Turner Business

A few Turner College faculty are closing in on career milestones with regard to their academic research. Research by Riduan Abid , a computer scientist in the TSYS School, is closing in on 1,500 Google Scholar citations. Abid's academic research has garnered a total of 1,407 Google Scholar citations, with 263 of these coming this year. Next, research by associate professor of marketing, Ed O'Donnell , is nearing 500 career Google Scholar citations. O'Donnell's most highly cited work is a 2005 study on generic product strategies for emerging market exports that appears in the Journal of Management Studies . Lastly, research by Hyrum Carroll , an associate professor of computer science in the TSYS School, is also moving toward 500 Google Scholar citations. Carro ll's most highly cited work is a 2007 study on encoded proteins that appears in Bioinformatics .

TSYS School Chair Rania Hodhod recently delivered a presentation on the role of AI in the Judicial and Prosecution Systems at the Dubai Judicial Institute. Fifty judges and public prosecutors attended in order to hear Hodhod speak about artificial intelligence, machine learning, large language models, particularly as they relate to the judiciary and public prosecution. After the presentation, Hodhod held an interactive Q&A session that led to lively discussion on the topics listed above.

The Turner College had a significant presence at the recent Columbus Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development Event. The event was attended by hundreds of local area middle and high school students in order to learn more about technical career opportunities, and  Turner College Student Ambassadors Daniel Kunze , Caryn Hammond and Likhita Aluri  were there to engage these students about educational opportunities available in the Turner College that might assist these students in achieving their career goals. Daniel is a student in Cohort 10 of the TSYS School's cybersecurity Nexus program. Caryn is a graduating senior the Turner College's management program. She holds an A.S. degree in health science from Albany State University. Likhita holds a B.S. in biology from CSU and is currently pursuing an M.S. in computer applications from the TSYS School.

Hurricane Helene is expected to bring heavy rains, possible flooding, sustained wind gusts and tornado risks tomorrow and Friday. As a result, all Thursday and Friday classes are canceled. Moreover, the university will close at noon on Thursday and remain closed all day Friday, with only essential personnel required to report to work while campus is closed. Dining facilities will remain available to students, although on a modified schedule.

A recent report by  Forbes  reporter Dara Warn describes the increasing demand for cybersecurity professionals in the U.S., which has led colleges and universities to create new academic programs related to this branch of computer science. Part of this evolution, according to the report, is  partnerships between colleges/universities and cybersecurity training companies. One of two such partnerships described by Warn is our own TSYS School's partnership with INE Security, an IT services and consulting firm headquartered in Cary, North Carolina. INE's portfolio of technical education opportunities focuses advanced networking technologies, next-generation security, and infrastructure programming/development. INE's  partnership with the TSYS School has assisted  122 cybersecurity Nexus students in earning a Junior Penetration Tester (eJPT) certification (at a 100% pass rate) and exiting the cybersecurity Nexus program with 87% employment within the first month of c...

Columbus State University alumni and friends gave more than $5.9 million to the university during its 2023-24 fundraising year, according to newly compiled figures that show significant, steady donor support over the past three years.  The university celebrated many of its donors on Sept. 19 during a “Celebration of Support” dinner at its Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center. The event highlighted the private support from donors that expand the quality of student experiences in the classroom and the availability of scholarships to fund their educational experiences, such as study abroad trips .  “The future is so bright here at Columbus State,” President Stuart Rayfield told the crowd. “We have an amazing group of people on this campus who are working day in and day out to support students. But we also have a community—many of you sitting in this room—working every day to support this university.  “We are at a pivotal moment in this state, and at a pivotal moment for higher educat...

