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Dividend The official online magazine of the Carson College of Business

August 2024 – New Hires

Kirk Berentsen is an administrative assistant for the School of Hospitality and Business Management. He graduated from the University of Idaho in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing with an emphasis in analytics. During his time at UI, he worked for University Housing as a resident assistant and for Vandals Dining as a marketing intern. After he earned his degree, he spent several years as an analyst in both the food and tech industry. In his spare time, he enjoys playing sports (currently pickleball), baking, or playing bass guitar.

Kacie Deerkop is a facilities coordinator for the Carson College of Business. She was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah where she attended the University of Utah to study geoscience. Previously, her work included retail construction management for the outdoor industry. In her spare time, she enjoys snowboarding, puzzles, and a good book.

Kim Harrod is an administrative assistant for the Carson College of Business as well as the School of Engineering. She graduated from WSU Tri-Cities in 2017 with a degree in hospitality. Assisting others and making others happy is a passion of hers. She has been in the hospitality industry for more than 10 years. In her free time, she loves to relax and watch football, basketball, or cooking shows with her son.

Paul Warner joins WSU as executive director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at the Carson College of Business. Most recently, he served as digital marketing and localization manager at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, where he oversaw global advertising, digital marketing, localization, and analytics. Starting with his first marketing role at a Silicon Valley startup, he has continuously gained marketing, journalism, and sales experience across several industries. After launching his own business in 2009, he has consulted for clients in government, education, and private industry. He has a bachelor of arts in journalism and a master of science in communications.

Drew Zamora is a director of development within the Office of Development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from Northern Arizona University, and a master of education in higher and postsecondary education from Arizona State University. Bringing more than 10 years of experience in both higher education and educational technology, Zamora joins WSU following his tenure at the Arizona State University Foundation. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family, playing golf, and cooking on his smoker.

March 2024 – New Hires

Emma Bailey-Greene is an accounting relations coordinator for the Department of Accounting. She graduated from Portland State University in 2014 with bachelor of science degrees in anthropology and social science. For the past decade, she has worked on the East Coast in museum and preschool education and spent several years at home with her children. She moved to Pullman in 2022 when her husband was hired as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for WSU Women’s Rowing. In her free time, she enjoys baking treats, hiking with her family, and reading.
Holly Connley is a career consultant serving MBA and EMBA students. Her first internship was working in the  University of Idaho Career Center, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 2005. She has been helping college students with career and professional development strategies ever since. Although she prides herself as an Idaho girl, she also spent seven years in New Mexico serving students at a community college near the Navajo Nation. She resides in Boise with her husband and three boys and enjoys cooking, camping, and traveling.
Paul Currier (’12 History) is a system administrator for the Office of Technology, a DoDDS/military brat, born and raised in Germany and Japan until 2007, when he moved to Pullman to study at WSU. After he earned his degree, he spent seven years teaching sixth, seventh, and eighth grade social studies and technology, followed by two years as the system administrator for the WSU Office of Academic Outreach and Innovation. His hobbies include building and working on computers and technology, playing music and games, and occasionally dabbling in photography. Currier is a lifelong Coug who loves watching football, baseball, and hockey.
Jordan Leseberg is the MBA admissions manager for Graduate and Online Programs. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and business management and an MBA from Whitworth University. He has spent the last six years working in higher education, including recruitment and enrollment operations. He lives in Spokane with his wife and daughter where he enjoys being active and spending time outdoors.
Sarah Miller is the administrative assistant for the Carson Center for Student Success. Originally from Utah, she received her associate’s degree from Snow College, Ephraim. She moved to Pullman in 2015 and began working at WSU the same year. She started in the College of Veterinary Medicine where she was a patient services representative in the business office of the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. In her free time she enjoys photography and spoiling her two cats.

December 2023 – New Hires

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 earned 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 playing 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 department of Human Resource Services 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 in 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 (’23) is the new employer connections coordinator for the Carson Center for Student Success. He graduated from WSU 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 the 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 fifth and sixth 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 (’20) 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 WSU 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 (’22) 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. 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.

