Faculty & Staff
Shelley Davis, Ph.D.
Department Chair and Associate Professor
Primary Teaching Area: Management
Office Phone: (334) 670-3967
(TROY)
Dr. Shelley Davis holds a Ph.D. in Management from Auburn University, an MBA from
Kennesaw State University, and a B.S. in Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
She worked for several years as a forensic scientist before returning to school and
moving into academia. She primarily teaches in the area of organizational behavior.
Dr. Davis is a member of the Academy of Management and Southern Management Association.
Research Interests - Employee well-being including stress, burnout, and psychological detachment; Emotional
labor; Attachment styles; Leader-member exchange.
Mette Baran, Ed.D.
Lecturer
Primary Teaching Area: Management
Office Phone: (334) 808-6822
(TROY)
Dr. Mette L. Baran completed her Ed.D. in Administrative Leadership and Supervision
from DePaul University. She obtained an MBA. in International Business and a BS degree
in Marketing from DePaul University. She is a former tenured professor in the School
of Leadership-Doctoral Studies Department within the College of Education and Leadership
at Cardinal Stritch University (CSU) and taught leadership, learning, higher education,
and research methodology courses. She served as Department Chair in the Graduate School
of Business at CSU. Her background includes being a faculty member and senior executive
at Robert Morris University in Chicago including the positions as campus director,
director of education, and director of development. She is an international consultant
preparing U.S. professionals for their overseas assignments. Dr. Baran has authored
several books and is a regular presenter of her research at national and international
conferences. She is a former member of the Board of Trustees to Robert Morris University.
Research Interests - Courageous leadership; School leadership; Higher education administration and access;
Looping; Student attitudes and achievement; Mixed methods research methodology.
William (Brian) Benton, J.D.
Lecturer
Primary Teaching Areas: Law, HRM
Office Phone: (860) 800-6163
(TROY Online)
W. Brian Benton joined the Troy family in 2007. He obtained a B.A. in Psychology and a B.M.E. in Choral Music Education from Auburn University and holds a Juris Doctorate from Cumberland School of Law, Samford University. As a licensed attorney, Professor Benton’s areas of practice include business and corporate law, entrepreneurial law, civil litigation, probate and estate law, domestic law and some criminal defense work. He teaches various courses focusing on business law, employment law, business ethics, and labor law.
Stan Blankenship, MBA
Director of the Sorrell Center for Corporate and Community Collaboration and Professor
of Practice
Primary Teaching Area: Management
Office Phone: (334) 808-6715
(TROY)
Stan Blankenship is a Professor of Practice and Director of the Sorrell Center for
Corporate & Community Collaboration. He is a graduate of Troy State University with
a B.S. in Management and an MBA. Professor Blankenship spent 37 years in the apparel
industry with Vanity Fair Intimates, Fruit of the Loom, and Russell Athletic. He held
various leadership positions throughout his career, including Operations, Production
Planning, Private Label, Sourcing, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Human Resources
(Talent Development).
Research Interests - Corporate social responsibility and sustainability; Emotional intelligence; Teamwork
and teambuilding.
Natalie Bryant, J.D.
Assistant Dean and Associate Professor
Primary Teaching Area: Law
Office Phone: (334) 670-3709
(TROY)
Natalie Bryant received her Juris Doctorate degree from Florida State University College
of Law and is also a proud alumna of Troy University where she received her undergraduate
degree. After graduating from Troy University, she worked in Washington, D.C., for
a United States Senator as a Legislative Correspondent before attending law school.
After law school, Professor Bryant practiced law for a couple of years in Fort Payne,
Alabama, before returning to her alma mater as an Assistant Professor. Currently,
she holds the title of Associate Professor and also serves as Assistant Dean overseeing
the strategic plan, our external facing centers, and communications. Professor Bryant
teaches Legal Environment of Business and Business and Society.
Research Interests - Employment law; Pedagogy; Law and Technology.
Charles Chekwa, D.B.A.
Professor
Primary Teaching Area: Management
Office Phone: (407) 599-6993 ext. 28
(TROY Online)
Dr. Charles Chekwa holds a B.S. in Accounting from Mississippi State University. His
advanced degrees include an MBA from Jackson State and DBA from Nova Southeastern
University.
