UNT G. Brint Ryan College of Business Annual Review: 2021-2022

ANNUAL REVIEW 2021-2022

A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Last year was a historic year for the G. Brint Ryan College of Business in more ways than one.

We not only celebrated our 75-year history and reflected on the extraordinary milestones we established along the way, but we also created new milestones and memories to reflect on for the next 75 years.

From generous donors establishing opportunities for our faculty and students to flourish—to innovative degrees that will aim to educate a new cohort of aspiring learners—we are continuing to bring great visibility to the college and to our students.

And our rankings help reflect that increased visibility.

Our undergraduate supply chain program ranked sixth in North America and first in Texas, our master’s in taxation program ranked fourth in the nation, and we also earned a spot among the top 100 online MBA programs in the world.

The quality and quantity of our programs, students, and faculty have never been stronger than they are today.

I invite you to browse through our magazine and learn about the wonderful accomplishments we have added to our history book this year—and I encourage you to please reach out to me with any questions, comments or concerns you might have.

Thank you for your partnership, friendship and support.

Sincerely, Dean Marilyn K. Wiley

University of North Texas G. Brint Ryan College of Business

ENROLLMENT SOARS IN 2021

UNT is continuing to attract business students in record numbers.

In Fall 2021, the college saw over 9% growth from the previous year, with a total of more than 7,900 students enrolled. This comes after 2020’s record-breaking enrollment, when the Ryan College of Business led the university with a 14.3% increase.

Ryan College of Business graduate programs greatly contributed to this increase, with roughly 40% growth in enrollment from Fall 2020 to Fall 2021. The programs chiefly responsible

for generating this impact have been the master’s degree in business analytics and the newly added master’s degree in information systems and technologies (with the MBA in business analytics following closely behind).

This continued increase in enrollment during one of the most challenging times for universities, worldwide, is a testament to the quality of education that the college provides and the confidence that future business leaders have in UNT.

RECOGNIZED IN THE RANKINGS

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100

#6

Online MBA program in the world, according to CEO magazine.

Among public universities in the Southwest and 38th among public universities the nation by Texas A&M/ University of Georgia Rankings of Management Department Research Productivity.

#34

#2

Online MBA for veterans in the nation, according to US News & World Report.

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Behavioral research in AIS in the world, according to Brigham Young University (BYU) research rankings (behavioral researchers in the department ranked among the top 50 in the world—up from 61 in 2018). The Department of Accounting's archival tax research also ranked #28 in the world, and their overall research breadth ranked #44 in the world—up from 196 in 2018.

#4

Master’s taxation program ranked in the nation, according to OnlineMastersDegrees.org

Universities producing the most high-earning female residents in the Mid-Atlantic & South, according to Steppingblocks.

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SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM RANKED BEST IN TEXAS, TOP TEN IN NORTH AMERICA

UNT’s undergraduate Supply Chain program has risen again in the rankings, landing a spot among the top ten in North America.

According to Gartner’s biennial Top 25 North American Supply Chain Undergraduate Program Report, UNT ranked 6th—above all other Texas institutions, including Texas A&M (22nd), Texas Christian University (17th), UT Austin (13th), University of Houston (9th) and UT Dallas (8th)—positioning it as the best undergraduate Supply Chain program in the state.

For the first time, methodology for this year’s rankings assessed fullyonline programs, in addition to hybrid and in-person program offerings. Experiential learning and diversity, equity and inclusion were also factors taken into account.

Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Jose Lineros was elected president of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association® (ISACA) North Texas Chapter for a two-year term. As a member of ISACA since 2000, Lineros has held various board positions over the years, including vice president of certification, vice president of academic relations, vice president of education, and most recently, vice president of programs.

“I feel the presidency will give me a chance to promote higher education, and UNT in particular, as a leader in the field of cybersecurity and IT audit,” said Lineros.

Dr. Hoda Vaziri, assistant professor of management, took home the 2022 Award for Responsible Research in Management. The award is co-sponsored by Fellows of the Academy of Management and the Community for Responsible Research in Business and Management (RRBM).

Published in The Journal of Applied Psychology, a Financial Times' top 50 journal, Vaziri's research, titled “Changes to the work–family interface during the COVID-19 pandemic: Examining predictors and implications using latent transition analysis,” helped develop “best practices” for organizations to adopt during the pandemic.

Dr. Timothy Kincaid, adjunct faculty member for UNT's Aviation Logistics degree program, was named the 2022 president of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) North Texas Chapter.

Two UNT faculty members have been named to the 2022-26 Fulbright Specialist Roster, including Dr. Dipakkumar Pravin, clinical assistant professor in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business Department of Information Technology and Decision Sciences. Pravin will have the opportunity to be selected as a Fulbright Specialist where he will serve as a short-term consultant on a project at a university abroad.

UNT Accounting Professor Dr. Mary Curtis was honored with a Distinguished Service award for her contributions to the Accounting Information Systems (AIS) section of the American Accounting Association (AAA) in January, 2022. Curtis was awarded the Lifetime Service Award, an honor that recognizes her service contributions to accounting education throughout her career. Only one Lifetime Service Award is given out each year.

Dr. Ananth Seetharaman, Don and Donna Millican Chair in Accounting, was recognized by the editorial board of Financial Management for coauthoring one of the top three papers in their fall 2017 issue—and that same publication was recognized as the top-cited paper of 2020.

