Fall Brings New Faculty Members
Welcome New Faculty
Nine new assistant professors – all tenure or tenure-track assignments – joined the Jindal School this autumn. Five of the six academic areas in the school, as well as Executive Education hired at least one new faculty member, with the Information Systems Area gaining the most with six new hires.
The 19 new hires bring the Jindal School’s full-time faculty total to 218.
Associate Professor in Operations Management
Ph.D. in Machine Learning, Carnegie Mellon University
Fall Courses: Prescriptive Analytics
Research Interests: Machine Learning; Supply Chain Management; Data Analytics
I am also interested in data integrity questions that inevitably arise in data-driven management systems, such as the protection of privacy of customers’ sensitive information and ensuring that fair decisions are being made when personalized data are being incorporated in decision-making processes.
“At UT Dallas I will be teaching a class that focuses primarily on optimization and regression methods for real-world modeling and decision making, which is very different from database courses that I taught while at the University of Florida. I find this change exciting.”
Assistant Professor in Finance and Managerial Economics
Ph.D. in Economics, University of Maryland
Fall Courses: Business Administration; Managerial Economics
Research Interests:Behavioral Economics; Experimental Economics; Decision Theory
I first discovered behavioral economics (sometimes called psychology and economics) when I was at UC Berkeley. I was fascinated by the approaches adopted in behavioral economics to study human behaviors.
“UT Dallas has a vibrant academic environment with a wealth of amazing colleagues and students. I look forward to becoming a part of the Comet family.”
Assistant Professor in Organizations, Strategy, and Intl. Management
Ph.D. in Human Resource Studies, Cornell University
Fall Courses: Human Resource Management; Organizational Behavior
Research Interests:Strategic Human Resources Management; Human Capital
I firmly believe “people” make a difference, especially in the workplace. This belief has naturally led to my research. I am interested in how managers can design and implement human resource systems that enable employees to use their skills effectively and be motivated, ultimately contributing to the firm’s competitive advantage.
“I love the fact that UT Dallas comprises a diverse group of students. I look forward to interacting with them and learning different perspectives in my classes!”
Assistant Professor in Information Systems
Ph.D. in Algorithms, Combinatorics and Optimization, Carnegie Mellon University
Research Interests:Algorithms and Machine Learning
am interested in using machine learning to improve algorithm design for optimization and decision-making. My Ph.D. adviser proposed the topic of utilizing machine learning to improve how a certain scheduling problem was solved. This sounded interesting to me, and the machine learning approach seemed like a natural idea at the time. The problem turned out to be challenging and we ended up with some interesting results.
“Ever since I got a job tutoring mathematics during my undergraduate studies, I have been passionate about teaching. I think JSOM is going to be a great place for me to start my career as a professor and teach.”
Assistant Professor in Information Systems
Ph.D. in Information Systems, KAIST College of Business
Research Interests: Digital Nudging; Mobile Technology; AI
“My research programs are aimed at providing valuable implications for business communities and various academic disciplines with respect to the leveraging of innovative technologies. I am particularly interested in identifying both the dark and bright sides of such innovations from economic and welfare perspectives.”
Assistant Professor in Organizations, Strategy, and Intl. Management
Ph.D. in Strategic Management, Michigan State University
Fall Courses: Business Policy
Research Interests: Corporate Governance; Shareholder Activism
Shareholder activism has been a powerful influence on many companies and everyone who participates in the stock market. Prominent companies such as Apple, GM, Intel, and Twitter—as well as many DFW-based companies like Exxon, AT&T, and Kimberly-Clark— have been targets of activism. I am fascinated by the power of shareholder democracy in shaping firms’ strategic choices.
“UTD is one of the most diverse academic communities in the U.S., and students are held to high standards both academically and professionally. I am excited to create an inclusive, intellectually stimulating classroom with the students here.”