Research Interests - Global business with bias to developing Economies; Management; Accounting; Finance.
Janice Chretien, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Primary Teaching Areas: Management, HRM
Office Phone: (334) 808-6817
(TROY)
Dr. Janice Chretien earned her Ph.D. in Human Resource Development (HRD) from the
Soules College of Business at the University of Texas at Tyler with a specialization
in organization development and change management (ODC). She also holds an MBA and
a master’s in Real Estate Sales, Marketing, and Management, along with a B.S. in Technical
Management. Before transitioning to higher education, Dr. Chretien had a successful
17-year career in the real estate industry, serving as Vice President of Career Development
and Vice President of Sales. Her diverse educational background and extensive industry
experience make her a distinguished professional in her field.
Research Interests - Neurodiversity; Learning transfer; Quantitative research methods.
Charles (Charlie) Coco, D.B.A.
Assistant Professor
Primary Teaching Area: Management
Office Phone: (334) 808-6648
(TROY)
Dr. Charles Coco has a D.B.A. in Management from Anderson University as well as an
MBA in Management and BSBA in Management from Auburn University Montgomery. He also
has industry experience in production and purchasing management.
Research Interests - Management; Leadership; Organizational behavior; Emotional intelligence.
Eva Dodd-Walker, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Primary Teaching Areas: Management, General Business
Office Phone: (334) 670-3976
(TROY)
Dr. Eva Dodd-Walker has a Ph.D. in Management and an M.B.A. in Finance from The University
of Texas at Arlington as well as a B.B.A in the Electrical Engineering Route to Business
from The University of Texas at Austin. She held various positions during her career
in the private sector, including restaurant manager, construction manager, financial
manager, corporate manager, non-profit manager, and chief financial officer.
Research Interests - Strategy; Small business management; Entrepreneurship; Business education.
Laura Dove, J.D.
Assistant Dean; Director of the Sorrell 360 Center for Professional Life and Associate
Professor
Primary Teaching Area: Law
Office Phone: (334) 808-6607
(TROY)
Dr. Laura Dove holds a J.D. and a B.A. in Philosophy from West Virginia University.
She worked as a Judicial Law Clerk in Bibb County Superior Court in Macon, Georgia
prior to joining the faculty at Troy. Her primary teaching areas are business law
and professional development.
Research interests - Statutory interpretation theory and methodology; Jurisprudence; Law and Economics.
Ying Gao, DBA
Assistant Professor
Primary Teaching Area: Management
Office Phone: (334) 670-3149
(TROY)
Ying Gao earned her DBA at Cleveland State University. She earned an MSc with distinction
and a B.A. (Hons) in Accounting and Finance from De Montfort University in the UK.
In addition, she achieved the ACCA Affiliate in 2012. Before transitioning to academia,
Professor Gao gained several years of industry experience in roles such as project
manager and assistant to the general manager. She has experience in teaching courses
in various areas, including Strategic Management, Financial and Management Accounting,
Corporate Finance, Risk Management, and HRIS.
Research Interests - Strategic management; International business; Emerging markets; Institutional complexity.
Toni Gaskin, Ph.D.
Lecturer
Primary Teaching Area: HRM
(TROY Online)
Dr. Toni Gaskin has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Research
and Statistics from Auburn University. She also has two Master's Degrees- one in Human
Resources from Troy University and one in Psychology from Auburn University at Montgomery.
She has 20 plus years of industry experience in Human Resource Management with a specialization
in compensation and staffing.
Research Interests - Organizational behavior; Legal compliance and regulation interpretation.
Brandon Griffin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Primary Teaching Area: Management
Office Phone: (334) 670-3150
(TROY)
Brandon A. Griffin earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration—Management with a focus on Organizational Behavior from Southern Illinois University. Previously, he earned his MBA in Finance and Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Utah Valley University. His prior teaching experience includes strategic management, operations management, data analytics, and computer information systems. In addition to his work at Troy University, Professor Griffin produces engaging articles and informative videos on a wide range of management topics, sharing valuable insights and practical knowledge with a global audience eager to enhance their understanding of organizational behavior and effective leadership at BrandonPhD.com.
