Faculty Spotlight
The Forensic and Investigative Accounting Section of the American Accounting Association has elected Dr. Les Heitger, professor in the School of Accountancy, as its National Vice President – Academics (President Elect). Heitger is the current treasurer and will serve in both positions this year.
On June 25, Dr. Olen Greer, professor in the School of Accountancy, was presented with the Lybrand Certificate of Merit for his manuscript “Controlling Legal Costs.” This paper was published in the December 2012 issues of Strategic Finance and has been selected as one of the best articles of the year by the Lybrand Awards Committee.
Dr. Dianne Slattery, associate professor, and Dr. Kerry Slattery, assistant professor in the Department of Technology and Construction Management have been awarded a major grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation for “Enhancements to the Highway Construction Scheduling Expert System.”
Dr. Stanley Leasure, associate professor of Business Law in the Finance and General Business Department, received the MSU Annual Master Online Course Recognition Award – Best Overall from Provost Frank Einhellig and President Clif Smart in May. This award is given in recognition of outstanding online course design and teaching. Leasure’s course — BUS/LAW 550/650 Negotiation, Mediation and Arbitration in Business — was awarded best in all categories: interaction and collaboration, assessment, and course technology and media value.
What makes Leasure’s course unique is his ability to teach negotiation and arbitration, traditionally face-to-face skills, via the online classroom. Students have been meeting online via Adobe Connect and starting in the fall 2013 semester, they will meet via Google hangouts for role play scenarios. “The course is heavily interactive and substantive, giving students the opportunity for success through hard work,” Leasure says. This course will be offered each semester, and the development of an honors college section is in progress.