The 2025 rankings of colleges and universities were just released by U.S. News & World Report , and CSU is tied at 65th among regional universities in the U.S. South with Piedmont University, another Georgia-based institution. This position is down one spot for CSU, which ranked 64th in the 2024 edition, but it is still up from CSU's ranking of 67th in the 2023 edition. A complete ranking of Georgia's institutions in this category is inserted below. Look for CSU's performance in the individual program rankings in a future post here at Turner Business . 4. Berry College 8. Savannah College of Art and Design 15. Georgia College and State University 47. University of North Georgia 62. Fort Valley State University 65. Columbus State University        Piedmont University 86. Clayton State University 97. Albany State University 104. Georgia Southwestern State University 112. Savannah State University 115. Middle Georgia State University         Shor...

A number of individuals have visited the cybersecurity Nexus program in recent days. Joseph Eller ,  Cohort 8 graduate and Insider Threat Analyst at Global Payments, and Michael Watley ,  Cohort 6 graduate and GSOC Analyst at Global Payments, both  dropped in  to meet the new cohort and share their encouragement, stories, and insights. According to Patrick Aiken , Director of the TSYS Center for Cybersecurity, " You know the community aspect of this program is amazing when multiple times a week, students visit to give back to the program that helped them launch their careers.  We're proud of these young cybersecurity professionals and we're looking forward to seeing what happens to the students of Cohorts 10, 11, and 12, who are currently on campus now."       Benjamin Knox ,  Cohort 2 veteran and Synovus  Security Engineer, also stopped by to visit with Aiken's class of Cohort 12 cybersecurity Nexus students.  "Ben shared his tips ...

Two Cohort 12 students in the cybersecurity Nexus program, Megan DeLaigle and Brandon Hoffa , teamed to advance to the second round of the Southeastern Cyber Cup, which was hosted by the Georgia Institute of Technology and Deloitte. According to Patrick Aiken , Director of the TSYS Center for Cybersecurity, " Brandon and Megan are rising stars who started the Nexus program in August and will graduate next July. They're taking advantage of extra opportunities like this to distinguish themselves and to be ready to work  by the time they graduate."  The competition, which was put together by Georgia Tech CIO Leo Howell and began with 40 teams, resumes later this week. Megan and Brandon have secured at least an 8th place finish in this year's competition. " A huge thank you to my teammate, professors, and everyone who supported us. This experience has been an incredible opportunity to sharpen my skills and grow in the field of cybersecurity. I am only six weeks into...

The TSYS Center for Cybersecurity recently had the privilege of welcoming Kate Hunt , a Turner College  alum and Client  Engagement Lead at Optiv . She shared her knowledge of conflict resolution and navigating the interview and hiring process with Nexus cybersecurity students.  "I always love spending time with the students of the cybersecurity Nexus program.  The future is bright," Hunt stated.  The students reported that Kate's visit was an enriching experience for everyone involved, providing real-world perspectives on industry challenges and opportunities. " I really enjoyed what Kate had to say and the real-world advice she offered," explained Natasha Harris , a current Nexus student. Turner Business thanks Kate for visiting with our cybersecurity students and offering her professional insights.

Since his graduation in 2013, Turner College accounting alum  Christopher Harry  has forged a career in finance and corporate accounting that includes some of the biggest names in the business world. After completing an accounting internship in January of 2014, Christopher picked up some experience in personal banking in his post at Wells Fargo. From there he accepted a position as a staff accountant with Infor, and later moved into a similar position with Omnimax International. In December of 2017, Christopher became Senior Accountant with Home Depot. He would continue to hold that title when, almost four years later, he moved from Home Depot to  Paradies Lagardère. In February of 2022, Christopher assumed his current title as Senior Accountant at WestRock. In that position he works on process improvements and account reconciliation involving commissions, rebates and fixed assets. During his undergraduate days in the Turner College, Christopher was active in Kappa Alpha ...

