Merryl Hall

Management Department Coordinator

(314) 246-7020
EAB 324
merrylc@webster.edu

Shannon Hernandez

Shannon Hernandez

Math & Computer Science Department Representative

(314) 246-7178
EAB 320
shannonh82@webster.edu

Debbie Ray

Uyen Truong

Graduate Assistant

(314) 246-8221
uyentruong@webster.edu
Business Department Faculty

Richard Dippel

Rich Dippel

Associate Professor

(314) 968-5992
dippelr@webster.edu
EAB 349

Professor Rich Dippel has a BS in Business Administration from Saint Louis University, a MBA from Saint Louis University and a JD from Saint Louis University. Rich's areas of teaching include legal procedure management of evidence and accounting information systems. Rich's research interests include technical, legal and internal control implications of today's digital multifunctional devices. He has been published in the Journal of Forensic and Investigative Accounting.

faculty photo

Mitch Ellison

Associate Professor

Mitch Ellison is a Chartered Financial Analyst, a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Management Accountant and is Certified in Financial Management. With Neil Seitz, he is co-author of the international used textbook: "Capital Budgeting and Long-Term Financial Decisions," Fourth Edition. Mitch has extensive experience as a consultant to several firms in merger and acquisition analysis, strategic planning, executive compensation, and in various SEC and FASB implementation issues. Additionally, he has over 30 years of teaching experience in Finance and Accounting. He earned his Ph. D. in Finance from Saint Louis University. On a non-work-related note he enjoys biking, travel and building things.

Baichung Feng

Baichun Feng

Associate Professor

(314)246-7591
baichunfeng18@webster.edu

EAB 352

Dr. Baichun Feng has a BA in Civil Engineering from Tsinghua University, a MS in Transportation Engineering and a minor in Statistics from University of Minnesota and a PhD in Industrial Engineering & Operations Research from The Pennsylvania State University. Baichun’s research interests focus on understanding the complexities of outsourcing and supply chain management. Baichun also has been working in the area of transportation and the interface of finance and operations management. Baichun’s research work has been published at Productions and Operations management, International Journal of Production Research, Decision Sciences, European Journal of Operational Research. Information Technology and Management and Transportation Research Record.

Steve Hinson

Steve Hinson

Professor; MBA Program Director

(314) 246-7017
hinsonsy@webster.edu
EAB 345

Dr. Steve Hinson has a BS in Economics from Berea College, an MA in Economics from the University of Kentucky, a PhD in Economics from the University of Kentucky and an MBA from Webster University. Dr. Hinson's teaching responsibilities include principles of economics, macroeconomics and international economics. His areas of research include sustainability and income inequality.

faculty photo

Troy Luh

Professor

(314) 246-7943
tluh@webster.edu

EAB 347

Dr. Troy Luh has a BS in Accounting from Evangel University, his MAcc from Missouri State University, MSvS (Masters of Sciences in Valuation Sciences) from Lindenwood University and his PhD in Higher Education and Leadership from Saint Louis University. His expertise is in financial accounting, auditing, business valuation and forensic accounting. Dr. Luh's areas of teaching include intermediate accounting, auditing, business valuation and forensic accounting. His areas of research include business valuation and forensic accounting. Troy has been published in The Tax Advisor, The Asset and The St. Louis Business Journal.

Dan Mueller

Daniel K. Mueller

Visiting Assistant Professor

(314) 246-7020
danielmueller57@webster.edu

EAB 310

Dr. Mueller is a visiting professor at Webster University Walker School of Business and Technology redesigning the Graduate Program in Health Administration. Recently, Dr. Mueller served as a Faculty Liaison for the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health King Fahd Specialist Hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In his leadership role, he coordinated an Executive Master Degree in the Science of Health Administration for the University of Alabama Birmingham School of Health Professions Department of Health Administration. Previously, Dr. Mueller served as Assistant Vice Chancellor for International Affairs at Washington University School of Medicine and Director of International Health Services. Dr. Mueller is a Returned Peace Corp Volunteer and past County Director for the US Peace Corps.Dr. Mueller has experience in health care leadership educational programs, health care system design and quality improvements process. He has a strong interest in providing international executive health care administration programs to improve global health delivery.