The paper, titled “Management Risk Incentives and the Readability of Corporate Disclosures,” documents a new link between options and disclosure transparency.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AWARDED ASSISTANT PROFESSOR LAURIE GIDDENS NEARLY

$300,000 TO RESEARCH ONLINE ILLICIT ACTIVITIES

NASA’S MINORITY UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROJECT AWARDED MORE THAN $745,000 TO UNT

The University of North Texas Jim McNatt Research Institute, in partnership with the College of Engineering, was awarded $745,670 from NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP).

The National Science Foundation awarded Assistant Professor Laurie Giddens with a $298,284 grant to facilitate research efforts aimed at examining how technology is used to facilitate, detect and disrupt illicit activities online.

The grant, titled, “Enabling Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Using NLP to Identify Suspicious Transactions in Omnichannel Online C2C Marketplaces” will dive into illicit behaviors with the help of three of her collaborators: Dr. Pablo Rivas and Dr. Stacie Petter from Baylor University and Dr. Gisela Bichler from California State University in San Bernardino.

“This project is interesting for us because we are expanding what we know about sex trafficking to other illicit activities that occur online in consumer-to-consumer websites, which is the sale of stolen goods,” explained Giddens. “This project team was developed during another NSF grant I currently have where we built a multidisciplinary team of academics and anti-trafficking professionals to examine the use of technology used in human trafficking supply networks.”

In addition to working with her fellow researchers, Giddens will also be joining forces with nonprofit intelligence organization DeliverFund and law enforcement experts, to identify human trafficking in escort ads and to help detect stolen auto parts online in consumer-to-consumer sites.

“We are examining which policies of online C2C marketplace platforms enable illicit trade to flourish and we will also use natural language processing (NLP) to identify sellers offering illegally trafficked goods or services on legitimate websites,” said Giddens.

According to NASA, the three-year grant, titled “Resilient Supply Chain Ecosystem for Agile Manufacturing of Unmanned Aircraft Systems,” will “assist U.S. aerospace and defense entities’ manufacturing and supply chains to successfully pivot from low- to highvolume manufacturing, particularly focusing on electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles and unmanned aerial systems manufacturing and supply chain ecosystems.”

Kamesh Namaduri of the UNT College of Engineering will serve as the lead primary investigator, alongside coprimary investigators Nandika D’Souza, College of Engineering; Ila Manuj, Ryan College of Business; and Terry Pohlen, Ryan College of Business.

Analyzing current supply chain data, the researchers will seek to identify risks and susceptibilities of high-volume manufacturing, while also proposing new supply chain solutions for some of the country's most important entities.

UNT was one of four universities to win a MUREP High-Volume Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management award, all of which totaled $3 million.

Faculty members Clinton Purtell, Ted Farris, Michael Savoie, Mike Rondelli, and Suman Niranjan will also participate in the research project.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES WITH NEW DEGREES

UNT AND COURSERA OFFER FIRSTOF-ITS-KIND ONLINE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN GENERAL BUSINESS

The University of North Texas is expanding access and opportunity with a new online Bachelor of Science in General Business degree.

UNT is the first university in the United States to offer a fully online undergraduate business degree in partnership with Coursera.

Combining business theory with practical applications, the BSGB will prepare students for a variety of career opportunities, while providing a seamless and efficient pathway to an MBA.

“We are thrilled to offer a new way for students to engage with renowned UNT faculty and earn an AACSB-accredited business degree in a different format,” said Marilyn Wiley, Dean of the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. “The degree will not only provide students with fundamental business skills, but it will also emphasize the first-hand learning and critical thinking necessary for students to become career-ready and valuable additions to the industry.”

The BSGB curriculum will take a comprehensive approach, providing a solid foundation in accounting, business information systems, finance, management and marketing to enable students to explore diverse job roles and career paths across industries. Students

will also have the opportunity to pursue for-credit paid internships to gain direct industry experience.

“With a job-relevant curriculum and engaging online format, the BSGB meets the evolving needs of students who are looking for deep value, relevance and career flexibility in a degree education,” said Adam Fein, Vice President for Digital Strategy and Innovation at UNT. “Our partnership with Coursera enabled us to rethink the delivery of a high-quality atscale business degree, to make it accessible, affordable and valuable for students across the world.”

To further improve access and opportunity, the program sets students up to seamlessly continue their learning journey with an MBA. Graduates of the BSGB who are admitted to the online or oncampus MBA program at UNT can earn their MBA with 36 credits, as opposed to 48. Students who complete the BSGB with a 3.5 GPA or better will also be provided direct entry into UNT’s on-campus MBA program without any testing or prerequisite requirements.

Learn more at online.unt.edu.

STEM DEGREE WILL OPEN DOORS FOR TODAY'S DEMANDING IT JOBS

A new Master of Science in Information Systems and Technologies degree offers students an extensive base of STEM knowledge that will allow them to get today’s demanding IT jobs and help organizations better utilize their information technology assets.

The program, housed in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business’ Department of Information Technology and Decision Sciences, will focus on areas including cloud computing, cyber security, software development, data management, IT management, project management, business analysis, business intelligence and more.