Research by TSYS School associate professor of computer science, Linqiang Ge , recently surpassed 1,000 career Google Scholar citations. Additionally, Google Scholar reports that his i 10-index is equal to 25, meaning that Ge has published 25 studies that have each garnered at least 10 citations. Google Scholar also reports two additional metrics. One of these is a scholar’s h -index, which is the largest number, h , of a scholar’s publications that have each garnered at least h citations. Ge’s h -index is 17, meaning that his 17 most-cited studies have each generated at least 17 citations. Another Google Scholar metric is a scholar’s g -index, which is the largest number, g , of a scholar’s publications that have collectively garnered at least  g 2  citations. Ge’s g -index is 31, meaning that his 31 most-cited studies have collectively produced at least 961 citations.      Ge’s top-cited publication is a 2023 study on the use of the Internet of Things to carr...

The Turner College's Fall 2024 Career Fair is today from 12:00 noon until 2:00 pm. The Fair, which is open to all Turner College students and majors, offers a great opportunity for students to polish their resumes and to practice their interviewing skills. In addition to full time employment opportunities, employers attending the Fair also have internship and co-op positions available. This year's turnout is expected to exceed those of prior events, so all four floors of the Synovus Center have been prepped for use by employers and students. Turner Business wishes all students who are participating the best of luck.

As part of her role on the CSU softball team, Turner College marketing major Madison McDonald is charged with promoting the team's Bullpen Club. "My role involves making connections to attract both current members and potential new members. The goal is to increase membership of the club which would in turn increase game attendance and boost overall engagement with the softball community. I use Facebook and make contacts through text messages and phone calls to reach possible new members and share information," Madison explained. The Bullpen Club provides updated information through newsletters sent through e-mail and provides information on social media about the softball program and the players. "The involvement of promoting the Bullpen Club helps emphasize the critical role that communication plays in connecting the community and family members that provide support to the student athletes throughout the season and the school year. I have learned how valuable it is...

The TSYS School recently held a successful 'Mock Interview Event' for its cybersecurity students. About 45 professionals from Global Payments, Aflac, Synovus, Columbus Water Works, PMI Columbus, CSU, Girls Inc. and more attended the event in order to provide a job fair atmosphere. According to Patrick Aiken , Director of the TSYS Center for Cybersecurity, " We utilized our cool new space for the event. We even had online interviewers for the students. This incredibly successful event helped prepare our students to blow interviewers away as they search for jobs to start their new cybersecurity  careers." Aiken added that special thanks are due the  top-notch host team of Nexus instructors and student assistants Elke Brumbaugh , Armando Fernandez , Christopher Lovelock , Malachi Biggers , Jonah Simpson and Donovan Wright .

New logos, apparel and other items related to the Columbus Clingstones, Columbus' new minor league baseball franchise, were unveiled recently. While congratulations are certainly in order for representatives of the organization, a shout out to Fady Mansour , Director of the Butler Center for Research & Economic Development, is also due. Mansour and his staff put together the economic impact study that representatives of Columbus Consolidated Government relied upon to support the franchise's recent move to Columbus.  To celebrate the team's arrival in Columbus, the organization opened a pop-up shop in Uptown Columbus. There locals will find jerseys, caps and other types of team regalia. Next time you are in Uptown, stop by the shop and grab some Clingstone gear for your collection.

The Turner College's tutoring center has been re-staffed for the 2024-2025 academic year. This year's staff includes Jamie Chappell , Daniel Hammond , Delysia McAllister and Joy Mwanja .  Delysia, pictured at right, is a senior accounting major in the Turner College who holds an associate's degree in marketing from Albany Technical College. A member of the marketing club and a Turner College Student Ambassador, Delysia is also active with the Baptist Collegiate Ministry. Her prior work experience includes working as a marketing specialist for Bonnie Len, LLC.  Joy, pictured at left, is an accounting major in the Turner College. She currently serves as Peer Tutor for the University of System of Georgia, a role she has filled for almost two years. The Turner College's tutoring center is located on the third floor of the Synovus Center on CSU's main campus. Its staff offers tutoring services for students in accounting, economics, finance and other business-related sub...