Assistant Professor in Operations Management
Ph.D. in Operations Management, Carnegie Mellon University
Research Interests:Smart City Operations; Smart Transportation
I became interested in this topic as a Ph.D. student when I saw autonomous cars. I was intrigued by how new technologies, such as autonomous vehicles, can revolutionize our cities, and wanted to study and understand their effects better.
“I hope to impact our future transportation by working directly with industry experts and municipal governments. As a teacher, I hope to show the importance of the field of operations management to my students and to learn from them.”
Assistant Professor in Finance and Managerial Economics
Ph.D. in Business Administration, Boston College
Fall Courses:Business Finance
Research Interests:Asset Pricing and Markets; Exchange-Traded Funds
The ETF industry is becoming of particular interest to academics, regulators, and practitioners. Through my time at the SEC, I gained important institutional knowledge about the ETF industry that I have sought to incorporate into my research.
“I am excited about introducing students to finance research being conducted both at UTD and throughout our profession. I am also excited about utilizing my experience at the SEC and in financial litigation matters to help make financial concepts more tangible and grounded for my students.”
Assistant Professor in Accounting
Ph.D. in Accounting, Boston University
Fall Courses: Financial Accounting
Research Interests:: Corporate Financial Disclosures, Machine Learning Applications
My professional experience taught me that companies provide rich information through textual disclosures. These disclosures are essential inputs into investors’ decision models. However, measuring and “understanding” the role of text in capital markets has traditionally been very challenging.
“Teaching is a direct attempt to make an impact on future generations of business leaders. UT Dallas students have a reputation for being hardworking and ambitious individuals.”
Professor of Instruction and Director of the Organizational Behavior, Coaching, and Consulting Program
Ph.D. in Speech Communication, Louisiana State University
Fall Courses: Business Policy
Research Interests: Leadership Concepts and Practices; Neuropsychology of Leadership
I am teaching and also working in the Corporate Training Department/Leadership Center, developing and delivering leadership programs to individuals employed by a variety of corporations. I hope to build a Leadership Center which will offer evidenced-based leadership programs to help leaders create more humane and productive workplaces.
Professor of Practice in Organizations, Strategy, and Intl. Management and Director of the Undergraduate Healthcare Management Program
MBA, University of Texas at Dallas
JD, The University of Texas at Austin
Fall Courses: Healthcare Regulation; Introduction to Healthcare Management; Capstone for Healthcare Management
“Healthcare needs to grow its workforce. I describe that workforce as diligent, creative, strategic and kind. Our workforce cares about improving systems of care while meeting the needs of our patients, colleagues and the community. While at UT Dallas, I would like to play a key role in preparing students to enter this service-focused profession to meet the community’s needs.”
Associate Professor of Instruction in Information Systems
Ph.D. in Engineering Management, Southern Methodist University
Fall Courses:Database Foundations for Business Analytics; Big Data Analytics; Cloud Computing Fundamentals
Research Interests:Wireless Broadband Technologies
It’s all about engineering and optimizations where I can find the gaps and then use engineering tools and concepts to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks.
“As a strategic, goal-oriented expert with extensive management and technical experience, I am looking to, where I can, enhance school programs, streamline processes and bring educational experiences to the next level.”
Associate Professor of Instruction in Operations Management
Ph.D. in Strategy, Program and Project Management, SKEMA Business School, France
Fall Courses: Project Management in Engineering and Operations; Project Management; Managerial Methods in Decision Making Under Uncertainty; Systems Project Management in Engineering and Operations
Research Interests: Agile Project Management; Electronic Commerce; Virtual Communication
Agile project management is a new approach being implemented by many companies. However, there’s scant research in how these agile approaches fit with most organizations or how they impact their employees, thus research in this field is important in clarifying the future of agile project management approaches.
Associate Professor of Practice in Organizations, Strategy, and Intl. Management
DBA, SMC University, Switzerland
Fall Courses: Introduction to Human Resource Management
Research Interests: Human Performance Improvement Technology
I became interested in this topic through extensive workplace experience and leading performance improvement projects as part of my Lean Sigma Master Black Belt appointment.