Students pursuing the degree will learn to work with organizations to design, architect, develop, implement, operate, manage and modify the information systems, data assets and computer and network infrastructures to improve enterprise performance and problem solving.

Graduates of the degree will be prepared for future careers as business systems analysts, software developers, cloud developers and architects, IT security analysts, project managers, business intelligence engineers, network administrators, data administrators and related areas.

FINANCIAL PLANNING STUDENTS EARN MORE THAN A DEGREE

A Certified Financial PlannerTM (CFP®) is widely accepted as achieving the highest standard in financial planning—affirming a professional has met strict requirements in the areas of education, experience, and ethics and passed a rigorous exam.

UNT’s program is also CFP® Board Registered, allowing students to take the CFP® exam immediately after graduation without requiring additional coursework— putting students on a unique and marketable career path.

“To be a registered program means our courses count for more than just a degree. They also give students the education requirement necessary to earn the CFP® marks,” explains Dr. Mark Evers, Financial Planning Program director and lecturer at the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. “Completing the educational requirements unlocks a potentially lucrative career at many financial planning, wealth management, and other financial services firms.”

UNT’s program fulfills the education component of becoming a CFP® (which also enables students to sit for the exam), and it gives students a head start in completing apprenticeship experience hours through its internship program.

“Each year we certify our program and course offerings... Our courses are inspected and reviewed by the CFP® Board Education Department to ensure we are adequately addressing each of the 70 principal knowledge topics required,” said Evers.

Juniors and seniors in the program are already reaping the benefits with full time job offers in their back pockets, while some are even being paid by their employers to enroll in the program.

The advantages of the Financial Planning degree at UNT are many. And while one of the goals of the program is to help students pass the exam, any student can enroll and benefit from the financial literacy education it offers.

“Students go through courses like Personal Finance, Risk Management, Life and Health Insurance Planning, Federal Income Tax Accounting, Investments, Retirement Planning and Employment Benefits, and Estate Planning. Additionally, in the courses we explore topics, like money behaviors, financial psychology, and client decision making,” said Evers.

With plans to grow, the program anticipates offering students even more in the future, including a Personal Finance course that has just been approved as a core

elective option. As a core elective, the course counts toward the degree requirements for any undergraduate student at UNT. Other courses, such as Client Communications and Behavioral Finance, and the Security Industry Exam (SIE) Prep course are also slated to join the curriculum.

Big name financial advisory institutions are seeing the value in UNT and assisting the program’s expansion. Fidelity will be sponsoring the SIE course, covering all materials and exam fees for students, while the Charles Schwab Foundation and Schwab Advisor Services recently hosted a “Demystifying Financial Planning” event.

“There are so many financial planning and financial services companies in the DFW metroplex that need students to work for them. The industry has a huge need for more talent, and we want to be the first university they turn to for their needs… my goal is to become the number one program in the country in quality and in number of graduates,” said Evers.

DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (DBA) DEGREE TO LAUNCH IN FALL 2023

The University of North Texas G. Brint Ryan College of Business is expanding educational opportunities for full-time business executives and managers to advance and enrich their careers.

Beginning Fall 2023, the college will offer the university’s first Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree—a terminal degree targeted toward working professionals that are passionate about business leadership and success.

Distinct from a PhD in Business, a DBA degree focuses on business practice and industry problems as opposed to pure theory. It provides the opportunity for an advanced professional to earn a credential that opens a door to teaching, consulting, or enhanced leadership skills while continuing their career. Professionals pursuing the degree will work towards solving a myriad of complex industry-relevant issues as a part of this program.

“We are excited to join the ranks of a select number of universities that offer this type of highly experiential and prestigious degree,” explained Audhesh Paswan, associate dean for academic affairs. “Immersing candidates in sound theory and industry-focused research problems will enable them to stand out in their field. The DBA degree will serve as a pipeline for business professionals to become future thought leaders in industry, as well as in academia.”

This 48 credit-hour program (which can be completed in three years) will be delivered in a blended format, with all face-to-face classes offered on weekends so candidates can earn their degree while simultaneously continuing to excel in their workplace.

“The DBA degree at UNT is designed for the industry professional who would like to become an expert in their domain,” said Paswan. “It will give business professionals a pathway to advance not only their career, but also the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in other areas such as strategic thinking, consulting and/or academia.”

The program will be hosted at UNT’s newest state-of-the-art facility in Frisco, Texas—perfectly situated to allow academia and industry to connect on new levels. Surrounded by dozens of corporate headquarters within the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area, it will build upon UNT’s already strong and influential corporate partnerships for added value and opportunities.

STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES

MONICA KABUTEY

UNT’s own Monica Kabutey was selected to represent The American Accounting Association (AAA) at the 38th annual European Accounting Association (EAA) Doctoral Colloquium.

The EAA Doctoral Colloquium serves as a platform for a select group of doctoral accounting students to receive feedback from, and network with, esteemed academics in their field.

Past AAA representatives have historically been selected from Ivy League schools, but Kabutey’s resume stood out from a pool of more than 100 highly qualified candidates.

“My advisor and dissertation chair, Dr. Jesse Robertson, has played and continues to play a pivotal role in my academic career. I have also received tremendous support from all the faculty members in the accounting department,” said Kabutey.