Run Niu

Run Niu

Associate Professor

(314) 246-7794
runniu68@webster.edu
EAB 348

Dr. Run Niu has a BA in Economics (Enterprise Management) from Tsinghua University, a BE in Engineering (Mechanical) from Tsinghua University, a ME from Tsinghua University and a PhD in Management Science from the University of Alberta. Dr. Niu's areas of teaching include operations management, management science and related courses. Run's areas of research include decision problems on the interfaces of operations/marketing, operations/supply chain management, business/education applications of social networks and virtual worlds, Word-of-Mouth and referral rewards management in retailing. Run has been published in Decision Support Systems, European Journal of Marketing, Asian Pacific Journal of Operations Research and Information System and e-Business Management Journal.

Elizabeth Risik

Elizabeth Risik

Chair, Associate Professor

314) 246-7162
elizabethrisik37@webster.edu
EAB 346

Dr. Elizabeth Risik has a BA in Finance from Michigan State University, a M.S. in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a PhD in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Elizabeth Risik's areas of teaching include financial strategy, mergers & acquisitions and principles of finance. Elizabeth's areas of research include corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions, options pricing, behavioral finance and mutual funds.

faculty photo

Brad Scott

Professor

(314) 246-7574
bradford@webster.edu
EAB 343

Brad G. Scott, PhD is a professor of finance and international business at Webster University. He has taught in London and the Netherlands, and led short courses to Switzerland, China, Thailand and Japan. He has been the previous chair of the Business Department and director of the MBA Program, and served on many other service committees. Dr. Scott’s past experience includes a family retail business and as a commercial banking officer. He received both his PhD and his MBA from Saint Louis University, and has remained active in his field with papers and presentations in both finance and online education.

Doug Whitman

Doug Whitman

Assistant Professor

(314) 246-7893
douglaswhitman@webster.edu

EAB 344

Dr. Whitman has a Doctor of Science in healthcare management from University of Alabama Birmingham; MBA from Duke University; BSBA from University of Arkansas. He has 20 years of experience leading healthcare companies, most recently as a healthcare consultant specializing in crisis change management. He was previously CEO of a technology start-up, Senior VP of a broadcasting company, Managing Director of an investment bank, VP of a healthcare company, and director of strategic growth of a healthcare company. His research interests are nursing home quality and financial performance. He has taught healthcare management at University of North Carolina, and he is now Assistant Professor of healthcare management at Webster University.

*Ed Spillane, Faculty Emeritus

Management Department Faculty

Eric Rhiney

Eric Rhiney

Chair, Associate Professor

(314) 246-7081
rhineeri@webster.edu

EAB 383

Dr. Eric Rhiney holds a BSBA in Marketing from the University of Central Missouri, an MBA from Webster University, and also a PhD in International Business and Marketing from Saint Louis University. His areas of teaching include marketing research, marketing strategy, and survey design. His areas of research interests are international marketing (consumer ethnocentrism), consumer behavior and(cross-cultural identity), branding (heritage branding).

Barrett Baebler

Barrett Baebler

Associate Professor

(314) 246-7940
baeblerb@webster.edu
EAB 389

Dr. Barrett Baebler received his BSBA in Finance from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his MA in Finance from Webster University, and a Doctor of Management from Webster University. Dr. Baebler's areas of teaching include nonprofit revenue development, business plan development, entrepreneurial financial management, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit management. His areas of interest and research include entrepreneurship, nonprofit management, and social entrepreneurship. He currently serves as the Director of Nonprofit Management and Leadership for the Walker School.

Sharilyn Franklin

Sharilyn Franklin

Visiting Assistant Professor

Sharilyn Franklin manages a portfolio of
firms operating in the areas of organizational
development, brand development, and
human capital capacity building. She has
a 30-year history of successfully working
with individuals, teams, and organizations
to identify problems and create valuebased opportunities. She has coached or
trained more than 1600 individuals at all
developmental stages, from around the
globe, and in various industries. She teaches
graduate-level courses and has taught
internationally.

Franklin has received over 200 business, civic, or academic awards and enjoys relationships
with brands like Goldman Sachs, Gillette,
Sprite, CNN, and Anheuser Busch, to name a
few. She is an acclaimed Consultant, BoardCertified Coach, and Catalyst for improved
productivity and performance.

Al Marcella

Al Marcella

Professor

(314) 246-7544
marcela@webster.edu

EAB 380

Dr. Albert J. Marcella Jr. holds a BA with a dual major in Management Information Systems and Management from Bryant College, an MBA in Finance from The University of New Haven, and a PhD in Management (emphasis in Information Technology) from Walden University. Dr. Marcella's areas of teaching include ITM security and information technology. Dr. Marcella has authored numerous articles to audit related publications and has authored and co-authored many audit related text books including such titles as: Auditing IBM's Customer Information Control System; Auditing Disaster Contingency Planning; EDI: Security, Control and Audit, Assessing Individual and Organizational Ethics: A Value-Added Audit, Outsourcing, Downsizing, and Reengineering: Internal Control Implications, and Electronic Commerce: Control Issues for Virtual Enterprises.

