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FSU / College of Business / Academic Programs / Graduate Degrees / Master's Degrees / Business Administration (MBA) / MBA Faculty
MBA Faculty
"I suggest thinking of my class as participating in an ongoing, in-depth discussion with a group of colleagues."
Deborah J. Armstrong
"I suggest thinking of my class as participating in an ongoing, in-depth discussion with a group of colleagues."
Associate Professor of Management Information Systems
Research: Armstrong's research covers issues at the intersection of IS personnel and cognition involving the human aspects of technology, change and learning. Her research has appeared in MIS Quarterly, JMIS, and EJIS among others. View Armstrong's vitae.
MBA courses taught: ISM 5021 – Information & Technology Management. Through readings, cases, and projects, students confront issues associated with technology strategy and implementation. With online courses the structure of the course is designed to facilitate reflection, exploration and application of the materials covered each week. Each person makes sense of course materials from his/her own viewpoint (based on prior life/work experiences), and we share our viewpoints to gain an even greater understanding of our own and others’ interpretations.
Gary Benesh
SunTrust Professor of Finance
Research: Benesh’s research interests include investments and corporate finance with emphasis on market efficiency and dividend policy. His work has appeared in the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Financial Analysts Journal, the Journal of Financial Research, and Decision Sciences, among others. Benesh also serves as the Director of the Master of Science in Finance Program. View Benesh's vitae.
MBA courses taught: FIN 5515 – Investment Management. Analysis of financial assets with emphasis on the securities market, the valuation of individual securities, and portfolio management.
"An MBA is a great asset, especially if you can use it to differentiate yourself from the crowd. One of the most exciting things about an FSU MBA is the add-on certificates in areas like sales leadership, supply chain, etc. that allow you to further refine your personal brand."
Willy Bolander
Assistant Professor
Research: Bolander’s research focuses on interpersonal influence, developing new salespeople, and implementing change in the sales force. He has published in various outlets, including the Journal of Marketing and the Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management (where he also serves as an Editorial Review Board member.) View Bolander's vitae.
MBA courses taught: MAR 5408 – Sales Leadership. Provides an in-depth exploration of all things involved in hiring and (more importantly) developing salespeople, with a specific emphasis on action and application. Specifics topics include: hiring the best salespeople, developing not-quite-the-best salespeople, designing sales training curriculum, implementing training curriculum in the field, motivating and rewarding salespeople, systematically assessing and developing your sales force, and leading sales force transformation efforts in the face of employee resistance.
"I am especially proud of the level of interaction among our students. Discussion board activities reveal a wealth of experience that is shared in each course and benefits students throughout the program."
Patricia Born
"I am especially proud of the level of interaction among our students. Discussion board activities reveal a wealth of experience that is shared in each course and benefits students throughout the program."
Payne H. and Charlotte Hodges Midyette Eminent Scholar in Risk Management & Insurance
Research: Born's research includes insurer profitability, medical malpractice, tort reform, health-insurance market performance, risk retention groups, and catastrophe modeling. She has published in leading insurance academic journals including Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Journal of Risk and Insurance, Journal of Regulatory Economics, Columbia Business Law Review, and the Journal of Business and Economic Statistics. She currently serves on the boards of the American Risk and Insurance Association and the Asia-Pacific Risk and Insurance Association. She also serves on the advisory councils for the Griffith Insurance Education Foundation and SungKyunKwan University’s Graduate Program in Risk Management/Insurance in South Korea. View Born's vitae.
MBA courses taught: RMI 5017 – Fundamentals of Risk and Insurance. Develops concepts such as time value of money, statistical analysis, information technology, and management of risk exposure.
"Besides using state-of-the-art information and technology, I use frequent contacts (emails, office appointments, discussion board activity, etc.) to better communicate the theory and practical applications. Sometimes it takes special contacts, a challenge, or even humor."
William Christiansen
Department Chair & BB&T Professor of Finance
Research: Christiansen's areas of specialty are Macroeconomic Policy, Bank Regulatory Policy, Monetary Policy, and Asian Economics. His work has been published in the Journal of Real Estate Research, Journal of Insurance Regulation, Financial Review, Real Estate Review, and The Review of Research in Banking and Finance, among others. Christiansen also serves as director of the BB&T Center for Free Enterprise. In 2008, he was named the Florida State University Distinguished Teacher and has been awarded the MBA Professor of the Year seven times. He was also awarded the University Guardian of the Flame Award in 2008 and the Christopher Campbell Distinguished Faculty Award in 2012. View Christiansen's vitae.