Kabutey hopes to build upon these experiences as she pursues a tenure-track assistant professor position upon graduation.

GRANT GOODRICH

The Texas Business Hall of Fame (TBHF) inducted Charles (Grant) Goodrich into their 2022 Class of Scholar & Veteran Future Texas Business Legends.

Goodrich, a UNT media arts major with a minor in marketing, received the Future Texas Business Legend Award as part of this distinguished honor—joining the rank of nearly 800 other TBHF awardees from past years.

Although Goodrich isn't expected to graduate until December 2022, that hasn't stopped him from kicking off his career early. His sole proprietorship, Goodrich Productions, curates multimedia content for organizations throughout DFW—with more than 40 productions already on his resume.

"I want to give a big thanks to Dr. Anat Barnir. Dr. Barnir helped me throughout the entire application process and answered all the questions I had about the application. She has done so much to help RCOB students, like myself, to take advantage of all the amazing opportunities for college students out there."

KOKO AND CAROLINE POCH

Junior organizational behavior and human resource management majors Mya Koko and Caroline Poch received North Texas Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Robert P. Lette Scholarships.

"Earning this scholarship was a reward and an opportunity for me, because I was financially struggling and it helps me readjust the focus on my education goals and career instead of stressing about finances," said Koko.

As the only two recipients of the $1,000 awards, Koko and Poch were honored based on merit, their commitment to HR, volunteerism, academic achievement and local SHRM involvement.

Both Koko and Poch were formally recognized at the North Texas SHRM meeting.

Junior accounting BS/MS student Michael Whitmire earned third place and a $500 cash prize in the Wholesale and Specialty Insurance Association’s (WSIA) nationwide white paper contest.

According to the WSIA, the contest aims to “expand surplus lines awareness and knowledge for undergraduate college students studying risk management and insurance, actuarial science, finance and business,” by tasking them with addressing a modern issue in the insurance industry.

Whitmire’s research explored pandemic risks related to the insurance industry.

“I discussed the current and future impacts of the pandemic on the insurance industry and how the insurance industry could respond to the changes in consumer behavior caused by the pandemic,” explained Whitmire.

In addition to his cash prize, Whitmire’s paper was published on WSIA’s website, recognizing his hard-earned research efforts.

ENRIQUE TREVINO

In 2020, Enrique Trevino turned a snacking opportunity into a business venture—and it’s paying off.

By pairing his family staple of chicharrones with a sweet touch of chocolate, his company, Thoughtful Snacks, was born.

“I was driven to start my company, Thoughtful Snacks, by my lifelong desire to start my own business and share something unique with the world. The process has been extremely rewarding thus far and I know it will be even more exciting in the future,” explained Trevino.

While every business venture starts with a great idea, developing Trevino’s Coco Chops-chocolate covered pork rinds wasn’t the hardest part.

“My experience starting my company was challenging at first, as I had to overcome the fear of rejection from customers and build a clientele of local stores from scratch. As more and more people had awesome reactions to my snack: Coco Chopschocolate covered pork rinds, I realized that I had to keep growing and take my ambitions to the next level.”

MADISON TERZICH

University of North Texas senior, Madison Terzich, won second place at the 2021 Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) Society student competition.

Terzich, risk, insurance and financial services major, competed against students from across the country to land a top spot in the final round of the competition. Tasked with writing a compelling essay on one of three currently trending topics in the insurance industry – parametric insurance, climate change or cybersecurity/ ransomware – Terzich was the only finalist who chose parametric insurance.

“I actually chose this topic because I had no background in it and since it was identified as a ‘trending industry topic,’ I felt as if it would be beneficial to gain an understanding of what this policy is, in case I work with it in the future,” explained Terzich.

Terzich’s ambitious drive to broaden her industry knowledge paid off with a $1,000 prize, and some unanticipated exposure.

LOGISTICS STUDENTS WIN NATIONAL

IANA COMPETITION

Students in UNT's logistics program took first place at the 2022 Intermodal Association of North America’s Academic Challenge.

Hosted by the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida, students were challenged with a case study that involved an intermodal motor carrier’s decision to acquire chassis in the current freight market conditions.

Yoseph Almetnawy, Jairus Cherry and Jorden Herrington were the three-member winning team that tackled the challenge with ease.

Judged by experts Rob Cannizzaro of Virginia International Terminals, Rob Giradot of CSX Transportation, Ryan Houfek of DCLI, and Tim Humbert of C.H. Robinson, the competition gave students the chance to show off their business acumen and extensive logistics knowledge as future industry leaders.

“I believe it’s a tremendous opportunity for all the students that participate in the IANA case competition. Being in person at the IANA competition helps the students and mentors to network with champions in the intermodal industry, thus giving them a new sense of respect for the industry along with motivating students to pursue a career in intermodal," explained Assistant Professor Suman Niranjan, who served as the team’s advisor.

The IANA scholarship schools that the Ryan College of Business bested included California State University Maritime Academy, Georgia Southern University, SUNY Maritime, Auburn University, and the Universities of Maryland, North Florida, Arkansas, and Wisconsin at Superior.

75 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

What started as two classrooms in 1946, grew to nearly 8,000 students in 2021, all housed in 180,000 square feet of innovative space known as the Business Leadership Building.