John Haymore, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Primary Teaching Area: HRM
Office Phone: (334) 670-3162
(TROY)
Dr. John Haymore earned his Ph.D. in Human Resource Development (HRD) from the Soules
College of Business at the University of Texas at Tyler, specializing in organization
development and change management (ODC). He holds an MBA in Management as well as
PHR, SHRM-CP, OSHA-30, and Lean Six Sigma certifications. He worked as Director of
HR and Safety across many industries including engineering, manufacturing, health
care, and non-profit. Dr. Haymore is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management
(SHRM) and served as President of Palm Beach County-SHRM (PBC-SHRM) from 1/2017-12/2018.
Research Interests - Workplace violence; Employee coping; Occupational health and safety; Strategic
human resource management.
Ping He, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Primary Teaching Area: Management
Office Phone: (334) 808-6204
(TROY)
Dr. Ping He received her Ph.D. from Virginia Tech and M.S. from the University of
Massachusetts Amherst. She primarily teaches Management Seminar, Leadership and Change,
and Seminar in International Management.
Research Interests - Organizational commitment; Organizational support; Leadership.
William (Bill) Heisler, Ph.D.
MSHRM Program Director and Professor
Primary Teaching Area: HRM
Office Phone: (757) 846-4203
(TROY Online)
Dr. Bill Heisler is a Professor of HRM in the Sorrell College of Business of Troy
University. He earned his M.B.A. and Ph.D. degrees in business administration from
Syracuse University. He has held previous teaching and administrative positions at
the University of Notre Dame, Wake Forest University, and the College of William and
Mary. Dr. Heisler has also worked in industry with a major defense contractor in a
variety of management and executive positions in HRM. He has published numerous academic
articles and cases and is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Human Resources Education.
Research Interests - “All Things HR” with an emphasis on staffing and compensation.
David Hoover, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Primary Teaching Area: HRM
Office Phone: (334) 832-7296
(TROY Montgomery)
Dr. David Hoover earned his Ph.D. in General Business, specializing in Human Resource Management with cognates in Labor Relations and Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Virginia Tech. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy and Minor in History from Covenant College. He worked in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, for large organizations such as GM, the YMCA, Trailmobile, and Department of Labor; to medium-sized like Virginia Employment Commission; to small like director of the HR Department of a manufacturing corporation. He has done a limited amount of consulting domestically and abroad, owned several small businesses, and served on several boards. His teaching interests are HRM and Labor Relations. He is a member of the Academy of Management, the Society for Human Resource Management, and the Southern Management Association. He was on the management faculty at Miami University, the business department at Covenant College and has taught at universities in Austria, Bosnia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Russia.
Jing Hua, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Primary Teaching Area: Management
Office Phone: (334) 808-6647
(TROY)
Dr. Jing Hua obtained a Ph.D. in Management from Auburn University, an M.S. in Finance
from Northwest A & F University in China, and a B.A. in English from Harbin Institute
of Technology in China. She primarily teaches Leadership and Change and MSM classes
at Troy. Dr. Hua is a member of the Academy of Management.
Research Interests - Leadership; Organizational behavior, Cross-cultural adjustment.
Debra Hunter, D.B.A.
Associate Professor
Primary Teaching Areas: Management, General Business
Office Phone: (770) 730-0033
(TROY Online)
Dr. Debra Hunter is an Associate Professor of Management in the Sorrell College of
Business. Prior to her academic career, Dr. Hunter served as a consultant in the corporate
financial sector.
Research interests - Diversity and inclusion; Leadership; Ethics; Marketing practices; Organizational
behavior.
Jessica Kimbro, MBA
Lecturer
Primary Teaching Areas: Management, General Business
Office Phone: (334) 808-6800
(TROY)
Jessica Kimbro is a graduate of Troy University where she earned a B.S. in International
Business and an MBA. She previously worked in Troy University administration for ten
years before joining the Sorrell College of Business as a full-time faculty member.
Research Interests - Organizational behavior; Business ethics.
Joohan Lee, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Primary Teaching Areas: Management, HRM
Office Phone: (334) 808-6784
(TROY)
Dr. Joohan Lee earned a Ph.D. in Management from the University of Texas (UT) at Arlington,
an M.S. in HRM from Texas A&M University, an M.S. in I/O Psychology from Chungnam
National University in Korea, and a BBA from Sungkyunkwan University in Korea. He
worked at UT Arlington as a post-doctoral researcher and worked in diverse industries
before joining academia. He teaches several HR/OB-related courses in Troy, Alabama
and Hanoi, Vietnam.