“I enjoy preparing the next generation of HR professionals to be leaders in business and around the world.”
Associate Professor of Instruction in Organizations, Strategy, and Intl. Management
Ph.D. in Sociology, University of Cincinnati
Fall Courses: Introduction to Professionalism and Communication in Business
Research Interests: Advertising and Race; Media and Pedagogy
I’ve always been curious how businesses decide how to market products and whether what they are depicting reflects actual society or whether it is an idea the marketer wants to project either to present the company a certain way or to make consumers feel a certain way about themselves.
“UT Dallas is an elite university with a great mix of students and faculty members who are focused on innovative education and research. My goal is to work with students to ensure that each individual is successful both in my class and as a student at UTD, learning skills that are helpful both as students and in the workplace.”
Associate Professor of Instruction in Information Systems
Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Texas at Dallas
Fall Courses: Applied Machine Learning; Mobile Web Application Development
Research Interests:Data Engineering
Our world has never seen so much information being collected so rapidly. Smart sensors perceive real-world scenarios, capture relevant data and transmit it for further analysis. I am interested in figuring out how to optimize related issues in data collection and analysis.
“UT Dallas is my alma mater. As a former international graduate student and a four-year teaching assistant, the wonderful professors I met at UTD inspired me to become a lecturer, with the opportunities to work closely with students and learn more about data and information. I am also delighted to be part of such a diverse, thriving university.”
Assistant Professor of Instruction in Information Systems
MS in Information System, Eastern Michigan University
MBA, Eastern Michigan University
Fall Courses: Database Foundations for Business Analytics; Database Fundamentals; Foundations of Business Intelligence
Research Interests: Big Data; Business Intelligence; Cybersecurity
I have been working with database systems for more than 20 years. Securing information has become a critical task for all organizations. Since databases hold a lot of valuable information, it is always a prime target for hackers. I have worked in database and application security for the last few years for various customers.
“I look forward to working with highly talented professors and inspiring students. I want to share my 30 years of industry knowledge with students to prepare them for future jobs.”
Assistant Professor of Instruction in Information Systems
Ph.D. in Computational Intelligence in Industrial Applications, Wichita State University
Fall Courses: Object Oriented Programming in Python; Web Analytics
Research Interests: Applied Machine Learning; Operations Research; Analytics
I first became interested in analyzing big data and how to extract information from the abundance of data. That further interested me in developing systems and models (using the newly found information from big data) which could provide value-added applications for businesses.
“UT Dallas is a leader in innovation and research with a diverse student community. I am excited to be a part of the team that is committed to delivering excellent education and research.”
Visiting Instructional Assistant Professor in Finance and Managerial Economics
Ph.D. in Economics, University of Pittsburgh
Fall Courses: Applied Econometrics and Time Series Analysis
“JSOM is a big school with a lot of programs, a lot of students, a lot of variety and a lot of opportunities. This year, I have two goals: 1) Get my first publication in Management Science, and 2) Switch to a permanent position next year.”
Professor of Practice and Director for the Alliance for Physician Leadership
Masters in Healthcare Administration, Penn State University
Fall Courses: U.S. Healthcare System; Alliance for Physician Leadership courses; Health Care Leadership and Management for Professionals courses
“I love teaching at UT Dallas. The students are eager to hear about healthcare from real-world experience, which I have over 40 years of. They are eager to not only listen but share their own very diverse points of view in a safe classroom environment. We all learn from listening to each other.”
Associate Professor of Instruction in Operations Management
Ph.D. in Mathematics, University of Houston
Fall Courses: Advanced Statistics for Data Science; Managerial Methods in Decision Making Under Uncertainty
I have been at UTD for seven years in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, where I taught probability and statistics courses for computer science majors. Previously, I researched certain topics in pure mathematics (functional analysis and abstract algebra). At JSOM, I will switch to math/stat education and teaching methods.
“My high school calculus teacher made learning calculus as wonderous to me as discovering a new planet. To make the complex understandable and to make complicated things like math and stats exciting is the craft I want to hone.”