As we reflected on the past 75 years of growth, we were joined by friends, colleagues and family in celebration. Throughout the academic year, we hosted a myriad of opportunities to engage with the college, including a 75-hour campaign, which featured 75 hours of giving, in

O.J. Curr y named Dean of the newly established School of Business. Business classes were taught in two classrooms in the

In 1961 the College was rst accredited by the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Schools of Business ols Manual Arts Buildi n ng

e university enrolled about 2,500 business students. e design and construction of a new College of Business Building began.

1946

1958 1961

e College initiated its rst members into the honor society of Beta Gamma Sigma and gained the university’s rst computer, an IBM 1620 with 20k bytes of memor y.

e School of Business is referred to as the College of Business Administration. Barry G. King was named Acting Dean.

departments

e Institute of Petroleum Accounting was created by Accounting Professor Horace Brock and industr y representatives.

1962 1980 1972 1983

recognition of 75 years of business leadership. Overall, the campaign was a large success, raising more than $270,000 in less than four days.

We are thankful for the collective support we have received throughout the years—and all of the support we continue to receive as we move into the next 75 years of business leadership excellence.

To learn more about the history of the G. Brint Ryan College of Business, take a look at the commemorative timeline below.

TRS-80 models and omputers provided “word processing” to all o ces and ts in the C ollege.

1987 1994

e Professional Leadership Program (PLP) was founded as a cooperative e ort between the UNT College of Business and corporate sponsors.

e accounting program received separate accreditation from the AACSB.

e College received a 10-year extension of its accreditation from AACSB. Name changed from the College of Business Administration to the College of Business.

e Center for Logistics Education and Research was created to establish partnerships between the business and academic communities.

e College was named the G. Brint Ryan College of Business a er G. Brint Ryan (’88, ’88 M.S.) and his wife, Amanda, gi ed $30 million, the largest donation in the university’s histor y.

In August (one week before fall classes began), faculty and sta moved into the innovative 180,000 square foot LEED Certi ed BLB

2002 2011 2009 2018 1983

$5 MILLION GIFT WILL EXPAND CAREER READINESS FOR UNT BUSINESS STUDENTS

The University of North Texas G. Brint Ryan College of Business will offer new career readiness opportunities to students after receiving the second-largest donation in its history from alumnus Wilson Jones (’85) and his wife, Jane.

The $5 million gift will create The Wilson Jones Career Center — a new space in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business providing more adequate and accessible support for career readiness at one of the largest business schools in the nation.

“The Jones’ gift comes at a critical time for the college and its efforts to improve career outcomes and opportunities for our students,” said Marilyn Wiley, Dean of the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. “With the creation of The Wilson Jones Career Center, staff will be able to better develop industry relationships that will have long-term implications on the college’s reputation and rank.”

The newly established center will have a direct effect on students within the career and graduation process, with a focus on internship opportunities.

“Our goal is for every business student to participate in a degree-appropriate applied professional experience during their academic career. Increasing internship opportunities will give students better preparation, experience and professionalism — leading to greater overall success,” Wiley said.

The Wilson Jones Career Center will serve as the essential bridge for Ryan College of Business students to access the world beyond UNT — connecting potential employers with UNT staff who understand their needs and can respond quickly to requests.

“Jane and I were both first-generation students and realize the importance of being prepared to start the career journey. We’re proud to support a robust career center and know it will make a difference for UNT

students,” Wilson Jones said.

Wilson Jones’ recent generosity is not his first example of putting others first. Recently retired as the CEO of Oshkosh Corporation, Jones has lived by the motto: “Do the Right Thing.” He stood by these values because he firmly believes that a company that does the right thing ultimately benefits everyone — from team members and customers to suppliers and communities.

This philosophy earned the Oshkosh company a No. 8 ranking on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies list, a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award for being one of the best places to work, recognition as a Military Friendly Employer by Victory Media and one of Ethisphere Institute’s World’s Most Ethical Companies, as well as a spot as one of The Wall Street Journal's “Best Managed Companies” from 2017 to 2019.

Jones was named one of the top CEOs of 2018 and was honored with the UNT Distinguished Alumni Award and inducted into the G. Brint Ryan College of Business Hall of Fame in 2021.

“Jane and I were both first-generation students and realize the importance of being prepared to start the career journey. We’re proud to support a robust career center and know it will make a difference for UNT students."

JOE & LILLIAN ETHRIDGE COMMIT TO ACCOUNTING EXCELLENCE AT UNT

The University of North Texas (UNT) celebrated a $1 million gift that will attract and retain distinguished faculty at the G. Brint Ryan College of Business.

Joseph (Joe) and Lillian Ethridge, graduates and ardent supporters of UNT, established the Lillian and Joseph A. Ethridge Professorship in Accounting—a transformative legacy to support prominent faculty and their work.

Joe Ethridge, who graduated from the Ryan College of Business in 1963 with a BBA in accounting and in 1967 with an MBA in finance, and Lillian Ethridge, who graduated from the College of Education in 1972, have illustrated their dedication and passion toward the university for decades. From volunteering their time and expertise as board members, to establishing the Teach North Texas Scholarship—The Lillian and Joseph A. Ethridge Professorship in Accounting is one further example of their generous commitment to their alma mater.