August 2023 – New Hires

Scott Jackson is a communications coordinator with the college’s Marketing and Communications team. Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, he moved to Idaho as a teenager and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Idaho. He has spent the last decade working in radio, web, and newspaper journalism as an anchor, editor, and writer, including six years with the Moscow-Pullman Daily News and the Lewiston Tribune. In addition to writing and editing, he has experience in web and social media management, email newsletter strategy, audio production, and podcasting. Off the clock, he enjoys reading, crocheting, baking, gardening, and rock climbing.
Mick LeClaire is an administrative assistant in the Dean’s Office. He graduated from the University of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2021, after completing his studies at the College of Western Idaho in 2018. He has worked as an administrative assistant for UIdaho’s Department of Psychology and Communication, a fellow for Carolyn Long’s Congressional campaign, a bartender, a waiter, a call center manager, a retail worker, and more. His enjoys movies, reading, and cultivating his indoor plant collection.
Joshua Maestas is a support technician 1 in the Office of Technology. He has worked in the IT field for the past three years. Previously, he worked for a Colorado school district’s IT department before moving to Pullman. He holds an associate degree in animal science from the Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology in Denver, Colorado, and was a certified veterinary technician for 10 years before changing careers. He enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, trying new food, and learning about technology.
Savannah Maltos (’23 Mktg., Entrep.) is the program coordinator for the Center for Entrepreneurship and Carson Business Solutions Programs. She assists with overall management, operations, event planning, and leadership for the programs she oversees. As an undergraduate, she participated in the Business Plan Competition and the Northwest Entrepreneurship Competition with team “KESO,” placing third in the traditional business category and won the People’s Choice awards.
Mat Morgan is the new director of the Marriot Hospitality and Culinary Innovation Center and the executive chef for the School of Hospitality Business Management. His expertise includes a focus on fine dining wine dinners and large events. He also has professional management experience in health care, university dining, and resorts with high-end restaurants. Coming from a background of ranching and family farms, sustainable and local farm-to-table dining drives his creative work as much as possible, along with a bit of international gastronomic flair.
Austin Nasralla (’23 Comp. Sci.) is a support technician 1 in the Office of Technology. Prior to working at WSU, he was a tech intern for the Pullman School District. Before transitioning into a full-time position at the college, he worked as a student technician while studying for his bachelor’s degree. He was born and raised in Pullman. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends, family, and playing video games.
Stephanie Sobol is an administrative assistant in the Department of Hospitality Business Management. After graduating from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in English literature, she had planned on moving overseas and teaching English as a second language. She completed her program right after Sept. 11, 2011, and her plans changed. She fell into bookkeeping and office management and worked in that capacity for 20 years. She and her husband moved to Pullman to be near family and for a different pace of life. They enjoy camping, fishing, and most things outdoors.

March 2023 – New Hires

Lisa Desmarais is the business student recruitment manager in the Carson Center for Student Success. She has worked in higher education for about 10 years, including areas such as residence life, student activities, prevention and wellness training, and case management. Desmarais most recently worked for an engineering company in university relations and intern programs. She has a bachelor’s degree in art history and fine arts from Loyola University Chicago and a master’s degree in higher education and student development from North Carolina State University. Desmarais enjoys spending time with her husband and their dog, coffee shops, tending to her houseplants, and teaching pottery at a local studio.
Tamma Peery is a fiscal specialist in the Dean’s Office. She previously worked at WSU’s central payroll office. She has an associate degree from Lewis-Clark State College. In her leisure time, she enjoys the outdoors, crocheting, reading, remodeling campers, and spending time with her family and friends.
Ethan Pickering is the coordinator for the college’s International Business Institute. He previously worked at WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where he was an academic advisor. He and his family moved to Pullman from Washington, D.C. He has previously worked as a social worker in an international middle school, a logistics offer at the American Embassy in Angola, an ESL teacher, and a refugee resettlement case worker. Pickering served in the Peace Corps in Mozambique from 2009 to 2011. During his college years, he studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, majoring in cultural anthropology and Spanish.
Shyanne Schoenlein is a director of development in the Office of Development. She previously worked for WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences in development, and she has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Whitworth University. In her leisure time, she enjoys hiking, snowboarding, and spending time with her family and pets.
Julien Stalick (‘22 Busi. Admin.) is an administrative specialist in the Carson College of Business at WSU Vancouver. A Washington native, Stalick’s favorite hobbies include tennis, soccer, fitness, hiking, music production, and video games. He has two Airedale terriers “that I love to the moon and back, despite the havoc they cause when nobody is around,” he says.
Meghan Steinbeiss is the retention manager for graduate and online programs. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from North Central College and a master’s degree in political science from the University of Kentucky. She previously worked in academic advising for WSU’s MBA programs. She also works as an adjunct professor for undergraduate political science courses. In her free time, she enjoys listening to podcasts, trying new restaurants, and practicing aerial acrobatics.
Ashlee Toone is the administrative assistant for the Department of Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship. She previously worked in elementary education. Toone and her husband have four children and several pets. She enjoys hiking, fishing, family times, playing games, dancing and singing to music from the 80s and 90s, reading, and learning new things.