September 2025 Desk of the Dean

What an exciting time to be part of the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business & Technology! My first few weeks in the CoBT have gone by quickly, and I am sure the coming weeks will soon feel like a (fun) blur. I am so happy to be part of the team here, and I have been welcomed by everyone – faculty, staff, alumni, students, and members of the Milledgeville community. Thank you to everyone who has reached out, stopped by, or welcomed me into your office. GCSU and CoBT will continue the search for a new dean this year, and my goal is to ensure that everything is in place and ready for the new dean to hit the ground running!

The campus is buzzing with over 7,200 students—our highest enrollment ever. The CoBT is leading this growth with record enrollments:

• 554 new freshmen business majors (32% of all new students)
• 2,247 total business students (30% of campus)

This fall, there are many opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to engage with the business community, including events like the Executive Forum, a workshop and mixer to learn about internship opportunities, resume workshops, career fairs, Column Society presentations, and much more. We also invite you to read about our ten new CoBT faculty members later in this newsletter. Please reach out and make sure they feel welcome.

I welcome you to join us this semester! Attend an event, hire an intern, speak to a class, judge a competition, or meet with a student organization. I urge you to engage with the CoBT as we provide business and technology education for the public good!

Sincerely,

Dr. Faye McIntyre

Interim Dean

• Dr. Mohammad Jizi took over as Interim Department Chair of Accounting & Business Law on August 1st.

• Chloe Crosby was named a Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Scholar. Chloe is the first GCSU student to win this scholarship in nearly 10 years. This scholarship is the largest single scholarship available to accounting students. Congratulations to Chloe!

• Dr. Mohammad Jizi's co-authored paper on AI and Robotic Process Automation was accepted in the Applied Accounting Research Journal.

• Dr. Sandria Stephenson presented "Investigating the Relationship Between Students’ Major and Visual Analysis Skills: An Odds Ratio Experiment" at the American Accounting Association Annual Conference and "Using Learning Inventories to Promote Success in Accounting Courses" at the Conference on Teaching and Learning in Accounting.

• Over the past few months, Dr. Nicholas Creel was featured in numerous publications including New York Times, Newsweek, World Politics Review, Wall Street Journal, Atlanta Journal Constitution, & The Hill.

Be sure to read the CoBT’s 2024-2025 Annual Report, available online at College of Business & Technology Annual Report by Georgia College & State University. The report is filled with faculty and alumni highlights, student success stories, and more.

Dr. Adel Almasarwah is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Georgia College & State University, where he has been a faculty member since 2022 and currently serves as the MAcc assessment coordinator. He holds a PhD in Accounting from Loughborough University, one of the UK’s top institutions, and brings extensive international teaching experience across six countries—the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Kuwait, India, and Jordan—delivering undergraduate and graduate courses in Financial Accounting and Auditing. His academic contributions include high-quality publications with Wiley, Emerald, Inderscience, Business Perspectives, and Taylor & Francis, and he was honored with the Emerald Literati Award (2020) and the CoBT Excellence in Scholarship & Creative Endeavors Award (2025). Beyond research and teaching, Dr. Almasarwah has served on conference and workshop committees and held leadership roles such as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Hashemite University and Financial Manager at Riyadah & Olympic Co. Through these experiences, he has developed expertise in management, data analysis, and strategic planning.

Dr. Almasarwah in the classroom

Meet our GCSU graduate who passed all four CPA sections while completing her MAcc

Career Journey & Inspiration After working part-time with Nichols Cauley & Associates during her BBA and MAcc programs, Mary Beth joined full-time as a staff accountant in audit and was promoted to senior audit accountant in July 2024. She credits Professor Manrodt's Accounting Profession class with opening her eyes to the industry's opportunities and helping her realize that "communication is a key skill in accounting, and that you don't just hide away crunching numbers all day."

Proud Accomplishment "I passed all four sections of the CPA exam while completing my MAcc at GCSU and working part-time for Nichols Cauley. Having the CPA completed early in my career is something that I am very grateful to have been able to accomplish."