“The Ethridge Professorship demonstrates the strongest commitment on the part of Joe and Lillian Ethridge to UNT and its Department of Accounting,” said Dr. Ananth Seetharaman, Don and Donna Millican Chair in Accounting. “It allows us to reward a faculty member who has a sustained record of research excellence and incentivizes them to continue in that trajectory.”

Dr. Jesse Robertson was selected as the inaugural

Ethridge Professor of Accounting because of his vast experience in research and teaching excellence. Robertson is a recipient of the Ryan College of Business Teaching Innovation Award and has contributed several publications to premier journals in the accounting field over the course of his tenure.

“It is a tremendous honor to be the inaugural holder of the Ethridge Professorship and be associated with the names of Joe and Lillian Ethridge, UNT alumni who have been extremely generous in their support of UNT and the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. I sincerely appreciate their generosity in creating this endowed position,” said Robertson.

The endowment will ultimately provide support in perpetuity for research and scholarly activities, administrative support and travel, as well as graduate and undergraduate research stipends—bringing national recognition to not just the accounting program, but the entire university.

“The Ethridge Professorship allows me to pursue additional opportunities that will improve the research reputation of UNT. These activities include submitting a paper for presentation at a prestigious, international conference and funding research as part of the Department of Accounting’s strategic objective of joint faculty/PhD student publications,” said Robertson.

INFORMATION SYSTEMS AUDIT AND CONTROL ASSOCIATION

GIFTS $25,000 TO UNT ACCOUNTING STUDENTS

The UNT G. Brint Ryan College of Business is committed to connecting the DFW community with its students through mutually-beneficial partnership opportunities. In 2021, the college welcomed its first official corporate partner, KPMG, through its newly formed Corporate Partnership Program.

“KPMG’s partnership with the UNT Ryan College of Business promotes an environment that supports our commitment to recruit and hire talented professionals with the right skills, experiences, and competencies to succeed, and whose personal values align with the KPMG values that serve as the foundation of our firm’s culture,” said KPMG Partner and 2004 UNT accounting alumnus Jason Greenlee.

TWO-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT REAL ESTATE STUDENTS IN NEED

KPMG has been a long-standing supporter of the college’s mission to prepare global business leaders and scholars in an intellectually stimulating and engaging community. The global accounting firm established the KPMG Professorship at the college, a position that is currently held by Dr. Paul Hutchinson.

The University of North Texas and Christopher Morrow, President of Morrow Hill Commercial Real Estate, are pleased to announce the creation of the Christopher M. Morrow Real Estate Scholarship Fund. Morrow, a 1995 UNT graduate, established the fund to provide two-year scholarships for two real estate students entering their junior year at UNT.

In June 2021, the North Texas Chapter of Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) committed $25,000 to the UNT Department of Accounting—the largest donation it has ever contributed to the college.

Since it was founded, ISACA has dedicated its efforts to advancing the information systems audit, security, risk, and control community. With 200 chapters and nearly 3,000 members around the world, its North Texas chapter is among its largest worldwide and has been supporting the G. Brint Ryan College of Business for over a decade.

Facing today’s uncertainties, ISACA North Texas took steps to make an even greater impact than in years prior—offering its academic partners additional financial support.

Their generous donation to UNT will provide scholarship assistance to deserving students pursuing accounting careers at the Ryan College of Business—serving as a vote of confidence in the education the college delivers to its students

Corporate partnerships at the UNT Ryan College of Business strengthen our programs, while simultaneously offering industries the valuable opportunity to connect to the college and its students—enhancing marketing opportunities for our partnering organizations through several tiers of benefits. We invite you to learn more about how becoming a partner of the college can expand your reach and your brand by contacting Michael.Farrell@unt.edu.

“This gift has long been a dream of mine,” said Morrow. “I paid my own way through college at the University of North Texas, and it was there I developed the business acumen, leadership and grit that got me where I am today.”

The $100,000 donation to the G. Brint Ryan College of Business will provide a permanent tradition of empowerment and opportunity for fulltime students pursuing a degree in real estate.

“We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Mr. Morrow,” said Jessica Steinke, assistant dean of Development for the college. “He is a role model for our students and his support will enable our nationally-ranked real estate program to become more accessible to those striving for academic excellence.”

Scholarships generated from Morrow’s gift will increase the accessibility of an affordable, high-quality education, and provide a lifetime of implications for UNT real estate students.

“There were times in my life when I wanted to drop out of school,” Morrow says. “It was hard to pay for it, and to keep going. But having that piece of paper from UNT makes it all worth it. It’s paved my path to success. Now it’s my time to inspire the next generation of real estate leaders.”

The G. Brint Ryan College of Business is ranked fifth in the nation by BachelorsDegreeCenter.org for its real estate program, and since 1961, the college has been continuously accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) — a hallmark of the world’s best business schools.

RESEARCH THAT IS WORTH THE READ

THE ART OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

According to a 1993 article titled: “From Punishment to Expression: A History of Tattoos in Corrections,” a rise in tattoos and their correlation with incarceration during the 1930s provoked negative responses from employers.

Nearly 100 years later, however, new research suggests a very different employer perspective.

