Turner Business

The newest list of Top 50 journals in business has been released by The Financial Times . This list is used by many of the top business schools around the globe to evaluate business faculty. Containing only 50 journals, this list is generally too restrictive to use as an assessment tool at most business schools. The typical business school employs longer lists constructed by the Chartered Association of Business Schools, the Australian Business Deans Council and Scimago. The new FT Top 50 list is provided below. Congrats to Turner College faculty who have published from this list in the past, such as Charles Boster (accounting), Deborah Kidder (management), Laurence Marsh (management), Frank Mixon (economics) and Ed O'Donnell (marketing). Academy of Management Annals Academy of Management Journal Academy of Management Review Accounting Review Accounting, Organizations and Society Administrative Science Quarterly American Economic Review American Sociological Review Contemporar...

It is once again the season for a quick look at the Google Scholar citations that are attributed to the research by the Turner College's business faculty. The Turner College currently has 28 total tenured and tenure-track faculty, including three administrators. Hence, the corps of instruction count stands at 25. As shown in the table below, the Turner College's corps of instruction is associated with 25,812 Google Scholar citations, for an average of 1,032.5 Google Scholar citations per faculty. When the administrators are included, the total rises to 26,294 Google Scholar citations while the average falls to 939.1 Google Scholar citations per faculty. When the data are broken down by departmental unit, the 10 members of the corps of instruction in accounting and finance are responsible for 7,686 Google Scholar citations, for an average of 768.6 Google Scholar citations per faculty. When the two Turner College administrators from that unit are included, the total rises to 7,97...

The TSYS School is rolling out a new plan for senior capstone education. The new plan is an industry-sponsored research-focused program for senior computer science majors aimed at designing solutions to defined business challenges related to information technology, computer science and cybersecurity. According to the details of the new program, teams of students and a faculty mentor will be available to provide about 400 hours of engagement over the course of the semester on a business problem applicable to the fields listed above. Prospective industry partners will provide $5,000 investment to support a team's work, which will be based on bi-weekly meetings and capstone projects related to the business problem. Students, faculty and businesses involved in the program will gain (1) knowledge of how problems are solved cost effectively, (2) new ideas and perspectives from use of cutting-edge technologies, (3) a pipeline of talent from networking connections, and (4) access to brand ...

A new study on the history of business education in the U.S. by the Turner College's Kirk Heriot and Neal Thomson , along with Kennesaw State University's Shelby Meek, opens by pointing out that t he introductory business curriculum in the United States has remained largely unchanged since  the 1920s, despite dramatic shifts in higher education, business practice, and student needs. As the authors assert, the persistence of historical practice increasingly undermines student  success, institutional sustainability, and the relevance of business education. The researchers explain that m ost students encounter business education for the first time through accounting and economics,  which are the two courses with the highest national failure and withdrawal rates.  High failure rates are  also well documented in business statistics, another early-stage gatekeeper, where structural,  instructional, and system-level factors all contribute to widespread student di...

Several Turner College and TSYS School students had impressive showings at last week's 2026 Scholastic Honors Convocation on CSU's main campus.  Taking home awards from the Turner College were:  Accounting Award - Pruthviraj Guduru Finance Award - Joseph Holder Management Award - Rebecca Darko Marketing Award - Teigan Pepit Management Information Systems Award - Keir Etchison MBA Award - Robert Jimerson MSOL Award - Rachel Jenkins Student of Excellence Award - Drew Ashton Picking up awards from the TSYS School were: Software Systems Award -  Nicholas Cleplensky Web Development Award - Camille Ahumada Games Programming Award -  Conner Mathisen-Weitzel Information Technology Award - Jennifer Jackson Cybersecurity Award - Judson Whiteside Graduate Cybersecurity Defense Award - Yogesh Botcha Graduate Applied Computer Science Award - Dheeraj Kolla Graduate Cybersecurity Management Award - Rahul Raj Student of Excellence Award - Elijah Starkey Turner Business  congrat...

