Xinghua Gao is a new assistant professor of accounting. He teaches courses in accounting information systems and managerial accounting. He is published in academic journals including Contemporary Accounting Research, Review of Accounting Studies, Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory, and the Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance. Gao had been with Governors State University prior to joining WSU. He obtained his M.B.A. and M.S. in accounting and his PhD in business administration from Wayne State University.
Joan Giese is a new clinical associate professor in the Department of Marketing and International Business. She is returning to WSU after having spent several years on the marketing faculty earlier in her career. She has also been on the marketing faculties at the University of Oregon, Kansas State University, and the University of Montana. Giese received her PhD in marketing at Washington State University. Her research interests in marketing are related to the influences of feelings and design on customer decision making. She is published in several academic journals, including the Journal of Marketing, Journal of Retailing, Psychology & Marketing, Journal of Business Research, Marketing Letters and others. Giese has also served as a marketing consultant to several businesses, agencies, and government organizations.
Shawna Harmon is a new administrative assistant III in the Dean’s Office. She came to the Carson College from the Residence Inn by Marriott in Pullman, where she worked as the front office manager since just after they opened in May of 2014. Shawna, her husband Joe, and their four children moved to the Pullman area in 2009 from Coos Bay, Oregon. In her free time Shawna enjoys swimming, cooking, learning new things, and spending time with her family and friends.
Micah Howard (’16 OMBA) joined the Office of Development as an assistant director of philanthropic engagement. He has experience in fundraising in higher education, sports management, and sales. He previously worked in the NBA G League, Utah Valley University, and Cal State Fullerton. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and his master’s through Carson College’s online MBA program, with an emphasis in finance. Micah loves spending time with his wife and kids, eating great food, playing basketball, and riding his motorcycle.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Howlett is a new professor in the Department of Marketing and International Business and will hold the Gardner O. Hart Distinguished Professorship. Prior to coming to WSU, she was a professor of marketing at the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business, where she has worked since 1995. Previously, she was an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Iowa and at the Stern School of Business, New York University. Her research focuses on consumer preference and public policy. She is published in several academic journals including the Journal of Consumer Research, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, and the Journal of Retailing, as well as in popular press publications. She is a member of the editorial review board of the Journal of Public Policy and Marketing and serves as a reviewer for a number of other journals. Howlett earned her doctorate in marketing at the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University.
Alexander S. Kier (Alex) is a new assistant professor of entrepreneurship at WSU Vancouver. His research focuses on imagination in new venture ideation, entrepreneurial decision making/cognition, and escalation of commitment. His research has been published in the Journal of Business Venturing, Academy of Management Perspectives, and Business Horizons. Prior to joining WSU, Alex’s professional experience includes work as a certified public accountant and certified fraud examiner at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Grant Thornton.
Debi Mundell is the new graduate program operations manager in the Office of Graduate and Online Programs. She comes to WSU with 29 years of experience in higher education. In her career path, she has worked in all aspects of student services including recruiting, admissions, academic advising, financial aid, career services, student disability services, registrar’s office, restructuring an orientation program, and assisting with graduation. At Boise State University, she was the director of the Student Services Center in the College of Business for nine years and most recently has worked in advising for engineering at WSU. She has a B.S. in business management and a M.Ed. in higher education administration.
Soomin Park is a new clinical assistant professor in the Department of Finance and Management Science. He teaches a course in operations management. He obtained his PhD in operations and supply chain management from State University of New York, Buffalo.
Kahlil Philander is an assistant professor in the School of Hospitality Business Management at WSU Everett. His research interests are in the socio-economic impacts of gambling. Previously, he was the director of social responsibility at the British Columbia Lottery Corporation and an assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ (UNLV) International Gaming Institute. He was named to Global Gaming Business Magazine’s 40 under 40 list, and received the Research of the Year Award from the National Council on Problem Gambling. He holds a PhD from UNLV, a master’s in economics from the University of Toronto, and a bachelor of commerce in finance from the University of British Columbia.
Hanjiang Zhang is a new assistant professor of finance. She joined the Carson College from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prior to that, she taught in the business schools at the University of Texas at Austin and the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Her research interests are mutual funds and investments. She published in top journals such as the Journal of Finance, Review of Financial Studies and the American Economic Review papers and proceedings. Her work also won top prizes such as the Kepos Capital Award for the Best Paper on Investments at the Western Finance Association 2014 meeting, as well as the Best Paper Award in Investments at the Financial Management Association 2011 European Conference.