Mike with daughter, Katherine, before starting a rib eating contest.

Years at UWO: 13

Undergrad/Graduate schools: University of Georgia (BBA), Indiana University Fort Wayne (MBA), University of Nebraska (Ph.D.)

Dissertation Topic:  IT competency and firm performance

Food you couldn’t live without: Pizza

Hobbies outside of teaching: Reading and painting

Favorite movie: Casablanca

If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be doing:Probably what I was doing before becoming a teacher…working in the business consulting industry.

Mike with daughter, Katherine, who beat him in the rib eating contest.

Who is your biggest inspiration for teaching? Kathy Rassuli. She got me interested in doing academic research.

What is your favorite thing about teaching at UWO? The students tend to be hard-working and our new academic building is great!

What is your current research focus? I am currently doing research in the area of customer loyalty and voice-of-the-customer driven market positioning.

What is your best piece of advice for current COB students? Have some confidence in your abilities.  Just because you may not have a lot of hands-on business experience, doesn’t mean that you don’t have a lot of potential.

Prof. Kothari in Brazil

Name: Tanvi Kothari

Years at UWO: 2.5

Prior to joining UW Oshkosh I was an Assistant Professor at the Fox School of Business, Temple University. I have held management and research positions with international companies and research organizations like Thomas Cook India Ltd, Philadelphia Marriott, Melrose Hotel Co. and the National Laboratory of Tourism & eCommerce.

Undergrad/Graduate schools: I have earned a Ph.D. in Business Administration from The Fox School of Business, Temple University. I hold a Masters from School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Temple University and have a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Mumbai University, India.

Food you couldn’t live without? I will try anything that is vegetarian but my favorite cuisines are Thai, Ethiopian and Indian. Also, I love my snacks from Trader Joes. You will often find me pitching for their products and occasionally you can stop by my office to taste some samplers too!!

Hobbies outside of teaching? Traveling, dancing, and I am learning to play a guitar.

Prof. Kothari in Italy.

Favorite movie? Some of my favorites are Pay It Forward, Negotiator and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I do watch a lot of Bollywood movies too.

If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be doing? I would probably be treating patients at a hospital. I value serving people and giving back to the community.

Who is your biggest inspiration for teaching? My high school teacher Mrs. Bhattacharya and my PhD mentor Dr. Masaki Kotabe. Both are my role models and have instilled in me values to be an unconditional teacher. I can give back to them only by paying it forward to my students.

What is your favorite thing about teaching at UWO? Great colleagues and amazing students. I really enjoy the learning attitude that UWO students bring to class.

Dissertation Topic: The Ball Is In Their Court: Changing Role of Multinational Companies from Emerging Economies

What is your current research focus? I am passionate about my research and have developed a critical mass of knowledge and expertise required to address a variety of research questions with respect to large emerging markets – especially India and China. Specifically, my research focuses on understanding the innovation and internationalization strategies of Emerging Market Firms (EMFs) from both, manufacturing and service industries. Currently, I am also involved in a study to evaluate the growth trajectory of social innovations and explore the impact of social ventures.  I use variety of unique research methods and analytical tools, including qualitative data collection techniques (e.g., case studies, focus groups, think tanks, nominal group techniques and content analysis) and quantitative methods (e.g., structured survey method both on the web and on print); and integrating qualitative and quantitative methods to triangulate study results. My research has culminated in numerous refereed journal articles, conference presentations, and industry reports and has received scholarly awards in recognition of my work.

What is your best piece of advice for current COB students? Join as many ‘study abroad’ trips as you can, seek internships that can give you an international experience, attend multicultural events, try to have a global focus in your understanding of the business world. Travel the world; it is a life changing experience!!

Name:

Years at UWO: 30.5

Undergrad/Graduate schools:
BS – Math; University of Wisconsin – Madison
PhD – Accountancy; University of Illinois – Urbana

Dissertation Topic: Replacement Cost Accounting under ASR 190

Food you couldn’t live without: Chocolate, the darker the better

Hobbies outside of teaching: Traveling and reading mysteries written by women with a female protagonist. Some of my favorite authors include Donna Andrews, Rita Mae Brown (the Mrs. Murphy cat series), Laura Childs, Cleo Coyle, Yasmine Galenorn, Carolyn Hart and Jane Langton.

Favorite movie: White Christmas – I know all the dialog and songs by heart.

If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be doing: moldering away

Who is your biggest inspiration for teaching? My third grade teacher Ms. Hare.  She taught me how exciting it can be to see the light of understanding in someone’s eyes.  It doesn’t happen often, but it is so energizing when it does.

What is your favorite thing about teaching at UWO? The students are awesome.  They are polite, respectful and won’t take any nonsense.  They push me to be the best I can be at my job and let me know when I am not doing so.

What is your current research focus? The history of women in business and accounting academics.