G. Brint Ryan Chair in Entrepreneurship

Jeremy Short, alongside UNT PhD Candidate Paula A. Kincaid and Associate Professor Marcus T. Wolfe, released findings that link tattoos with entrepreneurial success in their study, “Got ink, get paid? Exploring the impact of tattoo visibility on crowdfunding performance."

"We found that entrepreneurs revealing their tattoos on crowdfunding campaigns experience a significant increase in crowdfunding performance," said Short. "Using 619 crowdfunding campaigns on the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform, our results suggest this increase in crowdfunding performance is likely attributed to backers’ perception of the entrepreneur’s or venture’s creativity."

Looking at numbers of supporters and total amounts pledged, Short and his co-authors also found "that visible tattoo displays can be particularly beneficial for campaigns that are lower in alternative displays of creativity, such as creative language or imaginative writing."

Simply put—entrepreneurs shouldn't hide their tattoos on crowdfunding platforms.

While further research can be done to explain potential relationships between types of tattoo expressions (i.e. color usage in tattoos) and positive crowdfunding performance, these initial findings provide a sigh of relief for thousands of inked businessmen and women.

UNT

PROFESSOR SAYS

NFTS

AREN’T

PASSING FAD, THEY CAN BE VIABLE OPTIONS FOR PERMANENT VIRTUAL RECORD STORAGE

Non-fungible tokens may be the answer to some challenges presented by paper records, University of North Texas professor Kimberly Houser said.

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, nonfungible tokens (NFTs) are digital identifiers that represent a digital or physical asset. It estimates revenue from NFTs could pass $130 billion by 2030, advancing the digital economy.

In her recently published article in the Utah Law Review, with co-author Oklahoma State University Assistant Professor John Holden, Kimberly Houser, a clinical assistant professor in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business, said that when examining the legal issues regarding NFTs, they realized that regulating NFTs would require updates in different areas of law depending on the actual use of the NFT. An NFT is created using blockchain technology and is simply stored data. However, what can be stored goes well beyond a Bored Ape Yacht Club digital collectable. This technology enables any type of record to be stored more securely. The NFT just points to the record.

“Everybody thinks of blockchain in terms of art and creating these things you could buy or sports trading cards,” Houser said. “We discovered that this underlying technology of blockchain with the use of NFTs has some other uses. In Africa, school children, for example, move around a lot. They go to a lot of different schools. It’s difficult for them because if they were forced out because of war, they have no access to everything that they've already done. Some of them are now using blockchain technology to create permanent academic records, which are held in NFTs.”

Once the NFT is recorded on the blockchain, it can’t be deleted, which creates an opportunity for records to be kept no matter where the child goes. It also can be used to track goods in a supply chain using RFID chips or replacing recording offices for deeds or corporate records.

“The promise of NFTs extends to virtually every industry; however, our present system is ill equipped to regulate their use,” Houser said.

“NFTs and their underlying technologies offer incredible opportunities which could serve to make government more efficient, food and drug products safer and provide a method to create immutable records while protecting the data contained therein. Those who discount NFTs as a fad are missing the bigger picture.”

MASTERING THE BUSINESS

MBA STUDENTS AND TIMELYMD TEAM UP FOR STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH

UNT’s full-time MBA has established a way to create winning solutions for both students and industry.

In a recent class project for TimelyMD, the leading virtual health and well-being solution for colleges and universities and fastest-growing company in the DFW area, students were challenged with introducing new ideas and business processes for the company to implement.

With a mission to improve the well-being of college students by making virtual medical and mental health care accessible anytime, anywhere, TimelyMD serves nearly one million students at 200 campuses across the country. Company executives, including Zac Fleming, 2017 UNT MBA graduate, understood the value of listening to the ideas that its target demographic could develop.

“Students need access to more care and to do that demands new, innovative solutions. The UNT MBA students brought fresh ideas, validated by student surveys & research, to help propel us forward.”

As an industry partner, TimelyMD benefited from the insightful research and presentations that the student groups developed, while students also gained the invaluable opportunity to bridge classroom learning with practical application.

“Our work experience enabled us to relate business theory and insights to a practical application with which we have been professionally connected since we watched and experienced the demands of a corporate workspace,” said Saarah Rahman, MBA candidate. “It provided us with the opportunity to build on the business programs in our curriculum that we are now studying and enabled us to put them into practice more immediately.”

From identifying scalable ways to drive engagement, to determining optimal pricing models for their target market, students tapped into skills learned in the classroom to apply solutions in the real world.

The insider perspectives that Zachary Morse, MBA candidate, gained from the project was what also made a difference for his industry experience.

“Throughout the process, we learned how complex running a start-up can be, and ultimately, how important it is to fully understand your target market and surrounding environment,” explained Morse.

Fort Worth-based TimelyMD is not the only industry interaction that UNT’s full-time MBA students received this past year. Other nationally (and internationally) recognized companies, such as Avocados from Mexico, Keystone, Toyota and Peterbilt all gave students the opportunity to serve in a consultant role as they navigated the modern challenges of today’s business world.

“The industry interaction that our students engage in throughout the entirety of the MBA program is truly what sets it apart,” said Cathy Westurn, lecturer for the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. “Our full-time Cohort MBA includes a rigorous curriculum, but at the end of the program, our students are set to succeed, in large part because of these immersive industry experiences.”

