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, Computer and Information Sciences, and Management.

Dr. David Porras
Associate Dean

Debbie Ray
Director of Operations

Denise Harrell
Director, Recruitment and Retention

Lucy Bodet
Academic Advisor, Cohort Programs

Jack Croghan
Program Administrator, Sports and Entertainment Management

Carly Surkamp
Business Department Coordinator

Jennifer Andonoff
Computer and Information Sciences Department Coordinator

Lynne Mumbe
Graduate Assistant

Sheanique Syms
Graduate Assistant

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

Rich Dippel, JD
Associate Professor
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. Dippel's areas
of teaching include legal procedure management of evidence and accounting information
systems. Dippel'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.

Mitch Ellison, PhD
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. Ellison 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 PhD
in Finance from Saint Louis University. On a non-work-related note he enjoys biking,
travel and building things.

Baichun Feng, PhD
Associate Professor
Baichun Feng, PhD, 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 and Operations Research from The Pennsylvania
State University. Feng’s research interests focus on understanding the complexities
of outsourcing and supply chain management. Feng also has been working in the area
of transportation and the interface of finance and operations management. Feng’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, PhD
Professor, MBA Program Director
Steve Hinson, PhD, 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. Hinson's teaching responsibilities include principles
of economics, macroeconomics and international economics. His areas of research include
sustainability and income inequality.

Troy Luh, PhD
Professor
Troy Luh, PhD, 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. Luh's areas of teaching include intermediate accounting, auditing, business
valuation and forensic accounting. His areas of research include business valuation
and forensic accounting. Luh has been published in The Tax Advisor, The Asset and The St. Louis Business Journal.

Daniel K. Mueller, PhD
Visiting Assistant Professor
Daniel Mueller, PhD, is a visiting professor at Webster University Walker School of
Business & Technology redesigning the graduate program in Health Administration. Recently,
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, Mueller served as assistant vice chancellor for International Affairs
at Washington University School of Medicine and director of International Health Services.
Mueller is a returned Peace Corp volunteer and past county director for the U.S. Peace
Corps. 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, PhD
Professor
Run Niu, PhD, 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. Niu's areas of teaching
include operations management, management science and related courses. Niu'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.

Mary Paine, MPhil, DHSc, RN
Assistant Professor
Mary Paine, MPhil, DHSc, RN, is an experienced health care executive and epidemiologist.
Her areas of expertise include clinical trials research, evidence-based medicine and
health care technology assessment, medical communications and informatics. Paine has
previously held senior management positions in the home care, health insurance and
medical communications industries. She also has experience as an epidemiologist for
numerous clinical trials, as well as the Yale Congestive Heart Failure Study.
Paine received a BSN degree from Georgetown University, a Master of Philosophy degree
in chronic disease epidemiology from Yale University and a Doctor of Health Science
degree with a concentration in leadership and organizational behavior from A.T. Still
University. Awards received include the National Research Service Award from the National
Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a Yale Fellowship, the Georgetown University Dean’s
Citation and membership in Sigma Theta Tau, the National Honor Society of Nursing.
Her clinical background is in cardiology, renal transplant and care management.

Brad Scott, PhD
Professor
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.
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, DSc
Assistant Professor
Doug Whitman earned a Doctor of Science in Healthcare Management from the University
of Alabama Birmingham. He earned an MBA at Duke University and his undergraduate degree
at the University of Arkansas. He is currently an MHA program lead and assistant professor
of Health Administration in the Walker School of Business & Technology at Webster
University in St. Louis. He began teaching Healthcare Management at the University
of North Carolina in 2014.
Prior to entering academia, Whitman served in various healthcare leadership positions
for 20 years, including president of small nonprofit healthcare organization, vice
president of a large national healthcare company and director of strategic growth
for a mid-sized regional healthcare company. Most recently, he was a healthcare consultant
specializing in crisis change management. Professional licenses include licensed nursing
home administrator and licensed assisted living administrator. Before entering healthcare,
he was CEO of a technology startup, senior vice president of a broadcasting company
and managing director of an investment bank.
Whitman was raised in Seattle and lived in Arkansas and North Carolina before moving
to Missouri in 2020. He is married to an elementary school teacher, and the couple
has two children. He is also a professional DJ on the side … he likes his classic
rock loud. He enjoys running, runs a 5K most mornings before work, and has completed
a dozen marathons and triathlons.
*Ed Spillane, Faculty Emeritus

Willie Rivers
Department Chair, Instructor, Data Analytics

Adewale Ashogbon, PhD
Visiting Assistant Professor, Information Technology Management
Adewale Ashogbon earned a BS in Business Administration from the University of Benin
(Nigeria), a MS in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Computer Technology
Marketing from University of Lagos (Nigeria) and a PhD in Business Administration
from Northcentral University (San Diego, California). His doctoral dissertation was
titled Examining the Role of Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DOI) in the Cloud Computing
Adoption: International Marketing Organization Perspective.
Ashogbon began teaching at Webster University in 2023. Prior to that, he worked for
Morgan Stanley, the State of North Carolina and United Bank, among others. He holds
many certifications, including Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified
Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified in Risk and Information System Controls
(CRISC) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

Brenda Boyce, MS
Associate Professor
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. Boyce's
areas of teaching includes data structures, statistics, research methodology and systems
concepts.