A key feature of Employee Appreciation Week, t he 2026 CSU Employee Awards Ceremony is set for next Tuesday, May 5. Several Turner College and TSYS School faculty are nominated this year. The list includes finance's Joshua Brooks , who is a finalist for the Excellence in Teaching Award. MIS professor Yoon Lee is a finalist for the Research and Scholarship Award, while accounting professor Charles Boster is a finalist for the Chappell Graduate Award. Among the TSYS School's nominees,  Linqiang Ge is a finalist for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award, Amjad Hossain is a finalist for the Online Teaching Award, and Armando Fernandez is a finalist for the Service Award. Lastly, economics professor Wen Shi is a finalist for the Teaching Innovation Award. Turner Business wishes these nominees the best of luck.  

At a recent reception, CSU's Office of Student Life & Development honored over 40 registered student organizations, along with their leaders and other students, for their dedication and service to the university and community.  “Student organizations and campus engagement programs allow Columbus State students to create community and find their people,” said Melissa Dempsey, Assistant Dean of Students for Student Engagement. “Both allow students to connect with others who share their interests and passions, gain valuable leadership skills and hands-on experience through volunteerism, and build a broad network through social and community programs.”  As part of the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of Student Life & Development serves the entire student body. It coordinates the work of more than 85 registered student organizations and student boards, which collectively include 120-plus student leaders, 550-plus campus events hosted by organizations annually, and 1...

Butler Center research associates Jordan Mills and Nhi Do  enjoyed the recent opportunity to participate in CSU’s 2026 Tower Day Conference. The two Turner College students used the opportunity to present the results of the Coca-Cola Economic Impact Study, which they significantly contributed to and that was published earlier this year. "It was especially exciting to see the wide range of research projects presented by both undergraduate and graduate students. The event was incredibly informative, and I really enjoyed learning about the innovative ideas and perspectives others brought to their work. Overall, it was a great experience and a rewarding way to spend my Friday morning," explained Mills. Turner Business congratulates these two outstanding students on all of their academic successes.

An interesting report on business activities at Synovus Bank and other financial institutions by Rebel Cole , the Lynn Eminent Scholar Chaired Professor of Finance at Florida Atlantic University, was recently released on LinkedIn. As Cole writes, m any astute commentators on the banking industry have been warning about future losses on commercial mortgages given that about $1 trillion in these are maturing and must be refinanced at much higher rates during the next 12 months. Cole  calculated the total commercial real estate (CRE) exposure (CRE nonfarm-nonresidential and multifamily mortgages, CRE construction loans and unused CRE commitments) as a percentage of total equity in order to provide a broad measure of bank exposure to commercial real estate. A variation of this ratio is used by banking regulators to assess CRE exposures, and any ratio over 300% is viewed as excessive exposure to CRE. Based on data as of Dec. 31, 2025 (Q4), Cole created a  list of the total CRE expo...

Get ready for a fun night at the ballpark as the CSU Alumni Association has set Alumni Night with the Columbus Clingstones for Friday, May 1 at Synovus Park.  Come connect with fellow alumni, show your CSU pride, and enjoy an exciting matchup as the Clingstones take on the Montgomery Biscuits.  Gates open at 6:00 pm, with the first pitch set for 7:00 pm. Ticket prices are  $35, which covers f ood and drinks, and a ccess to the 3rd base picnic area.  Plus, the first 50 attendees will receive a complimentary drink ticket, so be sure to arrive early.

The CSU Center for Career Coaching and JC Penney are co-sponsoring the 2nd Annual Suit Up for Success Event from 3:00 pm through 7:00 pm today at the Peachtree Mall. As part of the event, the Suit Up for Success Fashion Show will begin at 5:00 pm. Throughout the event, Turner College students can save up to 45% on select clothing in-store. Last year Turner College students were able to purchase  career wear, shoes and accessories at the discounted price. The list of eligible items included suits, pants, dresses, sport coats, dress shirts, ties, shoes, handbags, wallets, watches, jewelry, belts, luggage, briefcases, undergarments and shapewear. The Columbus JC Penney is located in the Peachtree Mall on Manchester Expressway.