A recent communication from Jiane Rabara , Public Relations and Sales Director at the Butler Center for Research & Economic Development, the Center is making a trove of economics data available to Turner College faculty and students. The data can be found under the "Regional Economic Data" tab on the Center's website.  Faculty and students can download and use the data for research. For now, these data are exclusively accessible on campus and cannot currently be accessed from off campus. The Center is actively working to make it available to faculty and students off campus, provided they log in to their MyCSU account. The data include: •     Cost of Living: Historical cost of living data for more than 300 metro areas, including Columbus MSA, since 1990. •     State incentive: State-administered programs for businesses. The data includes detailed tax credits, exemptions, grant and loan programs, and many others. It includes all programs and is updated annually to inclu...

Turner College grad Van Montesclaros , Information Technology Coordinator for the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries, recently the joined the Leadership Columbus Class of 2025. Leadership Columbus identifies leaders and volunteers to guide the community over the next decade. Van earned a BBA in finance from the Turner College while holding the Paul Amos Scholarship. Prior to his current role with Chattahoochee Valley Libraries, he worked as the Director of Technology for the Taylor County School District.  

The Turner College's Student Services office is losing a familiar face. Laurie Aiken , Turner College Student Recruitment and Engagement Specialist, has been appointed Interim Director of the Center for Career Design. A CSU alumna, Aiken established external relationships and cultivated a 9% increase in the college’s student enrollment during the past three years in the Turner College. In her new post, she will work closely with Shana Young, AVP for Community Engagement, and Melissa Young, AVP for Student Success, to elevate the Center’s effectiveness as a resource for our students as they look to connect with community partners and employers for jobs, internships, experiential learning opportunities and so much more.

Turner College alum Hayley Tillery was recently named to the 2024 list of '5 under 40' by Columbus and the Valley magazine. Hayley, the Executive Director of the Columbus Convention & Trade Center, earned an M.S. in organizational leadership (with a focus in human resource management) from the Turner College in 2015. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in hospitality management from Auburn University. Hayley currently holds certifications in hotel industry analytics and event diagramming from the American Hotel & Lodging Association and CVENT, respectively.

An April 2024 post  here at Turner Business highlights the mentor-protege relationship at Aflac between Turner College alumni Madison Montgomery and Alex Skiles . That post noted that Madison, an Associate Brand Manager at Aflac, graduated from the Turner College in 2017, earning a BBA in management. During her undergraduate studies in the Turner College, she was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society. Madison followed these educational milestones by earning an MBA from the Turner College in 2019. The post also indicated that Alex earned a BBA in marketing from the Turner College. During her undergraduate studies, she served as Vice President of the CSU chapter of the American Marketing Association. In addition to earning an undergraduate certificate in servant leadership, Alex completed a minor in communications/public relations. The requirements for this particular minor, combined with the marketing course selections she made allowed Alex to also add a soci...

Turner College alum Ryne Stokes was recently named to the 2024 list of '5 under 40' by Columbus and the Valley magazine. Ryne, who currently works as the Sr. Vice President for Investments at Synovus, earned a BBA in finance from the Turner College in 2008. Since then, he has also earned Series 7 and Series 66 FINRA licenses, while in 2018 he became a certified financial planner. In his current role with Synovus, Ryne m aintains a broad knowledge of securities markets and investment vehicles, along with experience and perspective to apply toward the effective management of client assets. He also conducts investment seminars for clients and prospects. Prior to taking this position, Ryne worked as a claims representative for the Social Security Administration. In that role,  conducted interviews, developed, investigated and resolved post-entitlement actions, which involved suspension, resumption or termination of eligibility or payments.

The Turner College's Fall 2024 Career Fair is set for Tuesday, September 17, from 12:00 noon until 2:00 pm. The Fair, which is open to all Turner College students and majors, offers a great opportunity for students to polish their resumes and to practice their interviewing skills. In addition to full time employment opportunities, employers attending the Fair also have internship and co-op positions available. The CSU Career Center is available to provide assistance with resumes, business attire, and professional headshots.  

