NEWS
2018 ‘Just Business’ Grant Recipients Announced for College of Business
Dr. Chris Martin, dean of Louisiana Tech University’s College of Business, recently announced the “Just Business” grant award recipients for 2018.
“The projects selected this year truly support our mission to connect business with technology and innovation,” said Dr. Martin. “I’m grateful to our alumni and friends for investing in this initiative again this year. Their support allowed us to award eight grants to impactful projects totaling $19,000 — nearly doubling our awards from last academic year.”
“Just Business” is a giving circle comprised of College of Business alumni and friends who pool financial resources, then jointly decide how the funds will be invested. The group awards grants for student, staff, and faculty projects that advance the mission of the College of Business.
The 2018 recipients are as follows:
Professor and Head of the Department of Marketing and Analysis, Dr. Barry Babin The grant will purchase eye-tracking tools, software, and accessories for consumer research and student exposure to new marketing technology. The eye-tracking tool, sensor units that track the eye movement of a research participant to provide data on consumer response, will allow students to experience the latest technology used by market research firms, study the behavior of online consumers, and apply observations to consulting and academic projects.
Associate Professor of Marketing, Dr. Sean Dwyer Grant funds will allow College of Business students to become certified in Microsoft Excel, a certification that demonstrates superiority in this critical tool used by virtually every function of U.S. business. Students will be made aware of this opportunity to differentiate themselves from other job candidates and have financial support for the costs of achieving certification.
Professor and Head of the Department of Economics and Finance, Dr. Otis Gilley The grant will allow economics students and faculty to attend the Economics Scholars Program, an annual conference highlighting undergraduate research in economic and business co-hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and Austin College. Participation in the conference provides an incentive for current and future students to become actively engaged in research and offers exposure on a national level.
Doctoral student, Randi Jiang John Ed Barnes Endowed Eminent Scholar in Data Analytics, Dr. Tom Stafford Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, Dr. Jake Lee Professor and Head of the Department of Computer Information Systems, Dr. Selwyn Ellis This research project, “The Role of Ethical Climate on Employee’s Perceived Security Risk,” will investigate factors that may answer how and why an organization may have internal data breaches, with specific focus on the following questions: 1) Will any elements of the Fraud Triangle affect user’s perceptions of risk assessment? 2) Will ethical climates within an organization decrease the possibility of an internal data breach? The grant will be used to fund a data collection tool, ultimately leading to a richer data set for analysis.
Assistant Professor of Economics, Dr. Patrick Scott The grant will allow Dr. Scott to build a website that provides forecasts of macroeconomic variables for the State of Louisiana. Particular emphasis will be placed on parish-level and MSA-level data to ensure forecasts are more specific for business leaders, policy makers, and new business entrepreneurs. Students within the economics program will have the opportunity to assist with data analytics.
Assistant Professor of Management, Dr. Kevin Watson The grant will create a library of study materials necessary for sustainable supply chain management majors to prepare for the APICS CPIM exam. This certification, recognized internationally by one of the world’s premier providers of practitioner education in production and inventory management, will differentiate students and allow for increased earning power. Additionally, co-curricular educational opportunities will be provided through the existing Supply Chain Club to further prepare for the CPIM exam. A second award will fund a trip to the Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Mississippi, for approximately 40-50 sustainable supply chain management students. The trip will leverage classroom curriculum and allow students to observe a working mature LEAN facility and interact with employees and management.
Delta Sigma Pi – Beta Psi Chapter Grant funding will support the annual Delta Sigma Pi alumni banquet and fund travel costs and registration fees for newly elected officers and members to attend LEAD, a weekend-long conference with educational seminars and networking events. Active at Louisiana Tech since 1948, the mission of Delta Sigma Pi is to equip members to achieve maximum impact in studies, careers, communities, civic involvement and personal relationships.
For more information or to become involved with the “Just Business” giving circle, contact Senior Director of Development Mary Susan Britt at marysusan@latechalumni.com.
“The projects selected this year truly support our mission to connect business with technology and innovation,” said Dr. Martin. “I’m grateful to our alumni and friends for investing in this initiative again this year. Their support allowed us to award eight grants to impactful projects totaling $19,000 — nearly doubling our awards from last academic year.”
“Just Business” is a giving circle comprised of College of Business alumni and friends who pool financial resources, then jointly decide how the funds will be invested. The group awards grants for student, staff, and faculty projects that advance the mission of the College of Business.
The 2018 recipients are as follows:
Professor and Head of the Department of Marketing and Analysis, Dr. Barry Babin The grant will purchase eye-tracking tools, software, and accessories for consumer research and student exposure to new marketing technology. The eye-tracking tool, sensor units that track the eye movement of a research participant to provide data on consumer response, will allow students to experience the latest technology used by market research firms, study the behavior of online consumers, and apply observations to consulting and academic projects.
Associate Professor of Marketing, Dr. Sean Dwyer Grant funds will allow College of Business students to become certified in Microsoft Excel, a certification that demonstrates superiority in this critical tool used by virtually every function of U.S. business. Students will be made aware of this opportunity to differentiate themselves from other job candidates and have financial support for the costs of achieving certification.
Professor and Head of the Department of Economics and Finance, Dr. Otis Gilley The grant will allow economics students and faculty to attend the Economics Scholars Program, an annual conference highlighting undergraduate research in economic and business co-hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and Austin College. Participation in the conference provides an incentive for current and future students to become actively engaged in research and offers exposure on a national level.
Doctoral student, Randi Jiang John Ed Barnes Endowed Eminent Scholar in Data Analytics, Dr. Tom Stafford Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, Dr. Jake Lee Professor and Head of the Department of Computer Information Systems, Dr. Selwyn Ellis This research project, “The Role of Ethical Climate on Employee’s Perceived Security Risk,” will investigate factors that may answer how and why an organization may have internal data breaches, with specific focus on the following questions: 1) Will any elements of the Fraud Triangle affect user’s perceptions of risk assessment? 2) Will ethical climates within an organization decrease the possibility of an internal data breach? The grant will be used to fund a data collection tool, ultimately leading to a richer data set for analysis.
Assistant Professor of Economics, Dr. Patrick Scott The grant will allow Dr. Scott to build a website that provides forecasts of macroeconomic variables for the State of Louisiana. Particular emphasis will be placed on parish-level and MSA-level data to ensure forecasts are more specific for business leaders, policy makers, and new business entrepreneurs. Students within the economics program will have the opportunity to assist with data analytics.
Assistant Professor of Management, Dr. Kevin Watson The grant will create a library of study materials necessary for sustainable supply chain management majors to prepare for the APICS CPIM exam. This certification, recognized internationally by one of the world’s premier providers of practitioner education in production and inventory management, will differentiate students and allow for increased earning power. Additionally, co-curricular educational opportunities will be provided through the existing Supply Chain Club to further prepare for the CPIM exam. A second award will fund a trip to the Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Mississippi, for approximately 40-50 sustainable supply chain management students. The trip will leverage classroom curriculum and allow students to observe a working mature LEAN facility and interact with employees and management.
Delta Sigma Pi – Beta Psi Chapter Grant funding will support the annual Delta Sigma Pi alumni banquet and fund travel costs and registration fees for newly elected officers and members to attend LEAD, a weekend-long conference with educational seminars and networking events. Active at Louisiana Tech since 1948, the mission of Delta Sigma Pi is to equip members to achieve maximum impact in studies, careers, communities, civic involvement and personal relationships.
For more information or to become involved with the “Just Business” giving circle, contact Senior Director of Development Mary Susan Britt at marysusan@latechalumni.com.