Carson College of Business Annual Awards
Outstanding Online MBA Faculty of the Year Award &
Outstanding Faculty Service Award
Darrel Muehling
Department of Marketing and International Business
Darrel Muehling makes class fun and interesting with real-world examples and lecture videos in addition to his live sessions. Colleagues say he leads by example, making time for faculty, staff, and students, not because he “has to,” but because he wants to. Over the past 20-plus years, he has chaired the department, served on search committees, and chaired the online redesign committee while maintaining excellence in teaching and research.
Outstanding Executive MBA Faculty of the Year Award
Velle Kolde
Online Executive MBA faculty member
Velle Kolde uses his background of 30-plus years in the tech industry to liven up class discussions, including incorporating topics from current news. He’s genuinely invested in his students’ success.
Outstanding Doctoral Student Research Award
Yoonsoo Nam
Department of Finance and Management Science
Yoonsoo Nam is working on multiple research projects and has been published four times. His top-notch work ethic means he’s often the first person in the office and the last to leave, and he’s known for his positive interactions with other students.
Outstanding Doctoral Student Teaching Assistant Award
Mycah Harrold
Department of Marketing and International Business
Mycah Harrold brings dedication that has positive changes for the Center for Behavioral Business Research, resulting in higher quality data and fewer errors.
Outstanding Faculty Research Award
Christina Chi
Department of Hospitality Business Management
Christina Chi was chosen for her robust research record and international reputation as a scholar in the field of hospitality and tourism. In 2018, she had 12 papers published or accepted. Her research is widely cited. Her Google Scholar Citation count is over 5,200, with nearly 1,000 citations from 2018.
Outstanding Doctoral Student Teaching Award
Pavan Munaganti
Department of Marketing and International Business
Pavan Munaganti knows all his students’ names and is helpful and fun in class. He’s excelled in his teaching duties, even prepping several classes to address the department’s teaching needs.
Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award
Kunter Gunasti
Department of Marketing and International Business
Kunter Gunasti has high teaching evaluations that put him in the top 10 percent of the college. His positive and engaging teaching style extends to helping undergrads in and out of the classroom. Students describe him as “amazing” in teaching evaluations.
Outstanding Staff – College Engagement Award
Stacey Smith-Colon
Assistant Director of Academic Advising in the Carson Center for Student Success
Stacey Smith-Colon developed the Carson EDGE program and partnered with Cougs Rise to help prepare first-generation students for college. She is also involved with the launch of the college’s Next Carson Coug undergraduate curriculum, serving as team lead on several workgroups in the Carson Center for Student Success. She is known for caring deeply about students.
Outstanding Staff – Student Engagement Award
Mary Stender
Academic Coordinator in the Carson College of Business at WSU Vancouver
Mary Stender whom colleagues describe as a quiet and self-effacing leader, is focused on students, skilled at finding solutions, reliable, and honest. She was honored by the Administrative Professional Advisory Council with the AP Contribution Award in 2018.
Outstanding Staff – Faculty Engagement Award
Alex Larson
Department of Finance and Management Science
Alex Larson is a go-to person in her own department and also stepped up to help the Department of Marketing and International Business when it was without an administrative assistant. She also played an important role in the implementation of the reserve capacity system, a main enrollment management tool used by all departments.