Turner Business

Turner College management professor Kevin Hurt , and TSYS School computer scientist, Riduan Abid reached career milestones last week. Hurt was promoted from associate professor to full professor, while Abid was awarded tenure. The editor of Servant Leadership: Theory & Practice , Hurt is currently a finalist for the 2025 Turner College Faculty Research Award. He is also feature in Turner Business ' recent series on Turner College management faculty who have published in A-level journals since 2021. Hurt contributed a 2024 publication in American Business Review  to that series.      Abid was also prominently featured in that series, having contributed seven A-level publications since 2021, three of which appear in IEEE Access , with one each in Computer Communications , Scientific African , Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews and Results in Engineering . In May of last year, Abid and Yesem Kurt-Peker were awarded a $50,000 grant from US Ignite for work on...

The Turner College's annual Spring Student Appreciation event is set for April 15, 2025, from 12:00 noon until 2:00 pm on the CSU Intramural Field. Like those in the past, this iteration is expected to be an epic event, with free food and t-shirts, games and more. In addition to these, this year's event will be visited by @IceyGirlAndCo, who will bring sweet treats for those in attendance to enjoy. Please RSVP here , and we hope to see you there .

Work on the Synovus Center, home to the Turner College on CSU's main campus, is progressing. As the accompanying photos provided by Turner Business show, much of the brick exterior along the rear of the building has been removed. The second photo accompanying this post (see below) provides a closer look at the progress thus far, including the large stacks of bricks that will replace those being removed. Although taken from a greater distance, the third photo included with this post provides a glimpse of how much remains to be removed from the rear of the building. One of the Sheridan Construction banners is also visible in this particular image. The final image in this post shows the new sod that is being installed on the ground where Woodall Hall stood until recent weeks when it was removed to provide additional green space for CSU students. As the image below shows, that space is almost ready.

The City of Columbus is preparing for a new pickleball complex, and while local pickle ball enthusiasts await its construction the Turner College's Butler Center for Research and Economic Development, headed by Fady Mansour , has released an economic impact study concerning the forthcoming complex. According to the study,  the construction and operation of a proposed 28-court pickleball facility at 1641 3rd Avenue in downtown Columbus, Georgia, is projected to generate significant economic benefits for the community. Construction of the facility, which will include 28 courts, 16 of which will be covered and four will be placed underneath 2nd Avenue, along with a central gathering hub, is expected to generate $11.3 million to the local economy, including a value-added impact (equivalent to GDP) of $5.4 million, $3 million in labor income, and 63 jobs. The study, which utilized input-output models to assess the facility’s impact, highlights the facility’s potential to enhance th...

Turner Business joins our LinkedIn colleagues in celebrating  Susan Moss , a distinguished alumna of the Turner College. Susan is the president and chief executive officer of Planters and Citizens Bank, headquartered in Camilla, Georgia, with an LPO in Forsyth. She also serves as vice chair of the Georgia Bankers Association’s board of directors.  Susan was recently appointed as one of the six new members of the Atlanta Fed's Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (CDIAC). In this role, she will help represent financial institutions by providing insights on economic conditions, lending practices, and other key banking matters.  She earned a BBA degree in management information systems from the University of Georgia and an MBA from the Turner College. Please join  us in congratulating Susan on this well-deserved achievement and her ongoing contributions to the financial industry.

Last week, the Turner College conducted its first-ever study abroad program to the Middle East. Ten students from a variety of disciplines—computer science, marketing, accounting, management information systems, finance, management, and information technology—have joined faculty Uma Sridharan and Rania Hodhod in Dubai. S tudents delved deep into the rich history of Dubai and the industrial revolution through interactive activities and museum visits. They had the incredible opportunity to experience iconic landmarks, including the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest structure at 829.8 meters, and the Dubai Frame, strategically positioned to offer breathtaking views of both modern Dubai on one side and the city’s older, historical parts on the other.  The students were also inspired by Dubai’s vision, leadership, and the fusion of technological advancement with rich cultural heritage. Most excitingly, they also had the chance to engage with local residents and immerse themselves in t...

New research by TSYS School computer scientist Yi Zhou and his computer science students Kaleb Horvath and Yasser Mahmoud  explains how  predicting rehabilitation outcomes in medicine is essential for guiding clinical decisions and improving patient care, and how t raditional machine learning methods, while effective, are often limited in their ability to capture complex, nonlinear relationships in data. As a response to this problem, their study, which appears in the latest issue of Electronics ,  investigates the application of deep learning techniques to predict rehabilitation success based on clinical and patient-reported outcome measures.  They utilized a  dataset of 1,047 rehabilitation patients encompassing diverse musculoskeletal conditions and treatment protocols to compare the performance of deep learning models with previously established machine learning approaches.  Their findings reveal that deep learning significantly enhances predictive pe...