ON THE WINNING TRACK

Graduates of the Sport Entertainment Management program are already taking their seats at the top— accepting employment offers from top-name industries in the sports profession like the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Mavericks, FC Dallas, Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, Learfield HQ, Topgolf HQ, Wasserman, Amazon, San Antonio Spurs, Austin FC, Texas Legends, and the YMCA, among others.

"The networking opportunities that this program provides cannot be overstated," explains Matthew Meadows, '21 MBA in Sport Entertainment Management alum and current digital partnerships project manager at Topgolf. "Dr. Heere and the rest of the faculty strive to connect their students with as many industry professionals as possible and without their vast sports industry network, I am confident I would not be where I am today."

Informed in real-time by the professional sport ecosystem in Frisco, Texas, including collaborative projects with formal partners, such as the Dallas Cowboys, Stadia Ventures and the PGA of America, the degree is grounded by a transformative and ever-evolving curriculum that develops industry thought leaders poised to create opportunity in the sport entertainment industry.

World-class faculty and industry executives are at the forefront of the program, engaging students in real-time best practices, insights, and case studies, of many of the leading sport entertainment organizations in the DFW metroplex.

For these reasons, it comes as no surprise that the results are already showing graduates on the winning track.

With 100 percent of students earning full employment after graduation, and 83 percent of said students

receiving a promotion or new job after enrollment, a UNT degree in Sport Entertainment Management is a proven way to earn your spot at the top.

Learn more: cob.unt.edu/masters/mba-sport-entertainmentmanagement

MATTHEW MEADOWS

'21 MBA in Sport Entertainment Management alum, Digital Partnerships Project Manager at Topgolf

'22 MBA in Sport Entertainment Management alum, Corporate Partnerships Representative for the Dallas Cowboys

'21 MBA in Sport Entertainment Management alum, Sports Sponsorships, Brand Activations, Experiential Marketing for the Dallas Mavericks

'21 MBA in Sport Entertainment Management alum, Programs and Events Manager for the Dallas Stars

'21 MBA in Sport Entertainment Management alum, Partnership Marketing Activation Coordinator at FC Dallas

'21 MBA in Sport Entertainment Management alum, Human Resources Assistant at Texas Rangers Baseball Club

THE DEAN’S CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE

We invite you to join our circle of changemakers.

The Dean’s Circle of Excellence began in 2021 as a way to bring together some of the most dedicated supporters of the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. Each member of this circle pledges an annual contribution, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, for five years. In making this generous commitement to the college, our Dean's Circle of Excellence members are making a tangible difference for our students.

To-date, we have raised nearly $300,000 in commitments. These critical funds help close funding gaps and provide the necessary support for program growth and institutional excellence that tuition dollars are not able to cover.

When you join our circle, you are committing to the continued success of the college and its students. Help us attain our strategic goals, and fulfill our mission as one of the largest business schools in the nation, by following the link or QR code below.

Thank you for your support.

business.unt.edu/deanscircle

DEAN'S CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE MEMBERS

as of September 1, 2022

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LEVEL ($25,000)

Mr. Lawrence Ewell

Mr. Alex Eysermans

Mr. Sam Golden

Mr. Bob Kimmel

Mr. Matt Michel

Mr. & Mrs. Don Millican

Mr. David Ponder

Mr. David Roylance

DIRECTOR LEVEL ($10,000)

Mr. Tait Cruse

Mr. Roy Foster

Mr. Michael Guyette

Mr. Mark Metzler

Mr. Carl Motter

Mr. Jerry Pinkerton

ASSOCIATE LEVEL ($5,000)

Mr. Jaime Aguero

LT Col. Dee Brown

Mrs. Diane Cheatham

Mr. Charles Curtis

Mr. Bob Hampton

Mr. Jim MeWhinney

Mr. Dennis Raso

Mr. Doug Renfro

Mr. Phillip Young

NEW GRADUATE ASSOCIATE LEVEL ($2,500)

Mr. Michael Babich

”

PARTNERSHIPS THAT MAKE AN IMPACT

Corporate partnerships at the UNT Ryan College of Business strengthen our programs and internship programs, while simultaneously offering industries the valuable opportunity to connect to the college and its students. This mutually-beneficial relationship also enhances marketing opportunities for our partnering organizations through several tiers of benefits.

15

corporate partners

$448,500

in corporate partner donations to-date

OUR GRANT THORNTON TEAM IN NORTH TEXAS INCLUDES A NUMBER OF UNT ALUMS, AND SO IT IS ONLY NATURAL FOR US TO CONTINUE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS BY ENTERING INTO THIS CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP. WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF SUPPORTING THE UNT COLLEGE OF BUSINESS FROM BOTH A RECRUITING AND FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE, AND WE HOPE THAT THIS NEW PARTNERSHIP WILL FURTHER SUPPORT THE STUDENTS OF UNT IN THEIR PURSUIT OF A CAREER IN BUSINESS.

-Tyler Jones, Grant Thornton audit market leader for Texas

R. Harry Bishop Dean’s Suite 1155 Union Circle, #311160 Denton, Texas 76203

Join us on social media: @UNTRyanBusiness linkedin.com/school/untryanbusiness ryan.unt.edu

The UNT G. Brint Ryan College of Business has been continuously accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) since 1961. AACSB-accredited schools are widely considered to be the world’s best business schools.