Turner Business

Turner College adjunct professor of finance Melissa Ingle Hammer  is departing the organization in order to pursue new opportunities. Hammer joined the College in January of 2024 following a private sector career that included serving as  the SVP of Fair Lending Product Management with RiskExec at Asurity, Compliance Manager of Fair Lending at Synovus, a senior regulatory consultant with Wolters Kluwer, and VP of Compliance at TD. In recent months, Hammer collaborated with the Butler Center of Research and Economic Development in producing economic impact reports.  "It’s been a truly rewarding experience, and I’ve enjoyed the collaboration, learning, and growth that we’ve shared over this time . . .  While I’ll miss working with such a talented and community-focused group, I leave with nothing but gratitude for the experiences we’ve had together," Hammer stated.  Hammer graduated from the Turner College in 2005, after earning a BBA in finance. She later went on ...

A new study by the Turner College's Jasmine Bordere and Frank Mixon  and Syracuse University's Shane Sanders examines a dimension of collegiate athletics that is understudied but at the same time economically important –  the determinants of apparel and equipment sponsorships among Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) university athletics departments. By integrating insights from sport management, marketing, and public choice theory, the analysis both confirms and complements our extant understanding of NCAA athletics sponsorships based primarily on market size and athletic success. The new study further finds the effect of corporate board alumni connections to be both significant and sizable with respect to apparel sponsorship outcomes. Using multinomial probit models, the findings provide consistent and robust evidence across several specifications that managerial affiliations between universities and apparel firms play an often decisive role in sponsorship affiliation. The...

New research by TSYS School student  Md Nurullah  and TSYS School faculty Rania Hodhod , Hyrum Carroll and Yi Zhou  that aims to improve plant disease detection appears in the latest issue of Electronics . As the study indicates, p lant diseases pose a significant threat to global food security, affecting crop yield, quality, and overall agricultural productivity. Traditionally, diagnosing plant diseases has relied on time-consuming visual inspections by experts, which can often lead to errors. Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), particularly Vision Transformers (ViTs), and Convolutional Neural Networks, offer a faster, automated alternative for identifying plant diseases through leaf image analysis. However, these models are often criticized for their “black box” nature, limiting trust in their predictions due to a lack of transparency. The TSYS School team's findings show that incorporating Explainable AI (XAI) techniques, such as Grad-CAM, Integrat...

[The View from 30,000 Feet is an occasional entry that offers a big-picture view of some of the topics covered on this blog.] About one week ago Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent announced that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as FAFSA, is introducing a new earnings indicator to complement the FAFSA process as a way of improving the information that individuals and families use in considering their postsecondary options. According to Kent, "As more than half of all Americans question whether a college degree is worth the price of tuition and the federal student loan portfolio nears a staggering $1.7 trillion, the Department of Education is taking significant steps to ensure that students and families have clear information to make informed postsecondary education enrollment decisions—before they take on debt they may never be able to repay . . .  The new earnings indicator helps illuminate how graduates’ typical earnings compare with ...

The Turner College is set to host a Career Fair on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm in the Student Recreation Center on CSU's main campus. The event is open to all CSU students, and attendees are asked to bring copies of their resumes. Based on past events, a large number of employers will be in attendance.

Congratulations to our Turner College graduate assistant Aryn Clark , who will be  graduating tomorrow with her M.S. in organizational leadership. She will soon be working as a project manager in Atlanta.  Aryn shared, “I want to give a special shoutout to all the staff at Turner College for their support throughout my journey. I also want to thank my friends and family who have always stood by my side. My experience at CSU has taught me that being driven and empathetic will take you far. A big thank you to [Turner College Associate Dean] Dr. [ Tesa ] Leonce for mentoring me and helping me develop my skills for the profession I am pursuing.”  Help us to congratulate Aryn for all of her hard work.

TEDx is coming to the Columbus State University on Thursday, Jan. 15, bringing with it the TEDx philosophy of “ideas worth spreading.” The event will feature a specially selected slate of speakers who will share the perspectives they’ve gained through their professional expertise, personal successes and failures, and community involvement.  Tickets are on sale now for the TEDxColumbusStateU event, which begins at 6 p.m. in CSU’s Riverside Theatre on the RiverPark campus. There, a diverse slate of some of the area’s brightest minds will share the stage and their pioneering perspectives, projects and vision.  “We’re bringing together thinkers, makers, storytellers and innovators from all walks of life,” explained Shana Young, Columbus State’s Associate Vice President for Community Engagement. “Their talks will challenge the way we think—the status quo—and point to ripple effects that inspire action and that we can incorporate into how we think, behave and lead.”  Young said...