A recent series here at Turner Business highlighted the A-level journal publications produced by faculty members in the TSYS School and Turner College. As that series showed, since the beginning of 2021 our faculty have combined to produce 60 A-level journal publications. A breakdown of this productivity by academic discipline appears in the table at the end of this post. Among the few faculty to have contributed to the above total on multiple occasions is Yoon Lee, who has accounted for three of these A-level publications. Turner Business recently spoke with Lee about his research endeavors, and some of that conversation is inserted below. TB: As a recent series here at Turner Business revealed, you are among the few faculty in the Turner College who has published in multiple A-level journals since 2021. What drives your desire to explore research topics and to publish in high-quality journals? YL:   I believe that a university faculty member is both a researcher and a teacher...

Informal case applications often enhance our understanding of an economic principle’s breadth of import in everyday life, as well as whether the principle may be acknowledged and used in a manner that facilitates decision-making. A new paper by Turner College economist Frank Mixon and his colleagues Shane Sanders of Syracuse University and Andrew Lucassen of the Mississippi University for Women contributes to the case study literature by focusing on several law and economics concepts, particularly concepts related to civil liability, included in the sit-com Seinfeld that are of particular interest to businesses and consumers. The primary case discussed in the study, which is set to appear in the next issue of American Business Review , is adapted from the 12th episode of the seventh season which is titled "The Caddy." This episode centers around the character known as Sue Ellen Mischke, the heiress to the O’Henry candy bar fortune. As described in the comedy series, Mischke...

Next month the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) will begin a 2025 review of its journal quality list (JQL), one of four lists the Turner College uses to evaluate the academic research of its faculty. The organization will begin receiving submissions from stakeholders, consisting of business and related faculty in Australia, on additions to and changes in its current JQL, which went into effect in 2023. Later, in October of 2025, the organization will release its 2025 JQL report, which will include tentative additions and changes to the current JQL. Finally, in early 2026, the ABDC will release the new JQL that will be used for the next few years.

The Turner College is seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to lead the TSYS Center for Cybersecurity. The Director will be responsible for strategic leadership, program development, and fostering partnerships with corporate and external stakeholders.  The successful candidate will oversee the creation and enhancement of cybersecurity programs, courses, and initiatives that meet the evolving needs of students and industry; identify and secure external funding opportunities, including grants and sponsorships, to support the Center's activities and growth; Industry establish and maintain strong relationships with corporate partners, fostering collaboration on internships and other initiatives; represent the Cybersecurity Center at conferences, workshops, and public events to enhance its visibility and impact; and, oversee the day-to-day operations of the Center, including budget management, staff supervision, and resource allocation. Required Qualifications Educational Ba...

CSU Women in Technology recently hosted an engaging soft skills workshop where participants formed teams, selected a topic on the spot, and with limited time to research they presented their findings to the group. It was amazing to see everyone think on their feet, collaborate, and showcase their communication skills. Huge thanks to everyone who joined the group for this exciting exercise. Turner Business looks forward to reporting on future events of this type. 

This month Turner College alum Dalton Corcoran celebrates his one-year anniversary as a Financial Analyst I at TSYS. Dalton earned a BBA in finance from the Turner College in 2023 and has both during his studies and since graduation been putting that education to work. During this time, he completed a wealth management internship with LPL Financial as well as his service as president of the Turner College's chapter of the Financial Management Association. Now his career is off and running. Turner Business congratulates Dalton on his anniversary with TSYS.

A recent series here at Turner Business highlighted the A-level journal publications produced by faculty members in the TSYS School and Turner College. As that series showed, since the beginning of 2021 our faculty have combined to produce 59 A-level journal publications. A breakdown of this productivity by academic discipline appears in the table at the end of this post. Among the top three faculty is Yi Zhou , who has accounted for 11 of these 59 publications. Turner Business recently spoke with Zhou about his research endeavors, and some of that conversation is inserted below. TB:   As a recent series here at Turner Business revealed, you are among the top 3 faculty in the Turner College in terms of publishing in A-level journals. What drives your desire to explore research topics and to publish in high-quality journals? YZ:   My interest in research and my desire to be involved in cutting-edge research topics drive me to do that. TB:  Do you prefer working alo...

A new study by Turner College finance professor, and chair of the Department of Accounting and Finance, Gisung Moon , along with Hongbok Lee and Zhiqiang Yang of Western Illinois University and Doug Waggle of the University of North Florida  extends the finance pedagogy literature related to the wealth accumulation stage of retirement planning using techniques that rely heavily on understanding the time value of money (TVM) concepts.  The study provides a step-by-step explanation of a retirement wealth accumulation model, accompanied by a detailed numerical example ready for use in the classroom. In doing so, Moon and his colleagues present a systematic approach to estimate the retirement nest egg and the target return required to achieve the nest egg. The estimated target return is suggested as a primary determinant of an investor’s asset allocation for retirement wealth accumulation. Their approach, which is set to appear in a future issue of Managerial Finance , direct...

