Seung Kyo (SK) Ahn is an assistant professor in the Department of Accounting. He earned his PhD in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master’s degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in South Korea. He also gained five years of professional work experience in the finance and government industry before finishing his PhD. In his free time, he enjoys taking astrophotography, walking his dog, and watching college football games.

Asa Brown is an assistant scholarly professor in the Department of Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship. He teaches entrepreneurial finance and small business strategy courses within the department. A Florida native, Brown relocated to the Palouse in 2016 with his wife, a University of Idaho faculty member. He holds his JD, MS, and BA degrees from Florida State University, where he played collegiate rugby and was selected to the All-Florida team in 2009. He is a licensed, practicing attorney in Washington and Idaho offering startup law, intellectual law, and business and estate planning services. His law experience contributes to his teaching practices and drives the real-world application of ethical business principles. He has two children and is an avid rugby fan.

Tommy Christianson is an academic advisor with the Carson Center for Student Success. He graduated from WSU with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and will be earning his master’s degree in college student services administration from Oregon State University. He’s originally from Cheney, Washington, and has spent time all around Eastern Washington. He spends his free time playing guitar and bass, watching basketball, and spending time with his cat.

Corey Cook is the student engagement coordinator for the Carson Center for Student Success. She previously worked for WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, accounts payable, and Global Campus. She is currently working on her degree in data analytics. Cook enjoys spending time with her family, fiber arts, and snowshoeing.

Ivan Garcia is an administrative assistant in the Dean’s Office. He previously worked as a program manager for a nonprofit organization, and most recently as an administrative assistant for the Toronto District School Board. He received his associate’s degree at Yakima Valley College. In his free time he enjoys being outdoors with his kids, hiking, working out at the gym, and play sports recreationally or competitively.

Joshua Khan is the administrative assistant for the Office of Technology. Originally from Los Angeles, California, he moved to Pullman to attend WSU and earn a degree in business administration in 2018. He has previously worked with WSU’s Human Resource Services department and the Office of Research. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports, watching movies, playing video games and board games and spending time with friends.

Youngjin Kwon is an assistant professor in the Department of Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship. He earned his doctorate from Temple University, a master’s degree from the Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology and a bachelor’s degree from Yonsei University, both in South Korea. His research explores the contemporary challenges of discrimination manifested through digital mediums such as social media and online platforms.

Stephen Lee is an assistant professor in the Department of Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship. Prior to joining WSU, he was a postdoc at the Wharton School of business at the University of Pennsylvania. He earned a PhD in organizational behavior from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan. His research focuses on mixed motives involved in social interactions in the workplace, such as workplace gossip, interpersonal helping, and voice.

Lauren Lesmeister is the communications manager for Graduate, Professional, and Online Programs in the college’s marketing and communications unit. She was born and raised in Walla Walla, Washington, and earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and marketing from Whitworth University. Previously, she worked as a marketing coordinator in the banking industry and most recently as the social media and PR coordinator for WSU Spokane. She enjoys watching sports, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Kay Meyer (’93 Busi. Admin., ’99 MBA) is a scholarly assistant professor in the Department of Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship. She brings more than 30 years of diverse business experience to her role. She’s held various management and leadership roles within the hospitality, technology, agriculture, and financial industries and within start-up and small business environments, nonprofit, mid-size, and Fortune 500 enterprises. She provides insights into successfully navigating strategic approaches, market and stakeholder considerations, cultures, and organizational challenges and change into her classes. Meyer finds purpose in developing people to be their best, developing effective teams to accomplish a greater good, and being a positive influence in her communities, especially the Coug community. She lives on her family farm 15 miles south of Pullman with her husband and two children and loves the outdoors.

Abel Mironchuk is the new employer connections coordinator for the Carson Center for Student Success. He graduated from WSU in May ‘23 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a certificate in behavioral business research. He was born and raised in Fife, Washington, to immigrant parents. In his free time, he loves watching and playing sports, as well as spending lots of quality time with his girlfriend and friends. His future career ambitions include working in sports marketing or consumer behavior research.

