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Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship
Division of Academic Affairs
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    About

    The Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship promotes student success and catalyzes innovation, knowledge discovery, and economic development in South Texas, Northern Mexico, and beyond.

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    The Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship promotes student success and catalyzes innovation, knowledge discovery, and economic development in South Texas, Northern Mexico, and beyond.

    • Department of Economics
    • Department of Finance
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    Research

    The UTRGV Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship conducts research to promote economic development through its policy-oriented research and analysis on the Texas-Mexico, RGV, border.

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    Center for Innovation and Commercialization

    Our state-of-the-art facility houses the latest and greatest equipment, as well as the smartest and brightest entrepreneurial talent in the region

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    Resources

    Explore a comprehensive array of resources at UTRGV's Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship. From internships, student organizations like AMA and Enactus, to the Vackar Student Scholars Program, students have diverse opportunities for research engagement and career development. Faculty and staff benefit from career development, mentorship through VOICE, and access to extensive policy documents, bylaws, and strategic plans. For degree planning, class registration, and admissions, utilize our advising services. Discover interactive enrollment statistics with the Enrollment Explorer, and explore various student organizations for academic and professional growth. Access all these resources and more to ensure your academic and career success at UTRGV's RCVCOBE.

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Doctoral Faculty

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Ph.D. Business Office
ECOBE 124B
Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
(956) 665-3599

Diego Escobari, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Program Director
ECOBE 218D
diego.escobari@utrgv.edu
(956) 665-3366

Bianca Hammond
Program Coordinator
ECOBE 124B
bianca.hammond@utrgv.edu
(956) 665-3599

Our doctoral faculty are experts and thought leaders in their fields. They publish in top-tier academic journals and hold various editorial and leadership positions in their professional associations. We pride ourselves in providing our doctoral students with a one-on-one mentorship throughout their studies that sharpens their research skills and helps them succeed as future business scholars.

Faculty Listing

Akinloye Akindayomi, Ph.D.

Akinloye Akindayomi, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Director
(956) 665-7842
akinloye.akindayomi@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Financial Reporting, International Accounting, Taxation, and Executive Compensation.
Jose Elias Almeida, Ph.D.

Jose Elias Almeida, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
(956) 665-8860
joseelias.almeida@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Earnings quality, macro-accounting, environmental, social and governance (ESG) dimensions, analysts' forecasts, international accounting.
Sedat Erdogan, Ph.D.

Sedat Erdogan, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
(956) 665-5105
sedat.erdogan@utrgv.edu
Research Interests:Corporate Financial Disclosures, Earnings/Revenue Attributes, Ethics
Arno Forst, Ph.D.

Arno Forst, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 882-5783
arno.forst@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Financial accounting, international accounting, corporate governance
Jiajia Fu, Ph.D.

Jiajia Fu, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
(956) 665-3753
jiajia.fu@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Mispricing of Accounting Information, Financial Reporting Quality, Voluntary Disclosure, and Employee Social Media Disclosure
Giorgio Gotti, Ph.D.

Giorgio Gotti, Ph.D.

Professor, Dean
(956) 665-3311
giorgio.gotti@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: International accounting
Christian Sobngwi, Ph.D.

Christian Sobngwi, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Associate Dean
(956) 665-7936
christian.sobngwi@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Financial accounting, voluntary disclosure, and fair value measurements.
Haiyan Zhou, Ph.D.

Haiyan Zhou, Ph.D.

Professor
(956) 665-2829
haiyan.zhou@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Accounting information in capital markets; Accounting information in emerging markets; Auditing

Salvador Contreras, Ph.D.

Salvador Contreras, Ph.D.

Professor
(956) 665-2827
salvador.contreras@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Economic Development, Education, Financial Intermediation, Migration, and Race
Diego Escobari, Ph.D.

Diego Escobari, Ph.D.

Professor
(956) 665-3366
diego.escobari@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Pricing, empirical industrial organization
Gautam Hazarika, Ph.D.

Gautam Hazarika, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 882-8953
gautam.hazarika@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Development Economics, Labor Economics, Economics of Education
Maroula Khraiche, Ph.D.

Maroula Khraiche, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 665-3391
maroula.khraiche@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: International economics
Levent Kutlu, Ph.D.

Levent Kutlu, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 665-3108
levent.kutlu@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Applied econometrics
Armando Lopez-Velasco , Ph.D.