Pengpeng Chen
Assistant Professor, Computer Information Systems

Velimir Ćosić, MS
Instructor, Cybersecurity
Velimir Ćosić is a cybersecurity management solutions engineer who focuses
on finding solutions and working collaboratively in a team environment. Ćosić has
skills in implementing highly secure network operations and effectively managing innovative
customers and technical support strategies. He has a
comprehensive understanding of computer hardware and software, including installation,
configuration, management, troubleshooting and support, and is well-versed in the
concepts of relational databases, various programming languages and web applications.
Ćosić can communicate fluently in multiple languages, including English, Croatian
and German, with and advanced grasp of Spanish. He received his bachelor's degree
in Computer Science with an Emphasis in IT Management and his master's degree in Cybersecurity
from Webster University.

Jason Dill, MBA
Instructor, Cybersecurity
Jason Dill has a BS in Computer Science and an MBA from Webster University. He has
over 20 years of experience in the field of information management as a developer,
manager and consultant. He previously served as an adjunct professor teaching courses
that include software development, mobile technologies and cybersecurity.

Lasanthi Gamage, PhD
Assistant Professor, Computer Science
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 has
over five years of undergraduate teaching experience.

Xue Li, PhD
Assistant Professor, Computer Science

Peter Maher, PhD
Professor, Computer Science
Peter Maher, PhD, 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. Maher's areas of teaching include data structures and
algorithms, object oriented analysis and design and agile software development. Maher'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 and for the 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.

Ali Ovlia, DMgt
Professor, Computer Science
Ali Ovlia, PhD, 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. Ovlia's
areas of teaching include information systems, decision support systems, information
analysis data communications and networks architecture. Ovlia's areas of research
include systems modeling intelligence systems, and his book, "Accounting Information
System: The Crossroads of Accounting and IT," was published in 2011.

Tonya Rivers
Instructor, Business Analytics

Quinn Shao, MA, MS
Professor, Computer Science
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. 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
and Information Science) at ACM Southeast Conference.

Xiaoyuan Suo, PhD
Associate Professor, Computer Science
Xiaoyuan Suo, PhD, received her BS, MS and PhD in computer science from Georgia State
University. 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.

JiangPing Wang, PhD
Associate Professor
JiangPing Wang, PhD, has a BA in Electrical Engineering from Chongqing University
in Chongqing, China, a MS in Information Systems from the University of Leeds in Leeds,
U.K. and a PhD in Engineering Management from the Missouri University of Science and
Technology in Rolla, Missouri. 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.
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

Eric Rhiney, PhD
Chair, Associate Professor
Eric Rhiney, PhD, holds a BSBA in Marketing from the University of Central Missouri,
an MBA from Webster University, and 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 (cross-cultural identity) and branding
(heritage branding).

Barrett Baebler, PhD
Associate Professor
Barrett Baebler, PhD, 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. 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, PhD
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 value-based 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, board-certified coach and catalyst for improved
productivity and performance.

Al Marcella, PhD
Professor
Albert J. Marcella Jr., PhD, 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. Marcella's areas of teaching include ITM security and information technology.
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."

Olumoye Mosud
Visiting Professor , Information Technology Management

Doug O'Bannon, PhD
Professor
Doug O'Bannon, PhD, has a BS in Management from Arizona State University, an MBA 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 (HRM). O'Bannon's areas of teaching include economics, management, HRM,
labor relations, strategic HRM and strategic management. O'Bannon's research interests
include top management teams, expectancy-valence as a predictor of resource movement
and real-time strategy. O'Bannon 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, PhD
Professor
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. Palmer's areas of teaching are human resource management and organizational
behavior. Her areas of research include management education, recruitment and organizational
reputation. Palmer 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, DBA
Assistant Professor, Management
Ray-Chaudhuri, PhD, 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 of higher education administration.

Joe Roberts, PhD
Associate Professor
Joe Roberts, PhD, 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,
and has 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." Roberts
works as an entrepreneurship consultant and has extensive experience helping entrepreneurs
procure start-up funding.

Dustin Smith, PhD
Associate Professor
Dustin Smith, PhD, received his PhD from Washington State University with an emphasis
on corporate social responsibility and business strategy. 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 Smith has worked for the Boeing Commercial Airplanes
division and for the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in southeast Washington State.

Ece Tuncel, PhD
Professor
Ece Tuncel, PhD, holds a BS Business Administration and a MS 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. 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. Tuncel has taught courses in the areas of organizational behavior,
negotiation, decision-making and international management. She is a native of Turkey.
*Jeff Haldeman, Faculty Emeritus
*Tom Quirk, Faculty Emeritus
Brian Ashworth
Member-at-Large, MBA ’00
Amanda Bohnert
Chief Marketing Officer, S. M. Wilson & Co., BA ’04, MA ’09
Traci O'Bryan
CEO, Arcturis Inc.
Rodney Crim
CEO and President, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership
Charles "Charlie" A. Dill
Emeritus Member
Jessica Edwards
Partner, BCLP Law: Bryan, Cave, Leighton, Paisner
Jun Fabella
CEO and Managing Partner, ANiGENT, MBA ’94
Chuck Feltz
CEO, Human Capital Institute
Sara Govero
President, Govero Asset Management
Keith Lanier
Senior Vice President, Technology and Operations, Bank of America, BA ’91
Lydia Padilla
President, TRC Professional Solutions
Valerie E. Patton
Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at Greater St. Louis, Inc.
Michael Pruett
Co-Founder and Executive Advisor, DynaLabs. MBA ’94
Andre Stevens
Principal, Slalom
Chris Varvares
Vice President and Co-Head of U.S. Economics, Macroeconomic Advisers by IHS Markit