A number of faculty in the Turner College's Department of Accounting and Finance, which includes faculty in economics, have produced A-level journal publications in the last few years. This report covers that activity, starting with Joshua Brooks , an associate professor of finance. Brooks is the author of a 2022 study appearing in the Journal of International Money and Finance . He was the winner of the 2024 CSU Excellence in Online Teaching Award, as well as the 2024 Turner College Excellence in Teaching Award.      Joining Brooks is Tesa Leonce , professor of economics and Associate Dean of the Turner College. In terms of A-level journal publications, 2021 was big year for Leonce, who published in both Empirical Economics and Tourism Economics . Leonce, formerly the chair of the Department of Accounting and Finance, currently serves on the editorial board of Compensation & Benefits Review .      Next is Fady Mansour , associate professor of economic...

With the U.S. imposing a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, as well as a 20% tariff on imports from China, local consumers are concerned about the future of the Columbus area economy. To discuss some of these issues, WRBL-TV reporter Michelle Jennings visited the Butler Center for Research and Economic Development to speak with Turner College economist Fady Mansour . During the interview, Mansour reported that there may be some positive effects from the new tariffs.  “We may see a stronger dollar. The stronger dollar usually brings prices down. That’s a deflationary force,” Mansour stated. “We may see investment in technology. That’s an opportunity for job growth.” Mansour also explained the  Mansour says the tariffs could also serve as a means to decrease U.S. imports as a solution to reducing the budget deficit.  “One problem we have here is we have fiscal deficits, we have budget deficits and over the long run, that’s not sustainable. We need to manage, we n...

As a Senior  Talent Acquisition Partner for InComm Payments,  Turner College alum Whitney Simpson   connects the company with top-tier talent. "I'm enthusiastic and dedicated to not just filling positions but filling them with the right people. I'm not only a recruiter but a consultant as well," Whitney explains. Since joining InComm Payments, she gained valuable e xperience in full cycle recruiting (i.e., beginning to end with internal and external stakeholders) in the company's search to fill technical (e.g., software engineers/architects, IT product owners, data analysts) and non-technical roles (marketing, accounting and account management), sourced both nationally and internationally. To prepare for this role from an education standpoint, Whitney earned a B.S. in management (with a concentration in human resource management) from the Turner College in 2019. During her studies in the Turner College, she served as a CSU Global Ambassador and was the Co-Founder ...

A number of faculty in the Turner College's Department of Management and Marketing, which includes faculty in management information systems, have produced A-level journal publications in the last few years. This report covers that activity, starting with John Finley , the chairperson of the department. Professor Finley published a paper in the Journal of Computer Information Systems in 2022.      Finley is joined by Kirk Heriot , the Crowley Distinguished Chair in Entrepreneurship. Heriot, who earned a PhD in management from Clemson University, published in a 2021 issue of Small Business Economics . One of the study's co-authors, Andres Jauregui of Fresno State University, was previously a member of the Turner College's economics faculty.      Next is Johnny Ho , a professor of management, who has a 2022 publication in the Journal of Computer Information Systems . Ho has won CSU's Excellence in Research Award on multiple occasions, while he has compiled 2...

According to Williesha Morris' report for AL.com, Troy University’s Board of Trustees voted on March 1 to close its Phenix City campus at the end of the year.  “Troy University’s Phenix City campus has played a vital role in our mission and educational outreach for over five decades, significantly contributing to higher education in East Alabama,” Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. told state and local news media.  “However, as more adult learners shift toward online and flexible learning options, demand for traditional in-person instruction at satellite locations has declined. This decision was not made lightly, and I am profoundly grateful to the faculty, staff, students, and community leaders who have built the Phenix City Campus’s legacy of excellence.”  Administrators will assist students, staff and faculty in transitioning to online programs or the other Troy satellite campuses in Dothan and Montgomery, while Fort Moore military students can still utilize university staff ...

Turner College alum Elizabeth Hurst has been promoted to Vice President of Communications at Dairy MAX, a Dallas-based non-profit dairy council representing more than 900 dairy farms across eight states. Elizabeth joined Dairy MAX as Communications Manager in January of 2017 and was elevated almost one year later to Director of Corporate Communications. She graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2006 and began her professional career as Production Manager with Dye, Van Mol & Lawrence. She advanced with that organization to the role of Account Executive. In December of 2011, Elizabeth took on the role of Vice President of Community Relations and Marketing with Uptown Columbus. She held that post until May of 2015, when she graduated from the Turner College with an MS in organizational leadership. In July of 2015, she became the Main Street Program Coordinator for the City of McKinney (Texas), holding that position for six months before taking on the post of Program Man...

A number of TSYS School computer faculty have produced A-level journal publications in the last few years. This report covers that activity, starting with Riduan Abid . Professor Abid has published in IEEE Access  three times in recent years (2021, 2022 and 2024). This year he has articles appearing in both Computer Communications and Scientific African . Lastly, in 2021 Abid published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews and in 2024 he added a publication in Results in Engineering . In total, that's seven A-level journal publications from 2021 to the present.      TSYS School computer scientist Linqiang Ge has three A-level journal publications over the same period, each appearing in a unique journal outlet. In 2022, Ge published in both the IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics and IEEE Transactions on Computational Social Systems . In 2023, Ge added a publication in Information & Management , taking him to three A-level journal publicati...