Turner College alum Courtney James was recently named a 2024 Rising Star by Columbus and the Valley magazine. Courtney is currently the Payroll Accountant at Chattahoochee Valley Community College. In this position she manages monthly payrolls, organizes and handles confidential documents, and verifies, transmits and documents annual required IRS tax reports. Courtney earned a BBA in finance from the Turner College, and a master's degree in human resource management from Troy University.

Turner College alum Ashley Becker was recently named a 2024 Rising Star by Columbus and the Valley magazine. Ashley is currently the Program Manager for the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce. In this position she  plays a critical role in developing, executing, and delivering program-related content and logistics for Chamber partners, and other stakeholders. Ashley earned both a BBA in management and an MSOL from the Turner College. During her undergraduate studies, she was a member of Chamber Chorale and Teen Advisors. During her graduate studies, Ashley was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma.  

Expertise in the Butler Center for Research & Economic Development has confirmed what many in the Chattahoochee Valley already know—tourism in Columbus is big business. The Center’s annual study, conducted on VisitColumbusGA’s behalf, reveals visitors’ crucial role in driving local spending, job creation and tax revenue.  “Thanks to [study author] Ben Blair  and the staff at [Columbus State University’s] Butler Center [for Research & Economic Development], their annual impact analysis allows VisitColumbusGA to not only track specific travel and tourism numbers, but to report on the impact tourism has on Columbus,” stated Peter Bowden, president/CEO of VisitColumbusGA. “These are new dollars to the community, advancing the quality of life for the community.”  Columbus State is a significant contributor to regional tourism and quality of life. Its 300-plus year-round arts and culture programs , educational and outreach centers, events featuring its 13 NCAA Division ...

Imbalanced data sets are a growing problem in data mining and business analytics. For example, the ability of machine learning algorithms to predict the minority class deteriorates in the presence of class imbalance. Although there have been many approaches that have been studied in literature to tackle the imbalance problem, most of these approaches have been met with limited success. A new study by Turner College management information systems professor Yoon Lee and Riyaz Sikora of the University of Texas at Arlington, which is scheduled for publication in a future issue of Information Systems Frontiers , proposes three methods based on a wrapper approach (i.e.,  a feature selection technique that finds the best subset of features for a specific machine learning model and domain ) that combines the use of under-sampling with ensemble learning to improve the performance of standard data mining algorithms. Sikora and Lee test their ensemble methods on 10 data sets collected from t...

Turner College and TSYS School students will soon have a new recreation option on CSU's main campus. According to a report for WRBL by Michelle Jennings, CSU is putting the finishing touches on a new initiative brought by the school’s Student Government Association. The university refurbished tennis courts that were not in good condition to create six new pickleball courts. Campus Recreation Director Lashica Thomas says she hopes by creating this space for students it will improve their well-being. Once completed, the courts will be equipped with security equipment and secured- gate access. CSU says students will have priority to the courts and it will be protocol to reserve play time. The University plans to host a ribbon cutting where there will be student athlete involvement, demonstrations, and potentially giving out pickleball sets.

A new study appearing in the latest issue of  Future Internet by TSYS School computer scientist Yi Zhou and computer scientists from Auburn University  provides a comprehensive overview of past developments and recent progress in the area of AI technology, which they state has developed rapidly in recent years, leading to widespread use in daily life. According to Zhou, " In healthcare, AI has been integrated into the field to develop the new domain of smart healthcare. In smart healthcare, opportunities and challenges coexist." The study by Zhou et al. first summarizes the definition and characteristics of smart healthcare. Next, Zhou et al. explore the opportunities that AI technology brings to the smart healthcare field from a macro perspective. The final two sections of the study  categorize specific AI applications in smart healthcare into 10 domains and identify 10 key challenges these applications face.  The 10 applications lie in the areas of disease prevent...