Turner Business congratulates Turner College student assistant, Jiane Louella Rabara , on earning her B.B.A. in accounting.  She’s not slowing down either — Jiane is heading to Robinson, Grimes & Company to join their tax accounting team, and in Fall 2026 she will begin her graduate studies at the University of Virginia.  When looking back on her time at CSU, Jiane stated,  “Some of my favorite memories at CSU include career fair networking events and long study sessions in the library. A big shoutout to Dr. Boster and Dr. Mansour for being incredible mentors throughout my journey.”  Help us celebrate Jiane as she steps into this exciting next chapter.

CSU's Academic Center for Tutoring & Coaching has recently highlighted the valuable work that the Turner College's academic success coaches are doing each day. The Center followed up this week by recognizing the coaches' efforts in setting up a hot cocoa bar in the Synovus Center for business and computer science students who were completing their final exams. As it noted, " Our Academic Success Coaches brought the warmth this past week—literally. From sharing study tips to serving up steaming cups of hot cocoa, they were out in full force supporting our Turner College students during their finals week hot cocoa bar.  The room was filled with holiday cheer, encouragement, and the sweet reminder that no one has to face finals alone.  A huge thank-you to our incredible coaches and Turner College staff for creating a welcoming space and for the care they pour into our students' success every day. Moments like these make all the difference." If you work in the...

CSU's Academic Center for Tutoring & Coaching recently  recognized  Shaneka Thrash , an exceptional Academic Success Coach, whose dedication and student-centered approach continue to make a meaningful impact within Turner College.  Shaneka holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in criminology and a Master of Education in Professional counseling – college student affairs, both from the University of West Georgia. She currently supports students majoring in accounting, finance, and general business, offering guidance grounded in compassion, insight, and intentionality.  Shaneka’s advising philosophy centers on understanding each student’s starting point and their personal “why”—why they chose CSU, their major, and their goals. By gaining this deeper perspective, she tailors her support to strengthen students’ independence, mindset, and confidence in making decisions that move them toward success.  One piece of advice Shaneka often shares with her ...

Now at the end of fall semester 2025 Turner Business is taking another look at Google Scholar citations to the research published by Turner College business faculty. Research by the 10 faculty making up the corps of instruction in the Department of Accounting and Finance (including economics) has garnered 7,470 Google Scholar citations. These figures produce an average of 747 citations per faculty. Next, research by the 14 faculty making up the corps of instruction in the Department of Management and Marketing (including MIS) has garnered 12,674 Google Scholar citations. These figures produce an average of 905 citations per faculty. Overall, research by the 24 faculty comprising the corps of instruction from the business disciplines in the Turner College has garnered 20,144 Google Scholar citations, for an average of 839 citations per faculty member.

The Turner College's Fall 2025 graduation ceremony is set for Friday, December 12, at 9:00 am in the Lumpkin Center on CSU's main campus. This will be CSU's  130th commencement exercise, and it will  spotlight young alumnus and Columbus native Curtis Walker, who will address graduates on resilience and timing. Walker is a 2022 political science graduate, a two-term Student Government Association president, and a current Mercer University School of Law student.  This fall’s ceremonies will be Dustin Anderson’s first as Provost and Chief Academic Officer since his appointment in July 2025, and Undrell Walker’s first as President of the Student Government Association. It will be the last for Gina Sheeks, who is retiring in December after a 32-year CSU career—including the past 18 years as Vice President for Student Affairs, and Deborah Kidder , who is stepping down as Dean of the Turner College.  This fall’s 1,060 graduates include 104 students representing the College ...

Just a reminder that today is Hot Cocoa Bar Day for Turner College students and faculty. The Turner College Dean's Office staff invites you to stop by the Synovus Center lobby between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm to enjoy some hot cocoa and take a break from the stress of final exam week. A big thank you to Yvette Moore and the rest of the staff for continuing this Turner College exam week tradition into Fall 2025 finals week.