Armando Lopez-Velasco , Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
(956) 665-3359
armando.lopezvelasco@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Immigration, macroeconomics, dynamic political economy, social security
Andre Mollick, Ph.D.

Andre Mollick, Ph.D.

Professor
(956) 665-7136
andre.mollick@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: International Finance, Development Economics, and Macroeconomics.
Xi Mao, Ph.D.

Xi Mao, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
(956) 882-8863
xi.mao@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: International Trade
Elisa Taveras

Elisa Taveras, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Economics
ECOBE 216
elisa.taveraspena@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Labor economics, household economics, applied microeconomics
Jean-Baptiste Tondji, Ph.D.

Jean-Baptiste Tondji, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 665-3907
jeanbaptiste.tondji@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Microeconomic Theory, Political Economy, Economics of Organizations

Ahmed Elanhas, Ph.D.

Ahmed Elnahas, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Associate Chair
(956) 665-2830
ahmed.elnahas@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Empirical corporate finance
siamak javadi

Siamak Javadi, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 882-8858
siamak.javadi@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Fixed income; corporate finance; financial markets & institutions; empirical asset pricing; corporate governance
Incheol Kim, Ph.D.

Incheol Kim, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 665-2669
incheol.kim@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Empirical corporate finance
Suin Lee, Ph.D.

Suin Lee, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
(956) 665-5802
suin.lee@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Investment, Migration flows, Investor behavior
Yu Liu, Ph.D.

Yu Liu, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 882-5802
yu.liu@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Corporate finance, country institutions, national culture
Nam H. Nguyen, Ph.D.

Nam H. Nguyen, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 665-5317
namhoang.nguyen@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Corporate Finance
Monika Rabarison, Ph.D.

Monika Rabarison, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 665-3338
monika.rabarison@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Corporate Finance, Financial Institutions, Health Finance

Punit Ahluwalia, Ph.D.

Punit Ahluwalia, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
EMAGC 3.314
(956) 665-2843
punit.ahluwalia@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: “Quality of Service” of mobile transactions, modeling mobile transactions, multicast communications, wireless networks
Francis Andoh-Baidoo

Francis Andoh-Baidoo, Ph.D.

Professor
(956) 665-3397
francis.andohbaidoo@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Business intelligence/analytics
Sunyoung Cho, Ph.D.

Sunyoung Cho, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 665-3360
sunyoung.cho@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Adoption and diffusion of innovative information systems, health information systems, online transactions and communications
Ahasan Harun

Ahasan Harun, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
(956) 665-3336
ahasan.harun@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Machine learning, text mining, multivariate analysis, Bayesian SEM, econometrics, simulation, quality management, sustainable operations, supply chain analytics, health care management
Qinyu Liao, Ph.D.

Qinyu Liao, Ph.D.

Professor
(956) 882-5825
qinyu.liao@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Internet use, social media, technology adoption, electronic commerce
Murad Moqbel, Ph.D.

Murad Moqbel, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 665-3314
murad.moqbel@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Social media, emerging technologies and Health IT, information security and privacy, and international business.
Hong Qin

Hong Qin, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
EMAGC 3.318
(956) 665-2035
hong.qin@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Business research methodology
Geng Sun

Geng Sun, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
EMAGC 3.316
geng.sun@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Economics of IS
Jun Sun, Ph.D.

Jun Sun, Ph.D.

Professor
(956) 665-2850
jun.sun@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Health informatics, green it, information systems
Bin Wang

Bin Wang, Ph.D.

RCVCOBE Professor of Business, Chair
(956) 665-5087
bin.wang@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Social Media and Social Commerce, Crowdfunding, Electronic Commerce and Mobile Commerce, Information Technology Adoption, Performance of IT-Focused Firms
Xuan Wang, Ph.D.

Xuan Wang, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 665-2019
xuan.wang@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Big data analytics, causal inference, advanced methodology
Nan Xiao, Ph.D.

Nan Xiao, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 665-3352
nan.xiao@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Services marketing; consumer adoption and use of technology-based products and services; tourism marketing; travel research; eye tracking methodology

Michael Abebe, Ph.D.

Michael Abebe, Ph.D.