Research Interests - Fairness/justice at work; Emotional labor; Extra-role behaviors; Leadership.
Allen Mendenhall, J.D., Ph.D.
Associate Dean; Executive Director, Johnson Center and Associate Professor
Primary Teaching Area: Law
Office Phone: (334) 808-6205
(TROY)
Allen Mendenhall holds a B.A. in English from Furman University, M.A. in English and J.D. from West Virginia University, LL.M. in transnational law from Temple University, and Ph.D. in English from Auburn University. Before joining Troy University, he was Associate Dean and Founding Executive Director of the Blackstone & Burke Center for Law & Liberty at Faulkner University Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. He is the author or editor of numerous books and writes and speaks about the intersection of the humanities and business, the common-law tradition, jurisprudence, libertarianism, and ESG. His website is AllenMendenhall.com.
Rodger Morrison, Ph.D.
Professor
Primary Teaching Area: Management
Office Phone: (334) 670-5883
(TROY)
Dr. Rodger Morrison holds a Ph.D. from Auburn University in Management, a Troy University
MBA, a Troy University Master of Science in Human Resource Management, a Troy University
undergraduate degree in Resources Management, and an undergraduate degree from the
Air Force in Avionics Systems. Dr. Morrison teaches graduate management courses in
Strategy, Ethics and Leadership, and more. His professional management experience
comes from the military, textile, and automotive manufacturing industries, and his
books and other publications include the areas of technology management, strategy,
research methods, equity theory, and more.
Research Interests - Management modeling and frameworks; Workplace bullying; Caustic management; Strategic
planning.
Ilhwan (Ian) Na, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Primary Teaching Area: HRM
Office Phone: (334) 808-6823
(TROY)
Dr. Ilhwan (Ian) Na earned his Ph.D. in Business with a focus in Human Resource Management
and Strategy from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS. He also holds an M.S.
and a B.S. in Business Administration from Hanyang University in South Korea. Before
transitioning to academia, he gained experience as a consultant at a management consulting
firm and as a business analyst at a healthcare startup.
Research Interests - Workers’ human, social, and reputational capital; Employee mobility (constraints);
Management policies and practices; Professional service firms.
Christine Newman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Primary Teaching Areas: Management, General Business
Office Phone: (334) 808-6748
(TROY)
Dr. Christine Newman earned her Ph.D. in Business, Management from Auburn University,
following the completion of an MBA with a Finance Concentration, B.S., Management,
and B.S., Finance from Auburn University Montgomery. Prior to joining academia, she
worked as a civilian financial analyst for the US Air Force.
Research Interests - Governance; C-Suite compensation; Diversity, inclusion, and discrimination faced
by women and racial minorities in the upper echelons.
Clint Relyea, Ed.D.
Director, Sorrell Center for Global Scholars and Associate Professor
Primary Teaching Area: Management
Office Phone: (334) 808-6668
(TROY)
Dr. Clint Relyea has an Ed.D. from Arkansas State University and has completed course
work at The University of Mississippi and The University of South Carolina. He has
taught on six continents and traveled to over 80 countries in his career. His primary
area of teaching is in international business. He is a member of the peer accreditation
team of The Network of International Business Schools and serves on several editorial
boards. He is a board member and officer of the Troy Resiliency Project and volunteers
at the Food pantry in Troy.
Research Interest - Developing global citizens.
Michael (Mike) Schraeder, Ph.D.
Professor
Primary Teaching Area: Management
Office Phone: (334) 241-9717
(TROY Montgomery)
Dr. Mike Schraeder holds a Ph.D. in Management from Auburn University and has over
20 years of experience teaching a variety of management- and leadership-related courses
at the graduate and undergraduate level. In addition to teaching, Dr. Schraeder has
published several articles in management-related academic journals and currently serves
on the editorial board of three journals. Dr. Schraeder also has several years of
leadership experience in the healthcare industry.
Research Interests - Cynicism; Trust; Workplace attitudes.