Doug O'Bannon

Doug O'Bannon

Professor

(314) 246-5978
dobannon@webster.edu
EAB 370

Dr. Doug O'Bannon has a BS in Management from Arizona State University, an M.BA with Emphasis in Economics and Finance from Arizona State University and a PhD from the University of Maryland where his major was strategy and his minor was in human resource management. Dr. O'Bannon's areas of teaching include economics, management, HRM, labor relations, strategic HRM and strategic management. Doug's research interests include top management teams, expectancy-valence as a predictor of resource movement and real-time strategy. Doug has been published in the Administrative Science Quarterly and Business and Society and recently presented papers on dynamic strategy at the Academy of Management and Southern Academy of Management.

Julie Palmer

Julie Palmer

Professor

(314) 246-2354
juliepalmer56@webster.edu
EAB 381

Julie (JP) Palmer received a BS in Animal Science and Chemistry from Colorado State University, MBA from the University of Nebraska and her PhD from the University of Missouri. Dr. Palmer's areas of teaching are human resource management and organizational behavior. Her areas of research include management education, recruitment and organizational reputation. Julie is the Walker School of Business' faculty advisor for Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE). She has been published in Academy of Business Research Journal, Academy of Management Proceedings, and Midwest Academy of Management Proceedings.

Nisha Ray Chaudhuri

Nisha Ray-Chaudhuri

Visiting Assistant Professor

314-246-7020
malhotni@webster.edu

EAB 310

Dr. Ray-Chaudhuri holds a DBA in Marketing from Grenoble ecole de Management. Her areas of teaching are International Marketing, Entrepreneurial Marketing, Marketing Strategy and Sales. Her research interests lie in the fields of sales, sales person performance and teaching strategies. 

She has spent her career in academia teaching and being part higher education administration. 

Gary Renz

Gary Renz

Professor

(314) 246-5062
renzga@webster.edu
EAB 382

Dr. Gary Renz has a BS from the University of Minnesota, a Juris Doctor from UCLA, and a PhD from the University of Minnesota. His areas of teaching include human resources management, organizational behavior, leadership, and law. Dr. Renz' areas of research include leadership, emotions, motivation, staffing, compensation, and law.

Joe Roberts

Joe Roberts

Associate Professor

(314) 246-7537
joeroberts@webster.edu

EAB 390

Dr. Joe Roberts received his PhD from University of Chicago. He is Chair of The Management Department and also serves as Director of The Entrepreneurship Program. He is The National Program Director of The Coleman Foundation Faculty Fellows Program. He won an award for the 2012 Peter Drucker Challenge. His work includes presenting entrepreneurship and innovation workshops and seminars in China, Taiwan, Russia, Germany, Mexico, Canada, Estonia, Finland and India. He has authored several articles and won the Telly and Aegis Awards for the documentary "Entrepreneurship, Then and Now." Dr. Joe Roberts works as an entrepreneurship consultant and has extensive experience helping entrepreneurs procure start-up funding.

Dustin Smith

Dustin Smith

Associate Professor

(314-246-4259)
dustinsmith64@webster.edu
EAB 342

Dr. Dustin Smith received his PhD from Washington State University with an emphasis on Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Strategy. Dr. Smith's current research examines stakeholder reactions to social initiatives and country-level predictors of firm social performance. His other research interests include firm resource deployment, social value capture and social entrepreneurship. His work has been featured in the Academy of Management Proceedings and has won best paper from the Western Academy of Management. Professionally Dr. Smith has worked for the Boeing Commercial Airplanes division and for the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in southeast Washington State.

Ece Tuncel

Ece Tuncel

Associate Professor

(314) 246-2479
ecetuncel24@webster.edu
EAB 379

Dr. Ece Tuncel holds a BS Business Administration and a M.S. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, both from the Middle East Technical University. She received her PhD in Organizational Behavior from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Tuncel's research examines the effects of cognition, emotion, and personality on individual decision making, particularly in negotiation settings and has been published in Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, Psychological Science, and Negotiation and Conflict Management Research among other outlets. Dr. Tuncel has taught courses in the areas of organizational behavior, negotiation, decision making, and international management. She is a native of Turkey.
Publications and Bio