Professor of Management
(956) 665-5225
michael.abebe@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Strategic management, Corporate governance, Strategic change/Turnarounds, Corporate Social Responsibility, Social Entrepreneurship
Jorge Gonzalez, Ph.D.

Jorge Gonzalez, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair of Management
(956) 665-2831
jorge.gonzalez@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Organizational behavior, diverstiy, and cross-cultural management
Wanrong Hou, Ph.D.

Wanrong Hou, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Management
(956) 665-3387
wanrong.hou@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Corporate governance, executive compensation
Hale Kaynak, Ph.D.

Hale Kaynak, Ph.D.

Professor of Operations Management
(956) 665-3351
hale.kaynak@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Sustainability, circular economy, health care operations, supply chain management, quality management, lean operations, innovation, performance measurement, empirical research, and replication research.
Pingshu Li, Ph.D.

Pingshu Li, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Management
(956) 665-2569
pingshu.li@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Strategic HRM and Human Capital, Employee compensation, Prosocial Motivation, and multilevel modeling
Steve Lovett, Ph.D

Steve Lovett, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Management
(956) 882-7382
steve.lovett@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Strategic leadership, strategic management
Michael Matthews, Ph.D.

Michael Matthews, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
(956) 665-3351
michael.matthews@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Leadership, Work-life interface, Social comparisons.
Mai Trinh, Ph.D.

Mai Trinh, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
(956) 665-3351
mai.trinh@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Leadership, Work-life interface, Social comparisons.
Jennifer Welbourne, Ph.D.

Jennifer Welbourne, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Management
(956) 665-3382
jennifer.welbourne@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Roles of personality, culture, and gender in the workplace, Workplace stress and coping
Sibin Wu, Ph.D.

Sibin Wu, Ph.D.

Professor of Management
(956) 665-3359
sibin.wu@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Crowdfunding, strategic decision making, and international entrepreneurship.

Deniz Atik, Ph. D.

Deniz Atik, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 665-5007
deniz.atik@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Consumer research
Sunaina Chugani, Ph.D.

Sunaina Chugani, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
(956) 665-3359
sunaina.chugani@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Consumer well-being, wisdom, gratitude, materialism, hedonic adaptation, satiation, social forces.
Reto Felix, Ph.D.

Reto Felix, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 665-2579
reto.felix@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Consumer well-being.
Fuat Firat, Ph.D.

Fuat Firat, Ph.D.

Professor
(956) 665-2092
fuat.firat@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Marketing theory, postmodern culture, symbolic culture
Chiquan Guo, Ph. D.

Chiquan Guo, Ph.D.

Professor
(956) 665-7339
chiquan.guo@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Cross-cultural marketing
Dan King, Ph. D.

Dan King, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
(956) 882-8618
dennisdanny.uy@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Consumer psychology, affect, cognition
Peter Magnusson, Ph. D.

Peter Magnusson, Ph.D.

Professor, Chair
(956) 665-3889
peter.magnusson@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Global Marketing Strategy
Xiaojing Sheng, Ph.D.

Xiaojing Sheng, Ph.D.

Professor
(956) 665-3317
xiaojing.sheng@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Services marketing; consumer adoption and use of technology-based products and services; tourism marketing; travel research; eye tracking methodology
Arturo Vasquez, Ph. D.

Arturo Vasquez, Ph.D.

Professor
(956) 665-5204
arturo.vasquez@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Strategic Marketing, Loyalty versus Satisfaction in Services, Relationship Marketing in Practice

Edith Galy, Ph. D.

Edith Galy, Ph. D.

Associate Professor
(956) 882-7301
edith.galy@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Sustainability, knowledge management, organizational learning and innovation management.
Mark Kroll, Ph. D.

Mark Kroll, Ph.D.

Professor
WRCIC 2.212
(956) 665-4045
mark.kroll@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Entrepreneurship and corporate governance
Jaime Ortiz, Ph. D.

Jaime Ortiz, Ph.D.

Professor
(956)-882-6597
jaime.ortiz@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Global economies and markets.
Leon Schjoedt, Ph. D.

Leon Schjoedt, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
ECOBE 134F
leon.schjoedt@utrgv.edu
Research Interests: Entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial teams, entrepreneurial self-efficacy

Contact Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship

Brownsville

BMAIN 2.504
956-882-5828

 

 

Edinburg

ECOBE 114
956-665-3311

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