President Stuart Rayfield has approved the promotion and/or tenure of 27 members of the Columbus State University faculty — granted in recognition of their commitment to teaching, scholarship and service. Their new appointments will begin in August to coincide with the start of the 2026-27 academic year. Among those approved by Rayfield is Mark James , who will hold the rank of professor of management beginning with the next academic year. James is currently nominated for the 2026 Turner College Research Award. Bolstering his nomination for this award are recent publications in the  Journal of Business and Economics and the  Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice . Joining James among this list of 27 is the TSYS School's Elke Brumbaugh , who was promoted to Senior Lecturer. Brumbaugh is currently nominated for the 2026 Turner College Teaching Award. In that regard , she immerses her students in authentic, hands-on environments, supported through mentorship...

Congratulations to Sean Glieberman , Director of the TSYS Center for Cybersecurity, for being voted one of OnCon Icon's Top 50 Information Security Professional Award winners for 2026. Glieberman joined the TSYS School in June of 2025  from Ohio, where he held the position of Executive Director of the Center for Cyber Defense at Tiffin University. While there he secured $1 million in research grants and alternative revenue generation throughout the Ohio region, built a state-of-the-art cyber center with a 24/7 interactive cyberwall threat map, mobile cyber range, Boston Dynamics SPOT, and Tesla Cybertruck, and developed public and private partnerships, including with the White House ONCD, Department of Defense, CISCO, and US Bank. Last month he hosted an open forum of CISO executives, while earlier this year he expanded the Board of Directors of the TSYS Center for Cybersecurity to 12 members.

Former CSU Provost Deborah Bordelon, Chief Academic Officer and Provost at University of Houston – Downtown, has been appointed to serve as Interim President of UHD effective May 1, following the departure of Loren Blanchard, who was recently appointed president of California State University –Long Beach. Bordelon, who joined UHD in 2022, began her administrative career as chair and associate professor at Xavier University of Louisiana and went on to serve as Dean of the College of Education at Nicholls State University. She later served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Governors State University before being named Provost and Executive Vice President at Columbus State University. A national search for UHD’s next president will begin immediately.

The Turner College is currently in the process of establishing the Synovus Center Design Enhancement Task Force to be made up of Turner College students, faculty and staff and will focus on efforts to modernize spaces within the Synovus Center. According to Acting Turner College Dean Tesa Leonce , the task force will conduct a comprehensive aesthetic assessment and develop a cohesive aesthetic vision for common spaces within the building. The goal is to enhance student-centered spaces, such as the lobby areas, by modernizing them and improving their functionality. Leonce noted that Howard Hall and Arnold Hall are two examples of recent interior redesigns on the main campus that are more modern looking than the current version of the Synovus Center. The $4 million renovation of Howard Hall was completed in 2015 and included higher ceilings, improved lighting, flexible furniture and new technology. Arnold Hall's $4.95 million redesign was completed in 2016, and included a "Googl...

CSU's enrollment decline continues to be a source of concern to the University System of Georgia. CSU's enrollment for spring 2026 is down 2.4% compared to spring 2025, while only one other USG institution, Albany State University, experienced an enrollment drop over the same time period. ASU's FTE enrollment fell by only 0.3%, however, meaning that CSU's decline is in a category of its own. Enrollment at the USG's other "State Universities" is up by at least 0.9% (Georgia College & State University) and as much as 8.4% (Fort Valley State University and Georgia Southwestern State University). The four other institutions in this category saw their enrollments rise by a larger percentage than CSU's enrollment fell. Enrollment across the USG's four "Research Universities" rose by 0.3% (Georgia State University) to 6.8% (Augusta University). Similarly, among the USG's four "Comprehensive Universities" enrollment rose by 0.8%...