*Jeff Haldeman, Faculty Emeritus

*Tom Quirk, Faculty Emeritus

Mathematics & Computer Science Department Faculty

Martha Smith

Martha Smith

Professor; Chair, Math & Computer Science Department

(314) 246-7678
smithma@webster.edu
EAB 362

Dr. Martha Smith has a BA in Computer Science from Webster University, an MS in Computer Science Distributed Systems from Webster University and a PhD from Saint Louis University. Martha's areas of teaching include object-oriented programming, data structures, database analysis design, database applications & web usability and accessibility. Martha's areas of research include the underrepresentation of minorities in computer science and human-computer interaction (HCI). She has been published in CCSC (The Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges), International Symposium Emerging Technologies for Online Learning, and HICB (Hawaii International Conference on Business). She is one of the founders of the St. Louis Chapter of Service Design Network (SDN).

faculty photo

Brenda Boyce

Associate Professor

(314) 246-7570
boycebk@webster.edu
EAB 369

Brenda Boyce received her BS in Chemistry and BS in Biology from Quincy University and her MS in Management Information Systems from The University of Missouri. Brenda's areas of teaching includes data structures, statistics, research methodology and systems concepts.

faculty photo

Jim Curtis

Assistant Professor

(314) 246-8761
jamescurtis89@webster.edu
EAB 366

Dr. Curtis was a career Air Force Cyber Officer who served in the White House as a Presidential Communicator for Presidents Bush and Clinton. He then spent 16 years in the IT industry culminating as a Vice President with SRA International. His expertise encompasses information assurance; systems analysis; risk management; enterprise architectures; and space and logistics operations. Dr. Curtis serves as a Permanent Board of Director and Past President of the Armed Forces Communications-Electronics Association, Scott-St. Louis Chapter, From 2003–2013, he was an Adjunct Professor of Public Policy at Maryville University, and for the past three years he has been an adjunct professor of Cybersecurity at Webster University. He earned his doctorate degree from Saint Louis University in Public Policy where the subject of his research was public-private partnerships.

faculty photo

Lasanthi Gamage

Assistant Professor

(314) 246-2520
lasanthigamage67@webster.edu
EAB 374

Lasanthi Gamage received her PhD in Computer Science from Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2015. She received her MS in Computer Science from St. Cloud State University in 2009 and her BEng in Computer Engineering from the University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka in 2006. Her primary teaching interests include Computer Programming, Data Structures, Algorithmic Analysis, Computer Architecture, and Database Management Systems, Operating Systems, Analytical Geometry, and Calculus. Her research interests are in Mobile databases, Big Data, Distributed Computing, and Parallel Computing. She comes with over 5 years of undergraduate teaching experience.

faculty photo

George Gerules

Visiting Professor

faculty photo

Larry Granda

Associate Professor

(314) 246-7699
grandlar@webster.edu
EAB 364

Dr. Larry Granda has a BS in Mathematics and BA in Philosophy from Webster University, an MA in Mathematics from Saint Louis University and a PhD in Mathematics from Saint Louis University. Dr. Granda's area of teaching is mathematics and his area of research is Low-Dimensional Topology. He has been published in Houston Journal of Mathematics and Journal of Knot Theory and Its Ramifications.

Peter Maher

Peter Maher

Professor

(314) 246-8622
maherp@webster.edu

EAB 321

Dr. Peter Maher has a BS in Mathematics, University of Wales, a MS Computer Science, University of Wales and a PhD in Computer Science (Emphasis in Artificial Intelligence) from the University of Wales. Dr. Maher's areas of teaching include data structures and algorithms, object oriented analysis and design and agile software development. Peter's areas of research include agile development methodologies, software methodologies for outsourcing companies, effective assessment techniques and management. He has been published in Research in Higher Education Journal, IEEE-CS Conference on Software Engineering and Training (CSEET), International Conference on Information Technology New Generations (ITNG) and American Society of Business and Behavioral Sciences.

faculty photo

Doug Menendez

Instructor

(314) 246-7021
dmenendez94@webster.edu
EAB 310

Doug is a talented and seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in Risk Management, Auditing and Compliance. He brings a wealth of expertise with particular strengths in areas such as Information Technology Controls/Security/Audit, Enterprise & Operational Risk Management, Process Improvement, and Regulatory Compliance. Doug has worked across multiple industry leading companies, including Mastercard, Graybar Electric, Enterprise Holdings and Express Scripts.