Martie Schrimsher, MSHRM
Lecturer
Primary Teaching Area: HRM
Office Phone: (334) 448-5184
(TROY Phenix City)
Martie Schrimsher holds an M.S. in Human Resource Management from Troy State University
and a B.S. in Office Management from The University of Alabama. She worked a combined
30 years in heavy industry with Walter Industries and the Mead Corporation as a Human
Resource/Safety Manager. During her time with the Mead Corporation, Professor Schrimsher
received a Yellow Belt in Six Sigma. Her primary area of teaching is in the field
of Human Resource Management. She is a member of the National Society of Human Resources
and the Human Resource Certification Institute and holds the SHRM-CP and HRCI-PHR
certifications. She is actively involved in International Missions.
Research Interests - Staffing; Compensation; Employment Law in Small Businesses; Safety, Health and Environmental
Affairs; Emergency Preparedness.
Ying Schwarte, Ph.D.
Associate Department Chair and Assistant Professor
Primary Teaching Areas: Management, General Business
Office Phone: (334) 808-6785
(TROY)
Dr. Ying Schwarte holds a Ph.D. in Management from Auburn University, an MBA from
the University of Phoenix, and a B.A. in English from Bei Hua University in China.
Prior to joining academia, she worked for several years as the CFO for a healthcare
provider and the Finance Director for a Tribal Government Organization in Southeast
Alaska. She primarily teaches in the area of strategic management. Dr. Schwarte is
a member of the Academy of Management and Southern Management Association.
Research Interests - Corporate governance; Mergers and acquisitions; Entrepreneurial passion.
Richard Voss, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Primary Teaching Area: Management
Office Phone: (334) 983-6556 (ext. 21272)
(TROY Dothan)
Dr. Richard Voss is a 2001 graduate of the University of Alabama (Ph.D., Management), former US Army field artillery captain, and small-business consultant. His expertise in the MSM program focuses on leadership, quality management, and team dynamics. Selected for Leadership Dothan in 2018 and a recipient of various entrepreneurship awards, Dr. Voss often contributes statistical expertise to scholarly publications (most recently Evidenced-Based HRM).
Laura Walker, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Primary Teaching Areas: Management, HRM
Office Phone: (334) 808-6786
(TROY)
Dr. Laura Walker received a Ph.D. in Management (OB/HR) from the University of North
Texas and earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
Management from Clemson University. Prior to joining the faculty at Troy University,
Dr. Walker was a Lecturer in the University of North Texas’ Recreation, Event, and
Sport Management program and held professional roles in recreation and special event
planning and programming. She has taught various undergraduate- and graduate-level
management courses in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management including:
Theories of Organizational Behavior, Talent Development, Compensation and Benefits,
and Workforce Planning and Staffing.
Research Interests - Favoritism; Turnover/retention; Organizational justice.
Yilu Wang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Primary Teaching Areas: Management, General Business
Office Phone: (334) 808-6801
(TROY)
Dr. Yilu Wang earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration (Organizational Behavior)
from the University of Texas at El Paso. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Wang worked
for several years in diverse industries in Australia and China. He teaches a variety
of courses including Global Human Resource Management and Business and Society.
Research Interests – Leadership; Idiosyncratic deals; Job embeddedness; Engagement; Team climate; Multilevel
issues.
George (Paul) Willis, Ph.D.
Communication Manager and Lecturer
Primary Teaching Area: General Business
Office Phone: (334) 808-6635
(TROY)
George “Paul” Willis is a Lecturer of General Business. He holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Information Sciences from The University of Alabama, an M.A. in Mass Communication, and a B.A. in Advertising from the University of South Alabama. Prior to joining the Department of Management, HRM and Law, he worked as videographer with the University of South Alabama’s Native American Studies Program and taught creative media and business communication courses at The University of Alabama. Additionally, Dr. Willis holds a graduate certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the University of North Georgia.
Guilin (Serena) Zhang, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Primary Teaching Areas: Management, HRM
Office Phone: (334) 670-3146
(TROY)
Dr. Guilin Zhang earned her Ph.D. in Strategic Management and Organization with a
concentration in Organizational Behavior from the University of Alberta. Dr. Zhang
has taught a variety of courses in management and human resource management at both
undergraduate and graduate levels.
Research Interests - Leadership; Employee voice; Cross-cultural studies.