Drew Moreno is a career consultant in the Carson Center for Student Success. His career in education began in the Department of English and Writing Center at his alma mater, the University of Idaho. Since then, He’s gained experience in career services and student services in higher education and spent two years teaching 5th and 6th grade in Madrid, Spain. Whether his students are 12 years old or 22, he feels most rewarded when he’s able to help learners connect their education to the world around them. Being a career consultant allows him to do just that, and he looks forward to playing whatever role he can in helping Cougs begin rewarding careers of their own.

Pavan Munaganti is an assistant professor (career track) in the Department of Marketing and International Business and the new director of the Center for Behavioral Business Research. Pavan graduated with his PhD in marketing from Washington State University and was previously on faculty at San José State University. His research focuses on human-robot interactions. He is interested in learning how consumers are adapting their behavior in the age of robots and AI.

Jessica Murray is a scholarly assistant professor and one of the culinary educators in the School of Hospitality Business Management. She earned her PhD in business administration from WSU in 2022. Her primary research areas include restaurants, agritourism, food, wine, and memory-dominant logic in the hospitality industry. She also has a master’s degree in food science as well as certificates in both culinary and pastry arts. Murray has worked extensively with the USDA-ARS on food research and has restaurant experience. She is passionate about interdisciplinary projects and student experiential learning.

Long Nguyen is an assistant professor in the Department of Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship. He earned his doctoral degree in management with an information systems concentration at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His research focuses on digital platform users’ interactions with computers and AI, users’ motivation, and cognition, especially in the crowdsourcing, and e-commerce contexts. Prior to earning his PhD, he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics with a business administration minor from Colorado State University and Foreign Trade University, Vietnam, then worked in various managerial positions in different areas, including e-commerce, facility management, sales, and consulting.

Emma Pesis is an academic coordinator and advisor on the WSU Everett campus. Originally from California, higher education first led her to Oregon where she earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy. She then worked in Washington state and at WSU. She has spent the last decade creating, coordinating, and evaluating educational programs, ranging from young children to adult learners. In her free time, she enjoys board game nights, reading, and gardening.

Nicole Smith joined the Carson College of Business at WSU Vancouver in July as the employer engagement and experiential learning coordinator. She will focus on employer engagement for CCB and the Murrow College of Communication. Smith will coordinate employer and career-connected learning, and support other CCB and Murrow programs, including the Business Growth Mentor and Analysis Program.

Paige Adler is an academic advisor in the Carson Center for Student Success. She previously worked at Seattle University, coordinating clinical experiences for nursing students. She recently earned a master’s degree in management and organizational leadership from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. In her free time, she enjoys planning future travel adventures and discovering new coffee shops.

Richard Barnes is an associate professor (career track) in the Department of Accounting. His research explores human behavior in tax decision-making and the taxation of employee benefits, particularly paid family and medical leave. Barnes was previously a faculty member at North Carolina State University. He has also worked as a visiting faculty member at Pacific Lutheran University and at the European School of Business in Reutlingen, Germany. Barnes holds a Master of Laws degree in taxation from the University of Alabama, a JD degree from the University of South Carolina, and a Master of Accountancy from the University of South Carolina.

Roberto Bello is associate professor (career track) in the Department of Marketing and International Business after teaching for more than 20 years in Canada. His research focuses on manager-consumer relationship and qualitative research. He loves soccer, having played and coached at a competitive level. He holds a competitive soccer coaching license.

Ruiying Cai (‘18 PhD) is an assistant professor in the School of Hospitality Business Management. Before joining WSU, she was an assistant professor at Colorado Mesa University. Her research interests include consumer behavioral research, service marketing, and technology adoption. Her research appears in top-tier journals such as the International Journal of Hospitality Management, Tourism Management, and Journal of Business Research.

