Research recognition is not just about publications. It’s about impact.

That impact led to six College of Business faculty members receiving endowed appointments.

• Dr. Daniel Goering, associate professor of management, the Robert W. and Charlotte K. Bitter Endowed Chair
• Dr. Jamie Grigsby, associate professor of marketing, the David D. Glass Professorship
• Dr. Megan Ramsey, associate professor of finance, economics and risk management, the Kenneth E. Meyer Professorship
• Dr. Timothy Flannery, associate professor of finance, economics and risk management, the Daisy Portenier Loucks Professorship
• Dr. Rajeev Kaula, professor of information technology and cybersecurity, the Daisy Portenier Loucks Professorship
• Dr. Carol Miller, distinguished professor of finance, economics and risk management, the Daisy Portenier Loucks Professorship

The four-year appointment recognizes faculty whose scholarship advances their field while strengthening student learning and the university’s academic mission.

Research as responsibility

Research is not separate from teaching or service; it is a way to ask better questions about influence, trust and responsibility and to model that curiosity for students.

Rather than focusing only on outcomes, the faculty members’ work emphasizes how decisions are made and why transparency and ethics matter in business practice.

For Flannery, his research in experimental and behavioral economics explores how real human behavior deviates from traditional economic models of rationality. By incorporating psychology and testing theories in laboratory settings, he helps students understand how strategy, incentives and decision-making function in practice.

“Through experimental economics, students actively participate in research. They learn to think strategically and see firsthand how theory connects to behavior,” he said.

When students grow, purpose deepens

For these faculty members, seeing students gain confidence, clarify their interests and step into their own paths gives meaning to the long hours spent researching, teaching and mentoring.

Grigsby believes that research and teaching share the same goal: creating knowledge that matters and relationships that last. She joined Missouri State in 2019, bringing with her a background in marketing research and a passion for teaching that continues to guide her work in the College of Business.

According to Miller, the Daisy Portenier Loucks Professorship reflects decades of scholarship and service. A distinguished professor of business law, she has received numerous research awards and assigns relevant articles to her students. Her recent work focuses on environmental law, sustainable development and the protection of fragile ecosystems.

“It’s especially meaningful to see students apply what they learned later on in their careers,” Miller said. “When former students share how a course prepared them for real-world challenges, it reinforces the lasting value of this work.”

An open door for curious students

Grigsby encourages students interested in research or academic careers to connect with faculty members whose research interests align with theirs own or whom they feel comfortable approaching.

“I’m always happy to talk with students who are curious,” she said. “College of Business faculty are very approachable, and there are opportunities to learn what research and academic work entail”

She believes early conversations – whether research projects, job shadowing or future graduate study – can help students gain clarity and confidence as they explore their interests.

“Don’t be afraid to reach out. Those conversations can make a real difference,” she said.

An important motivation

The professorship provides momentum, not just to continue research, but to deepen its impact within the college and beyond.

“This honor represents both recognition and responsibility,” Kaula said. “It strengthens my commitment to meaningful research, alongside teaching that prioritizes clarity and practical application.”

For Ramsey, being named the Kenneth E. Meyer Professor is both an honor and a meaningful recognition.

“I’m grateful to be part of a college that values both scholarly productivity and student engagement,” she said. “This appointment motivates me to continue contributing to Missouri State through impactful research and mentorship.”

The appointments affirm a shared belief: meaningful research, grounded in values and connected to student learning, impacts both careers and communities.

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