MBA courses taught: MAN 5716 – Economics and Business Conditions. A combination of statistics and managerial economics designed to illustrate statistical methods and techniques by applying them to basic managerial issues. Also, problems of managing the firm in relation to the changing economic environment; analysis of major business fluctuations and development of forecasting techniques.
Gonul Colak
Assistant Professor
Research: Colak's research concentrates primarily in the areas of empirical corporate finance, theoretical modeling of corporate events, and methodologies issues used in the financial studies, with an emphasis on corporate events, Initial Public Offerings, M&As, spinoffs, and divestitures. His research has appeared in Review of Financial Studies, the Journal of Financial Economics, Journal of Corporate Finance and Journal of Financial Markets. View Colak's vitae.
MBA courses taught: FIN 5425 – Problems in Financial Management. An advanced case course including an in-depth study into selected topics such as valuation theory and the investment, financing, and dividend decisions of the firm.
"Among the significant distinctions between the traditional classroom and the online format is the tremendous diversity of education, work-related experience, and the resulting shared viewpoints."
Barry Diskin, Ph.D., MAI, CRE
Francis J. Nardozza Scholar
Research: Professor Diskin brings to his courses a balance of theory and practice. His experience includes more than two decades as an appraiser dealing almost exclusively with litigation support in eminent domain, property tax, and contamination issues. His research is directed toward valuation of complex properties including nuclear power plants, large retail facilities, and natural gas pipeline projects extending over hundreds of miles. View Diskin's vitae.
MBA courses taught: REE 5105 – Real Estate Valuation. Focused on the appraisal of income-producing property rather than single-family houses.
“By nature, human beings have an affinity for similarity. Once we understand this, we begin to realize the challenge of managing a diverse workforce.”
Ceasar Douglas
Department Chair and Jim Moran Associate Professor of Management
Research: Douglas' research interests are in the areas of work team development, leadership, leader political skill, and temporary workforce issues. He has published articles in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, Journal of Managerial Psychology, Journal of Management and Leadership Quarterly. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Douglas worked for 15 years as a manufacturing manager for Clorox Company, Sun Chemical, Hexcel Chemical, and Herman Miller. View Douglas' vitae.
MBA courses taught: MAN 5245 – Organizational Behavior. A dynamic examination of managerial concepts of human behavior in work organizations. Topics include motivation, leadership, reward systems, training, recruiting, selection, and job design. MAN 5721 – Strategy and Business Policy. The relation between theories and practices of management, utilizing theories in policy decision making and including a methodology for policy decision making.
“I am pleased to be part of the effort to deliver the program’s specialized sequence in real estate finance in the online MBA program to the desktops of working professionals throughout the nation.”
Dean Gatzlaff
Mark C. Bane Professor and Director, Center for Real Estate Education & Research
Research: Gatzlaff’s research focuses on real estate investment, housing, and urban economics. His work has been published in the leading academic journals in real estate, including Real Estate Economics, the Journal of Urban Economics, Land Economics, the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics; and the Journal of Real Estate Research. He has been cited by BusinessWeek, Marketplace Money, the Wall Street Journal, Florida Trend, and by over 40 newspapers in Florida. View Gatzlaff's vitae.
MBA courses taught: REE 5305 – Real Estate Investment. Focused on the topic of real estate investment analysis primarily from the private investor's (equity) perspective, this course introduces students to the analytical tools and procedures used to evaluate real estate investment opportunities.
"FSU MBAs gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of contemporary issues needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive and global economy from a world class dedicated faculty."
Larry Giunipero
Professor of Marketing and Supply Management
Research: Giunipero's research focuses on supply chain management with emphasis on supply management and organizational buying. Specifically in relationship management, sourcing strategies, risk management, electronic sourcing (including social media) and global issues in the supply chain as well as their impact on business marketers. View Giunipero's vitae.
MBA courses taught: MAR 5465 – Purchasing and Supply Chain Management. Provides an understanding of the ideas and concepts of Purchasing and Supply Chain Management function in organizational settings. MAR 5409 – Business-to-Business Sales and Marketing. This course focuses on building and managing relationships with business customers, covering business-to-business management issues, with an emphasis on topics at the mid-to-upper management level. MAR 5125 – Marketing Strategy in the Global Environment. Examines the business-level marketing strategy in the context of global markets.
"A distinctive feature of our MBA program is that we live our brand promise every day: 'International Acclaim. Individual Attention.' Whether you enroll in our full-time, part-time, or online program, the faculty are exactly the same. We offer a high touch, high quality program in every way."
Michael D. Hartline
"A distinctive feature of our MBA program is that we live our brand promise every day: 'International Acclaim. Individual Attention.' Whether you enroll in our full-time, part-time, or online program, the faculty are exactly the same. We offer a high touch, high quality program in every way."
Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Charles A. Bruning Professor of Business Administration
Research: Hartline's research addresses marketing implementation issues in service firms. Specifically, his work examines the role of customer-contact employees and workgroups in the effective delivery of quality service to customers. Dr. Hartline’s research appears in the Journal of Marketing, the Journal of Service Research, the Journal of Business Research, the Journal of Relationship Marketing, the Journal of Services Marketing, the Cornell Quarterly, the Journal of Strategic Marketing, the Journal of Business Ethics, and the Marketing Science Institute Working Paper Series. View Hartline's vitae.
MBA courses taught: MAR 5125 – Marketing Strategy in the Global Environment. Examines the business-level marketing strategy in the context of global markets and uses the marketing-planning process as a framework for understanding how global environments, markets, and institutions affect the strategic marketing operations of the global business enterprise. MAR 5818 – Corporate Affairs Management. Focuses on corporate affairs activities and their strategic use to market the organization, its issues and its ideals to potential stakeholders.
"I am proud to be part of Florida State University’s MBA Program, a program that combines rigorous, high quality instruction and individual attention from world-class faculty with team-based study and that emphasizes descriptive, real-world examples to produce a personalized and highly integrated learning experience for the student."
Tim R. Holcomb
Jim Moran Assistant Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship
Research: Holcomb’s research pays particular attention to factors in strategic management and entrepreneurship that account for value creation in established firms and new ventures across different organizational and industry context. His work appears in Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Management, Organizational Research Methods, Journal of Operations Management, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Journal of Business Research, Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research, and Advances in Strategic Management, among others, and has earned prestigious awards from Academy of Management, Strategic Management Society, Kauffman Foundation and Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference. Holcomb also serves as executive director of The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, FSU’s endowed entrepreneurship center. View Holcomb's vitae.
MBA courses taught: MAN 5721 – Strategy and Business Policy. A graduate-level capstone course for students in the full-time MBA program. Combined readings and lectures with case analysis of business and management problems for the formulation of strategies and policies.
Daekwan Kim
Associate Professor
Research: Kim’s research explores the impact of IT on firm channel and supply chain activities and relationships, international buyer-seller relationships, marketing/international marketing strategies, multinational brand management, and customer equity. His research has been published in the Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Academy of Marketing Science, Decision Sciences Journal, Industrial Marketing Management, Journal of Business Research, Journal of International Marketing, International Marketing Review, and other journals. View Kim's vitae.
MBA courses taught: MAR 5935 – Global Business Seminar. Offers unique learning opportunities to the graduate students in the College through exposure to major local and global companies located in a foreign destination city, enhancing their cross-cultural business competence. As a part of their course activities, students learn about the host country and its business practices first before their short-term study abroad or student exchange trip. MAR 5125 – Global Marketing Strategy. Focuses on a firm’s marketing strategies in the global market and uses the marketing planning process as the framework for understanding the integration and coordination of both domestic and global marketing decisions.
"I really appreciate the levels of experience and expertise and perspective the students bring to the class in their discussion, questions, and assignments. The quality, diligence, and thoughtfulness of our students are truly impressive."
Bruce Lamont
Thomas L. Williams Eminent Scholar in Strategic Management
Research: Lamont’s research addresses the effective management of acquisition integration processes, knowledge investments and novel applications of organization theory. His work appears in the Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Management, and Strategic Management Journal. He currently serves on the editorial review board for the Strategic Management Journal and as a Representative at Large on the Board of the Strategy Process Interest Group of the Strategic Management Society. He has also served on the editorial review boards of the Academy of Management Journal and the Journal of Management, the Executive and Research Committees of the Business Policy and Strategy Division of the Academy of Management, and the Board of Governors of the Southern Management Association. View Lamont's vitae.
MBA courses taught: MAN 5935 – Managing Acquisitions.
“I think having a working knowledge of the legal aspects of business is a unique and necessary managerial skill in today’s hypercompetitive marketplace. I teach all of my courses with that basic idea in mind.”
David Orozco
Assistant Professor of Legal Studies in Business
Research: Orozco's research examines the managerial and strategic use of intellectual property rights, particularly patents, trade secrets, trademarks and designs. He also examines national intellectual property regulations and innovation policies. His research has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The American Business Law Journal, The Indiana Law Journal, Penn State Law Review, The Journal of Marketing, The University of Illinois Journal of Law, Technology and Policy, the George Mason Journal of Law, Economics and Policy, the Northwestern Journal of Law Technology and Intellectual Property and the Catholic University Law Review. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the Marketing Science Institute. View Orozco's vitae.