What is your best piece of advice for current COB students? Expand your horizons.  Don’t just take courses to get through, but learn things that you can use.  Make the most of these years because you will be working your entire life; this is the time to explore.

Name:

Years at UWO: 1998-present (13)

Undergrad/Graduate schools: University of Wyoming (M.B.A.), University of Memphis (Ph.D.)

Dissertation Topic:
Effect of Corporate governance changes on the performance of declining firms

Food you couldn’t live without:
Spicy food usually does the trick for me.  Despite loving mouth burning cuisine (Thai, Indian, etc.),  I do love berries, exotic  fruit and yogurt. I will try anything new (less meat though). Love to uncover hidden gems when I go out to eat.

Hobbies outside of teaching:
Traveling, reading, and cooking. I consider them to be invigorating and relaxing at the same time.

Favorite movie:
Crash, Traffic, Lord of the Rings

If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be doing:
Travel writer or a food critic or even better doing both.

Who is your biggest inspiration for teaching?
I have learned a lot from my advisor at the University of Memphis, Dr. Peter Wright. Frankly speaking, I get inspired when I meet ANY of my former students who are doing well in life. If I have helped them in reaching their goals in any small way, I consider that to be an achievement.  It makes me want to do more. A teacher’s success lies in the success of their students.
What is your favorite thing about teaching at UWO?
The chance to teach dedicated students who are open to new experiences and ideas.

What is your current research focus?
Historically, my research has focused on corporate governance and acquisitions.  Right now, I’m shifting my focus to market competition and management education.

What is your best piece of advice for current COB students?
Use your time wisely.  Avoid a myopic focus on classroom activities.  Learning opportunities are everywhere!  Look for opportunities to develop yourself in your job (big or small), through volunteering in your community, and through other extracurricular activities. The world is expecting you to be multidimensional.

Name:

Years at UWO: 15

Undergrad/Graduate schools: I came to UW Oshkosh for the BS. After that I went to Illinois State University for a Master’s and eventually to Central Michigan University for a Ph.D.

Dissertation Topic: Turnover and Retirement: A Comparison of their Similarities and Differences

Food you couldn’t live without: Pizza or nachos, but maybe we should say broccoli, which I also really like.

Hobbies outside of teaching: Funny you asked. I don t really have one but I have been looking for one. My colleagues have even been trying to help me find a hobby.

Favorite movie: I like all kinds of movies except horror films so it’s hard to pick a favorite. I can tell you that I currently own 4 movies. They are: Crash, Grand Canyon, Forest Gump and Love Actually.

If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be doing: Operations or intelligence management work for a do-gooder organization like Drs without Borders

What brought you to UW Oshoksh? I grew up in Milwaukee and so did my wife Carmen. As I was finishing graduate school there was a position open here and we thought it was the perfect opportunity. High quality school that was close to family but not too close. We quickly came to enjoy the quality of life and think of this areas as a great place to raise our two sons.

What is your favorite thing about teaching at UWO? I get to work with smart people.

What is your current research focus? I am in the area of HR so I study topics like talent management and employee engagement. Within those topics I study age and generational issues as well as some occupational stress and health issues.

What is your best piece of advice for current COB students? College is a time limited and valuable opportunity for you to learn as much as you can. And, you get to do that in a highly supportive, low risk environment. Make every minute of it count.

Name:

Years at UWO: 13

Undergrad/Graduate schools: I started out at UW Milwaukee (Milwaukee is my hometown), but I hated it there and transferred to San Francisco State where I thought I would live on the beach.  I got a bachelors and masters there, and years later ended up back in Wisconsin and got my Ph.D. at UW Madison

Dissertation Topic: Human memory (as best I can remember after all these years)

Food you couldn’t live without: My wife makes great spaghetti, and a fabulous meatloaf.

Hobbies outside of teaching: I golf really badly, but it gets me outside and I have enough friends who golf just as badly that it works out OK.

Favorite movie: Groundhog Day.  If you think of it, professors teach the same course over and over until we get it right, so the movie could be our story.

If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be doing: I was a Peace Corps volunteer after college, and I often think of doing it again.

Who is your biggest inspiration for teaching? My students — especially the MBA students.  They have great ideas and keep me informed of what is happening, so it is always interesting for me to have class with them.

What is your favorite thing about teaching at UWO? Right now I am pretty excited about the new building.  I can hardly wait to get into those new classrooms.

What is your current research focus? I spent a year teaching as a Fulbright Scholar in Africa.  Ever since then I have been interested in developing economies, especially how the Internet  might help small businesses become more successful — and improve the local economy in the process.

What is your best piece of advice for current COB students? a college education is not an endurance contest.  There are really bright people around you and lots of exciting ideas.  Use this opportunity to learn — and to appreciate learning.  If you are doing it right, every day you should find out something really interesting.