GCSU's Impact The professors genuinely cared for her success, providing learning opportunities that shaped who she is today—from the audit risk model with Dr. Thomas, to ESG independent study with Professor El-Jourbagy, to networking skills from Professor Manrodt. "Overall, it was the interpersonal communication and innovative teaching of all of the professors I had during my time at GCSU that prepared me for my career."

Advice for Current Students "Build as many relationships as you can with students, professors, leaders, everyone. Of course, this will make your college experience better, but it will also be so valuable as you transition into the post-college world."

Industry Outlook Mary Beth sees technological changes accelerating in accounting and emphasizes that Excel skills and effective communication are most valuable for aspiring accountants. On AI's impact: "AI has already had a huge impact in the accounting industry. I think that it presents a lot of opportunities for efficiency when used correctly."

Dr. Ellen Wang joins us with a PhD in Accounting from the University of Houston. Her research explores the intersection of auditing, financial accounting, and macroeconomics, particularly focusing on how manager-auditor interactions affect financial reporting quality. Before academia, she worked in public accounting and industry, holding CPA licensure in California. Dr. Wang's teaching philosophy centers on active learning and real-world application, encouraging students to view accounting as a tool for decision-making and communication. The faculty's genuine warmth and supportive community, along with the town's beautiful and peaceful atmosphere drew Dr. Wang to Georgia College.

Dr. Kalvin Mudrow completed his PhD in Economics at West Virginia University, where he was recognized as the Economics Department's Best Doctoral Student. His research focuses on applied microeconomics, particularly education and health economics, using data-driven approaches to public policy. Kalvin brings enthusiasm to the classroom, making economics accessible through personal connections and real-world applications. He has taught classes ranging from 40 to 300 students across various formats. Outside academics, he enjoys basketball, volleyball, hiking, and video games. He was drawn to Georgia College for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and meaningful faculty-student relationships.

Dr. Zander Gordan brings a PhD from Georgia State and five years of professional experience as a fisheries economics contractor for NOAA Fisheries. After returning to teaching as an adjunct, he found classroom time was "routinely the highlight of my week" and decided to pursue teaching full-time. His teaching style emphasizes real-world examples from contemporary contexts and economic history, promoting data and statistical literacy through diverse visualizations. Outside economics, he's married to Hannah, has an energetic dog named Cannoli, and is an avid electronic musician who produces original music and DJ sets.

Dr. Christian Koch brings over two decades of experience spanning academia and wealth management. He holds a DBA in Finance from the University of South Florida, where his dissertation examined Warren Buffett's investment approach, and graduated from Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program. As President of KAM South LLC, a registered investment advisory firm, he applies Buffett-inspired value investing strategies. Dr. Koch holds multiple certifications including CFP®, CPWA®, and CDFA®. His research focuses on wealth management, financial planning, and financial literacy. He chose Georgia College because "Georgia has always been on my mind—a place that blends professional opportunity with personal meaning."

Dr. Karim Feroz earned his PhD in Information and Technology Management from Korea's elite KAIST, specializing in digital transformation and sustainable innovation. Before joining academia, he served as a senior digital policy specialist and researcher in Afghanistan and Korea. His interdisciplinary research focuses on digital transformation, data analytics, AI, and sustainability. He's fluent in five languages and serves as lead author of Digital Analytics for Marketing. Dr. Feroz chose Georgia College for a deeply personal reason: "One word. Love." He met his wife Jessica in Korea, and Georgia College's community and proximity to their Warner Robins home made it the perfect professional match.

Colton Thompson, a 2018 GCSU computer science graduate, returns as a Lecturer of Data Science after earning his master's in software engineering from Kennesaw State. He is currently pursuing a second master's at Georgia Tech (expected May 2026). For three years, he taught CSCI 1301 part-time while working as a senior software engineer at nCino, where mentoring junior developers became his favorite responsibility. His research interests include AI ethics and bias in machine learning. Thompson chose to return because "Georgia College is not just where I pursued my studies; it's where I experienced personal growth, and I want to give back to it."