MBA courses taught: BUL 5810 – Managers and the Legal Environment. Creates an awareness of the laws and of the legal, political, and social institutions impacting business activity. Emphasizes public law and governmental regulation, ethics and corporate governance, as well as landmark legislation and judicial decisions.
"The FSU faculty are world-renowned experts in their fields, and the level of interaction between faculty and students is very high. This leads to value for students not only in the degree when completed, but the entire MBA experience."
John Peloza
Assistant Professor and 2012 Doug Dunlap Research Scholar
Research: Peloza’s research addresses the business case for corporate social responsibility, with particular interest in how perception of CSR influences customer behavior, and the motivations for consumers to make prosocial consumption decisions. View Peloza's vitae.
MBA courses taught: MAR 5336 – Strategic Corporate Communication. An integrated marketing communication approach to the structure and function of corporate communication and its role in managing a corporation’s overall reputation. Examines strategic communication planning and how the corporation communicates with its various publics, including consumers, employees, investors, the media, government, and society at large. MAR 5107 – Business Ethics and Social Responsibility. Focuses on the ethical responsibilities that companies have towards all stakeholders in the marketing environment, including owners, employees, customers, and society at large.
"Our real estate courses, as with others in the MBA program, give students the background and information they need to successfully compete in this fast-paced environment."
G. Stacy Sirmans
Department Chair and Kenneth G. Bacheller Professor of Real Estate
Research: Sirmans’ research focuses housing, real estate investment and real estate finance. He has published extensively in the real estate and finance areas on a variety of topics and has been involved in numerous research grants for various agencies. He is the co-author of two books: Real Estate Finance Theory and Practice and Learning Real Estate Finance. His research has appeared in various media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Business Week, USA Today, Kiplinger Magazine, New York Times, L.A. Times, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, and a number of other major news outlets. He currently serves on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, the Journal of Real Estate Research, the Journal of Housing Research, the Journal of Real Estate Literature, and the Seniors Housing and Care Journal. He is currently Vice-President of the American Real Estate Society, globally the largest academic real estate association. View Sirmans’ vitae.
MBA courses taught: REE 5205 – Topics in Real Estate Finance. Covers topics related to the mortgage capital markets, including the primary and secondary mortgage markets, market operations, mortgage instruments and mortgage-related securities.
"An FSU MBA graduate is able to recognize the core problems that businesses face while being able to logically analyze the situation in order to produce a implementable solution."
Jeffery Smith
Associate Professor of Operations Management
Research: Smith’s research focuses on service system design, with specific emphases on service recovery and the impact of technology on the system. His work has appeared in the Journal of Service Research, Production and Operations Management, Decision Sciences and the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. View Smith's vitae.
MBA courses taught: MAN 5501 – Production and Operations Management. Develops a conceptual framework which is useful in describing the nature of the operations function, with emphasis on identifying basic problems in managing the operations of an organization.
“A good manager makes a bad job tolerable while a bad manager makes a good job miserable.”
Lee P. Stepina
Professor of Management
Research: Stepina’s research interests include compensation, attraction and retention of information technology professionals, turnover, organizational justice and grievance systems, management of nonprofit organizations, diversity, expatriate managers, international HRM, and cross cultural management issues. His work has appeared in the Academy of Management Journal, the Journal of Organizational Behavior, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, the International Journal of Psychology, Journal of Social Psychology, Journal of Labor Research, Journal of Managerial Issues, Industrial Relations, Journal of Cross Cultural Management and the Journal of Management Information Systems. View Stepina's vitae.
MBA courses taught: MAN 5245 – Organizational Behavior. A dynamic examination of managerial concepts of human behavior in work organizations. Topics include motivation, leadership, reward systems, training, recruiting, selection, and job design. MAN 5305 – Human Resource Management. MAN 5907 – Independent Study.
“I have taught MBA courses for over 16 years, and I enjoy interacting with students who have professional experience and are ready to enhance that experience with rigorous tools of analysis."
Douglas E. Stevens
Bill Hillison Professor of Accounting and Faculty MBA Program Director
Research: Stevens' research examines the effects of financial information on heterogeneous beliefs of investors and analysts and the merging of behavioral and moral perspectives with economic theory in organizational control. Professor Stevens has published his research in The Accounting Review; Contemporary Accounting Research; Accounting, Organizations, and Society; Journal of Management Accounting Research; Behavioral Research in Accounting; Experimental Economics; and Accounting & Finance. View Stevens' vitae.
MBA courses taught: ACG 5026 – Financial Reporting and Managerial Control. Provides a basic understanding of accounting systems and the financial statements to lay a foundation for financial statement analysis. The course also provides a basic understanding of cost systems and controls to lay a foundation for organizational control. ACG 5356 – Advanced Management Accounting (elective).