Rayne Chandler is a credential evaluator in the college’s Graduate and Online Programs. She started her career as a para educator for an elementary and middle school and later became a head secretary. She enjoys helping students achieve their goals. In her spare time, she hikes, golfs, and rides horses. And on a cold, -50 degree day (in Montana), “I love just staying inside by the fire reading a good book,” she says.

Minjoo Kim is an assistant professor (career track) in the Department of Marketing and International Business. She is originally from South Korea. She earned a bachelor’s degree and a doctoral degree in marketing at Oklahoma State University. Her research focuses on brand transgression—the negative events that occur in consumer-brand relationships and how to restore those relationships. She also examines the effect of religious beliefs on consumer behavior. In her free time, she likes to watch college football and try out new restaurants.

LJ Klinkenberg is the executive chef in the School of Hospitality Business Management and director of the Marriot Foundation Hospitality and Culinary Innovation Center. Klinkenberg grew up in Washington. He has a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University and numerous culinary certifications. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and daughter.

Janel Lang is the college’s manager of corporate engagement, building relationships with corporations to increase opportunities for students and alumni. She returned to WSU from the University of California, Davis, where she was the founding director of the Career, Leadership, and Wellness Center for the School of Veterinary Medicine. Lang previously worked for the Carson College of Business in a variety of roles ranging from development to recruitment. She started the Carson Center for Professional Development, which later expanded to the Carson Center for Student Success. When not busy working, Lang enjoys boating, skiing, and spending quality time with her friends and family, especially her new grandson.

Xiaonan (Flora) Ma is an assistant professor in the Department of Finance and Management Science. She earned her two doctorates in finance and epidemiology from the University of South Carolina. Her research focuses on empirical corporate finance with a specialty in banking. She currently teaches introduction to financial management.

Kevin Mayo is an assistant professor of operations management in the Department of Finance and Management Science. He completed both his PhD and MBA at Indiana University and his undergraduate degree at Washington University in St Louis. He is a reviewer for the journals Manufacturing & Service Operations Management and Production and Operations Management. His research interests focus on identifying the right level of turnover to achieve desired operational performance.

Erica Morris is an academic advisor in the Carson Center for Student Success. She previously worked at Spokane Community College, Eastern Washington University, and Spokane Falls Community College. Morris enjoys reading, walking her dog, and spending time with her family.

Julie Nelsen is an assistant professor and director of the Center for Professional Sales supporting the WSU Pullman and Vancouver campuses. After working 20-plus years in sales, marketing, and management roles, she began teaching fulltime at St. Catherine University. Nelsen has bachelors’ degrees in speech communication and merchandizing from St. Catherine University, an MBA from Arizona State University, and a doctorate in strategic business communication from Marquette University. Nelsen was recognized as a 2021 John R. Lawrence Fellow by the Case Research Foundation and a 2021 Emerging Scholar by the Society for Business Ethics. She is a past president of the Marketing Educators’ Association.

McKinzie Turner is a career consultant in the Carson Center for Student Success. She has taught business and English classes at the college, high school, and junior high levels. She coaches high school volleyball in Oakesdale. Turner has a master’s degree in education from Eastern Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in human resources and production operations management from the University of Idaho. She and her husband have two children. She enjoys outdoor pursuits, reading, traveling, crafting, and baking.

Jamie Ann Wilson (’21 Humanities) is the chef de cuisine in the School of Hospitality Business Management. She grew up in Tekoa, Washington, and started working in culinary arts at a young age. During her studies at WSU, she earned a culinary certificate from the university and the American Culinary Federation. She worked as an executive chief and food and beverage director before returning to WSU.

Eric Winslow is a systems administrator in the college’s Office of Technology. He previously worked as IT operations manager at Walla Walla University. In his free time, he enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with family.

Lily Zhu is an assistant professor (tenure track) in the Department of Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship. Her research explores how emotions and emotion management influence entrepreneurship, creativity, and decision-making. She earned her doctorate in management from the University of California-Irvine and her bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, double majoring in psychology and economics. She also conducted research at Johns Hopkins’ Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health, and the Study of Business Enterprise and worked at a consulting firm in Washington D.C.