In addition to his executive career, Doug is past president of both the IIA (Institute of Internal Auditors) and ISACA (Information Systems Audit & Control Association) St. Louis Chapters and has held many committee and Board positions with both professional associations. Doug is also a member of InfraGard (FBI's public-private security partnership), the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), local Data Analytics User Groups and is on the SecureWorld Expo Advisory Council. He is also deeply committed to mentoring students to find successful careers and has participated in the Mentored Pathways Program and Saint Louis University Alumni Advisor Network.

Doug has established himself as a thought leader in the field of IT Auditing and Cyber Security. He co-authored a book Cyber Forensics: A Field Manual for Collecting, Examining, and Preserving Evidence of Computer Crimes, 2nd Edition. He has also written articles for authoritative journals and contributed to research publications. Doug is a speaker at local, national and international conferences and is an Instructor at Webster University.

Doug obtained his BS/BA degree in Accounting and an MBA from Saint Louis University. He is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), and holds an ISACA Cybersecurity Certificate.

Ali Ovlia

Ali Ovlia

Professor

(314) 246-7878
aovlia@webster.edu
EAB 373

Dr. Ali Ovlia has a BS in Marine Engineering, a BS and MS in Computer Science from University of Oklahoma and a Doctor of Management from Webster University. Dr. Ovlia's areas of teaching include information systems, decision support systems, information analysis data communications and networks architecture. Ali's areas of research include systems modeling intelligence systems. His book Accounting Information System: The Crossroads of Accounting and IT was published in 2011.

faculty photo

Quinn Shao

Professor

(314) 246-7608
qshao@webster.edu
EAB 378

Professor Quinn Shao has a BA from Shandong University, a MA in Education from from Simon Fraser University and a MS from the University of Wyoming. Professor Shao's areas of teaching include object oriented programming, operating systems, and web development. Her areas of research include comparative Studies in computing education and web development. She has been published in AACE (Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education); HICE (Hawaii International Conference on Education); SITE (Advancement of Computing at Society for Information Technology and Education) and ACIS (Association for Computer & Information Science); ACM Southeast Conference.

faculty photo

Xiaoyuan Suo

Associate Professor

(314) 246-2359
xiaoyuansuo51@webster.edu
EAB 371

Dr. Xiaoyuan Suo received her BS, MS and PhD in computer science from Georgia State University. Dr. Suo's areas of teaching include programming, telecommunications and network architecture. Her areas of research include user studies on touch based visualization systems, developing methodologies on building user friendly touch based visualizations, and touch based visualization design analysis. She has been published in the proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Visual Computing and Lecture Notes in Computer Science.

JP Wang

JiangPing Wang

Associate Professor

(314) 246-8602
wang@webster.edu
EAB 375

Dr. JiangPing Wang has a BA in Electrical Engineering from Chongqing University, Chongqing, China, a MS in Information Systems from the University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom and a PhD in Engineering Management from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri. Dr. Wang's areas of teaching include database design, database applications, data warehousing, web databases, database in web services, distributed application development, computer programming, operating systems and computer architecture. His areas of research include database management systems, decision support systems, business intelligence, e-commerce data processing, and software project management. Dr. Wang has been published in Web Enabled Online Analytical Processing for Intelligent Business Decision-Making and the proceedings of 10th Wuhan International Conference on E-Business.

* John Aleshunas, Faculty Emeritus

Advisory Board

Brian Ashworth

Member at Large, MBA '00

Amanda Bohnert

Chief Marketing Officer, S. M. Wilson & Co., BA '04; MA '09

Rodney Crim

CEO & President, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership

Jessica Edwards

Partner, BCLP Law: Bryan, Cave, Leighton, Paisner

Jun Fabella

CEO & Managing Partner, ANiGENT, MBA '94

Chuck Feltz

CEO, Human Capital Institute

Keith Lanier

Senior Vice President- Technology & Operations, Bank of America, BA '91

Traci O'Bryan

CEO, Arcturis Inc.

Lydia Padilla

President, TRC Professional Solutions

Michael Pruett

Co-Founder & Executive Advisor, DynaLabs. MBA '94

Jeff Remming

Chief Transformation Officer, Buckingham Wealth Partners, BA '00

Richard Ryffel

Director of Wealth Management, First Bank

Michael Sansone

Managing Principal, Ridgehouse Capital

Michael Scavotto

Chairman & Founder, Management Performance Associates Inc.

Shelley Siefert

Chairman & CEO, First Bank

Andre Stevens

Principal, Slalom

Chris Varvares

Vice President & Co-Head of US Economics, Macroeconomic Advisers by IHS Markit

Charles "Charlie" A. Dill

emeritus member