Get to know the new faculty members at the Romain College of Business.
Dr. Prasenjit Ghosh
Assistant Professor of Agricultural Business
Dr. Nicolas Jankuhn
Assistant Professor of Marketing
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Nicolas Jankuhn but I usually just go by Nick. I grew up in a small town in northern Germany close to the port city of Hamburg which was actually the starting point of many Germans emigrating to the United States before the age of the airplane. I studied Business Administration for my BA and International Business & Economics for my MA. Similar to USI, both universities were on the smaller side and located in smaller towns which led to close bonds between students and professors and also between the universities and the local communities which I really enjoyed. As the graduate program offered a double degree option, I also studied at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, from where I received my MBA. The program, the professors, and the whole environment at St. Mary’s made me want to return to the United States which is why I chose to get my PhD in International Business & Marketing at Saint Louis University. Having fallen in love with the Midwest and its people, I am very glad to be able to stay in the region and move from the Show Me state to the Hoosier state.
Describe your teaching style.
I believe one of the primary objectives of business schools is to prepare students for the job market and this is my guiding principle in the classroom. When I was a student, I used every possible opportunity to gain practical business experience through internships at various companies. This has allowed me to see how business gets done in various industries and cultures. I use this knowledge to give students an honest and realistic perspective regarding which topics will be important for their future careers and what may merely be ‘textbook knowledge’. I also use many first-hand examples and like to have discussions with students to learn about their viewpoints and because I think it helps them better understand the material and appreciate its relevance.
What are your current research interests?
I am generally interested in new marketplace developments that affect consumer behavior. One example for this is new payment methods such as Venmo that allow users to easily send money to each other and also pay businesses with the push of a button in very well-designed apps. Another example is sharing economy services such as Uber and Airbnb that allow consumers to ride in other people’s cars or even stay in spare bedrooms. Understanding how consumers respond to and use these new services is something I find fascinating!
How do you define success in the classroom?
The classes that I enjoyed most as a student were those that introduced me to ‘unknown unknowns’. Going to college for me is an exciting new life phase in which you should be exposed to new ideas, meet interesting new people, and generally expand your horizons. Learning about new concepts that you did not even know you did not know is an important part of that. If you can then also see how these ideas and concepts may be relevant to you and help you see the world around you in a new light, I feel like this constitutes success in the classroom.
What are you most looking forward to at USI and at Romain College of Business?
The close connection that USI and the Romain College of Business have with the local community is something that I very much appreciate and look forward to contributing to. From a College of Business perspective, it is important that we present to students the broad range of possible career paths available to them and help them choose the one that works best for them. We also need to listen to employers, learn about their needs and help make connections, for example by inviting guest speakers, organizing company visits, or promoting internship programs. Being a part of and contributing to this mission at USI as a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University is something I very much look forward to!
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, you may find me walking outside, for example on the USI-Burdette Trail. I also enjoy watching movies, reading books, and traveling.
Aleisha Jones
Instructor in Marketing
Describe your teaching style.
I like to take a story-telling approach to lecturing. Although I use visual aids, I try to implement as many real-life scenarios as possible. To me, the in-class discussions are the most insightful and fun parts of a class period. Overall, I want students to have an approach of “If you can teach it then you know it.” My goal for students is for them to have a strong grasp on material to continuously teach others.
What are you most looking forward to at USI and at Romain College of Business?
Hands down, the thing that excites me the most about USI is empowering students. Accessibility is not just about being available--it is about cultivating meaningful, lifelong connections with my students. When students leave my class, I want them to not only understand the subject matter but I aspire for them to have gained a greater enthusiasm for business and recognize their own potential.
A “fun fact” about you.
As of this year, I have ridden horses for twenty years, which is more than half of my life. To me, there is nothing more freeing than just being around horses.
What do you like to do in your free time?
During my free time, you can probably catch me in New Harmony getting coffee with my partner, walking my dog, or both. I have done freelance photography for over ten years and that continues to be a creative outlet.