Lilian Alfaro is a proud "double bobcat" who recently completed her MMIS in August 2025 after earning her BBA in MIS. Born in El Salvador and raised in Texas, she brings multicultural perspectives and professional experience in insurance, finance, SAP, networking, and management, and has been the project lead for university partnerships with local businesses. She returned to Georgia College because "the mentorship and encouragement I received from faculty became a driving force in my decision to return to the very community that supported my academic journey."

Chen Zhou is a double GCSU alumnus from Milledgeville, holding both BBA and Master's in MIS degrees. His career spans laboratory and e-commerce environments, focusing on systems support, workflow optimization, and team management. His teaching approach emphasizes exploration, feedback, and practical application, preferring to guide students through real issues rather than theoretical problems. Outside work, he explores emerging technologies like automation and AI while enjoying outdoor recreation and physical activities. He returned to Georgia College because of "its strong focus on student success and supportive academic community," wanting to give back to the faculty who provided lasting guidance during his academic journey.

Dr. Cherie Rains brings over 20 years of experience spanning higher education, corporate research, and nonprofit strategy. She holds a PhD in Consumer Behavior from Purdue University and has taught across undergraduate and graduate levels in the U.S. and abroad, including faculty roles in the Netherlands. Her research explores consumer-brand relationships, experiential learning, and AI integration in marketing and education. Before academia, she held senior leadership roles managing global research teams and developing customer experience strategies for Fortune 500 clients. She founded the Business College Connection Program at Lander University, pairing students with small businesses to create digital strategies while supporting local economic development.

Dr. Stephanie Austin brings nearly three decades of higher education experience and completed her DBA from Gardner-Webb University in 2024. Her academic journey began at the University of North Georgia and continued at Piedmont University where she earned her BA in Criminal Justice and MBA. Originally from Anderson, South Carolina, and raised in Elberton, Georgia, she now resides in Athens with her husband Marc and sons Marcus and Micah. She chose GCSU because of her long-standing admiration for the institution. Stephanie brings a deep commitment to student development and belief in education's transformative power.

Research & Publications

• Dr. Ania Rynarzewska: Co-authored "Underutilization of Contraceptive Counseling in the Emergency Department as a Service Failure for Victims of Intimate Partner Violence" (presented at Marketing & Public Policy Conference, DC) and coauthored "Factors Associated With Diagnosing Psoriatic Arthritis: A Retrospective Study in Northeast Georgia" (published in The Permanente Journal)
• Dr. Whitney Ginder: "From woefully woke to advocate ambassadors" (Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, A-ranked) and "Practice what you preach" (Public Relations Review, A-ranked)
• John Swinton: "Shrimply Irresistible" accepted by Journal of Economics Teaching; co-authored Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Macroeconomics textbooks (Top Hat)
• Christian Koch: "Bridging The Gap: Understanding the Disconnects Between Business Owners and Financial Advisors" (Informing Science Institute)
• Dr. Donghun Kim: "Information Asymmetry and Debt Structure" accepted for 2025 FMA Annual Meeting in Vancouver
• Dr. Mary Rickard: Presented "Enhancing Sales Education through AI Conducted Role Plays" at the faculty learning community
  
  

Professional Development

• Dr. Chris Serafin: Completed MA in Law from Regent University (third master's degree)
• Dr. Brent Evans: Earned MS in Financial Planning from University of Georgia
• Ms. Kendra Evans: Featured in Center for Teaching & Learning's Elevate to Celebrate newsletter for Elevator Pitch work
  
  

Student Impact

• Drs. Brent Evans and Cullen Wallace: Led Berlin/Zurich July study abroad program for 20+ students covering economics and finance.
• Drs. Jeannie Pridmore and Joy Godin: Led 20+ students on a May study abroad program to Germany, France, and Ireland.The students were trained by SAP in Design Thinking and completed a Design Thinking project with students from the University of Muenster.
• Dr. Ward Risvold and Ms. Caroline Collier: Led 20+ students to Ireland, England, and France to study AI literacy, AI governance, and AI prompting.