Acting Turner College Dean Tesa Leonce announced at the College's April 2026 faculty and staff meeting that the Turner College is reviving its Executive Speakers Series, beginning fall semester 2026. The renewed series will be led by MIS professor Jennifer Pitts , who informed those in attendance that she will be partnering with industry and community leaders in order to build the series as an opportunity for students to network with area professionals and for area professionals to offer guidance on the business and computer science curricula offered by the Turner College and TSYS School. Pitts informed Turner Business that she already has leads on speakers for the next academic year and that a high percentage of them will be CSU alumni.

Columbus State University was honored to welcome the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia to Columbus for their April board meeting. In CSU  President Stuart Rayfield is joined in the accompanying image by USG Board Chair David Dove and USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue as CSU showcases the strong partnerships and collaborative spirit that make our community and university such a special place to learn, live and lead.

To celebrate National  Student Employment Week, the Turner College created posters that  proudly recognize the 13 outstanding student assistants who play a vital role in supporting the Turner College, the TSYS School and our campus community. From balancing academic responsibilities to contributing their time, energy, and talent behind the scenes, these students exemplify dedication, professionalism, and leadership.  Their work does not go unnoticed. Whether assisting departments, supporting faculty and staff, or enhancing the student experience, each of them makes a meaningful impact every single day.  We are grateful for their commitment and proud to have them as part of our community. Join us in celebrating their hard work and achievements.

New research by Turner College economist Frank Mixon and his colleague Ricardo Faria of Florida Atlantic University addresses fragmentation  of academic research on entrepreneurship that is borne out of an underrepresentation of some key figures in the history of economic thought. As these authors point out, much of the academic research on entrepreneurship relies heavily, as it should, on the work by  late economist Joseph Schumpeter (1883-1950), particularly his 1934 and 1942 books respectively titled T he Theory of Economic Development: An Inquiry into Profits, Capital, Credit, Interest , and the Business Cycle and Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy . However, Schumpeter's important work on entrepreneurship was preceded by that of  the late Austrian School economist Ludwig von Mises (1881-1973), which is best represented by his 1920 and 1922 books respectively titled Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis and Economic Calculation in the Socialist Common...

According to Ty Tagami's recent report for Capitol Beat , the USG will be increasing tuition by 1% for Georgia students attending one of the state’s public colleges or universities.  The Regents are also increasing tuition 3% for out-of-state students attending one of the University System of Georgia campuses.  “With enrollment at record levels, we’re focused on limiting new financial hurdles and delivering real value on every campus,” Chancellor Sonny Perdue said in a statement. “T[hi]s decision reinforces that commitment.” As Tagami reports, t uition covers only a portion of instructional costs, with the state paying for 57%, according to the USG. It said students pay, on average, less in tuition now than in 2017 when adjusted for inflation.  The system also said the Georgia General Assembly’s new budget for fiscal year 2027 includes a $34.2 million “reduction” in enrollment-driven state funding. The budget, which awaits the signature of Gov. Brian Kemp, increased the s...

A student from the Georgia Institute of Technology on Tuesday took home a $15,000 prize and first-place honors as the inaugural winner of the University System of Georgia’s (USG) Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition. The student, Akos Vida, pitched AdaptaPlay, a modular gaming controller add-on for people with disabilities.  Second place and $7,500 were awarded to SueAnn Hollowell, a student from Kennesaw State University, for their idea for a patented commercial body art printer that allows fans to print custom sports designs on their skin in seconds. Danielle Gibson of Gordon State College earned third place and $2,500 for an idea to develop accessible kits that allow farriers to electroplate horseshoes with copper to protect against bacterial invasion and prevent degradation of the hoof capsule.  A panel of judges honored three runners-up for their innovative ideas: Georgia Southwestern State University, Georgia Southern University and Georgia College & State U...