Aflac's 2025 Christmas is for Kids initiative began yester day and this year it is being led by Turner College alum Renee Lambert .  Throughout December, numerous Aflac locations are completing volunteer projects and delivering toys to various organizations in order to support local area children and families.  "Leading Aflac's Christmas is for Kids initiative has been an absolute blessing.  What a beautiful start to the holiday season and an amazing example of culture, engagement, and giving back. Grateful to all of the volunteers, organizations, and business partners involved in this special initiative," Lambert stated. Renee has been with Aflac for more than 10 years, and since 2023 has been an Employee Experience Consultant for the company. Renee's Turner College education has been instrumental in her successful run with Aflac. Not only did she earn a BBA in management, with a concentration in human resources, from the Turner College in 2014, Renee was also aw...

The Academic Center for Tutoring & Coaching is proud to highlight Elizabeth Chess , an Academic Success Coach dedicated to empowering students in management, marketing, and management information systems.  Elizabeth earned her BBA in Management with an HR concentration from Columbus State University and is currently in her final semester of CSU’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s program. Elizabeth's academic foundation, paired with a passion for student success, shapes a supportive and student-centered approach.  Elizabeth’s advising philosophy centers on creating a judgment-free, collaborative environment where every student feels valued, heard, and capable of success. Elizabeth believes in meeting students where they are—academically, personally, and emotionally—while helping them identify strengths, build confidence, and set meaningful goals. Elizabeth's mission is to guide, listen, empower, and advocate for students as they navigate their academic journey....

Governor Brian Kemp recently announced that the Georgia Lottery Corporation (GLC) has raised over $30 billion for education in the State of Georgia since its inception in 1993. These funds have enabled millions of Georgians to receive essential early learning through the Georgia Pre-K program and provided the opportunity for higher education through the HOPE Scholarship and Grant programs. Governor Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp were joined by University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue, University of Georgia President Jere Morehead, and Georgia Institute of Technology President Angel Cabrera last Friday at the Georgia-Georgia Tech game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a ceremonial check presentation from GLC CEO Gretchen Corbin and Board Chairman John Irby to mark the milestone. “On behalf of generations of Georgians, Marty and I are proud to congratulate the Georgia Lottery on this historic milestone and celebrate its impact on so many students, some of them twice as former Pre-...

According to Jordyn Paul-Slater's reporting for the  Ledger-Enquirer , s mall business owners in Columbus now have a unique opportunity in Highside Market. StartUP Columbus, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping entrepreneurs grow new businesses in the Chattahoochee Valley, launched its retail incubator, called retailLAB, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Highside Market yesterday. According to Paul-Slater's report, a  retail incubator is a low-risk environment where entrepreneurs can test out their business plans by selling their products or services in a supported environment. StartUP Columbus received a grant from the Knight Foundation to accomplish this project. Ben MacMinn, Executive Director of StartUP Columbus, told Paul-Slater that the space was designed to help entrepreneurs with administrative tasks like printing and conferencing with clients. According to Paul-Slater, r etailLAB will house three small businesses in one shared space, with each signing a one-y...

[The View from 30,000 Feet is an occasional entry that offers a big-picture view of some of the topics covered on this blog.] Many interested observers of higher education would argue that when colleges and universities are not slow in responding to critical changes in the education market, they often respond wrongheadedly. Such is the argument made by Michael Clune in his recent essay in The Atlantic on the academy's response to the leaps and bounds being made in artificial intelligence. The opening lines of Clune's essay set the stage: "After three years of doing essentially nothing to address the rise of generative AI, colleges are now scrambling to do too much. Over the summer, Ohio State University, where I teach, announced a new initiative promising to 'embed AI education into the core of every undergraduate curriculum, equipping students with the ability to not only use AI tools, but to understand, question and innovate with them—no matter their major.' Simi...

Two-time Turner College grad Ashley Woitena  recently visited  Columbus & the Valley magazine for "Conversations on the Couch." In March of this year, Woitena was named President and CEO of VisitColumbusGA. Her educational experiences in the Turner College come up in the first question posed to her by the magazine. The entire interview is inserted below.