Dr. Zhe Li
Assistant Professor of Finance
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I grew up in a small city in the middle part of China, where the weather is quite similar to Evansville with four seasons. I earned my MS degree in Finance from Drexel University and PhD from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Previously, I taught in northern Minnesota for five years. From personal experience, I know that Celsius and Fahrenheit are equal at –40.
Describe your teaching style.
I like to connect textbook materials to real-world events. Students are expected to discuss stock markets in every class. I always believe the best way to learn is to teach. So students are also expected to make a lot of presentations in the classroom, they need to teach their classmates.
What are your current research interests?
My research interests currently cover trade credit and corporate governance. My current working projects examine how different types of the board of directors (military directors, politician directors, etc.) affect managerial decisions and firm performance.
What do you bring to the classroom that is uniquely yours?
I hold a mock stock trading game in most classes. I will compete with students in the same game. The goal for students is to understand how all kinds of company policies and news affect company values. The goal for me is to be ranked in the top 5 of each game!
A “fun fact” about you.
Since COVID, I have started to play table tennis in VR (Oculus Quest) almost every day. It’s a great workout and I believe VR is real. I am not a good player by any means in the real world, but I do have a decent score in the virtual one!
Jiaying Liu
Instructor in Computer Information Systems
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I come to USI from the Louisiana State University. I have earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Bowling Green State University, a Master of Science in Information Systems from Iowa State University, and I am expected to get a PhD in Information Systems in December. I have taught business statistics and information systems courses for three years.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy the outdoors, especially hiking, fishing, and gardening. I enjoy cooking as well. If you ever like to know more about authentic Chinese food, you know who to reach out to.
Describe your teaching style.
I use a lot of practical and close-to-life examples in my class. I teach my students using the languages they understand and are interested in. `
What are your current research interests?
My current research interests lie broadly in Social Media Analytics, Crowdsourcing, and Technology Innovation and adoption.
A “fun fact” about you.
I had a fear of buttons when I was younger, and the official term is called "Koumpounophobia". One in 75,000 people suffer from this phobia. I am doing a lot better now that I started wearing clothes with certain texture buttons.
Dr. Nick Rhew
Assistant Professor of Management
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m an Evansville native, but I have lived away for 10 years. I am excited to be back “home” in Evansville and at USI, where I earned my MBA after earning my BS in economics and political science from the University of Evansville. After completing my MBA, I earned my PhD in management from the University of Memphis. I then joined the faculty of Coastal Carolina University, located just outside of Myrtle Beach, where I most recently served as an associate professor in the Department of Management and Decision Sciences.
Describe your teaching style.
I subscribe to Kolb’s idea that learning occurs through a cycle of experience, reflection, conceptualization, and experimentation, and that different folks may prefer different parts of that learning cycle over others. I try to learn what I can about my students and how they prefer to learn, and then design class sessions that make the most of those preferences, while making sure I provide opportunities for students to work through each step of that learning cycle. That means I incorporate quite a few experiential activities, but that they are accompanied by ample opportunities for reflection and making connections to course concepts. I also try to keep each class session light, and I like to use humor to create an environment where students feel safe to try their own hand at mastering whatever concepts or skills we are discussing!
What are your current research interests?
My research interests span the management and management education domains. Within the management domain, my interests range from micro-level topics (e.g., well-being at work) to macro-level topics (how emerging market multinationals internationalize). Within the management education domain, I’m currently working on projects about capstone course options, how different forms of privilege may manifest in the management classroom, and tools for collaborative learning for COVID-19 and beyond.
How do you define success in the classroom?
I certainly want my students to master the concepts and skills that are the focus of each particular course that I teach, but—perhaps much more importantly—I want them to leave better thinkers, more proficient communicators, and more intellectually curious than when they first walked in the classroom!
What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy spending time with family and friends, travelling (41 states and 30+ countries!), and playing golf (I’m terrible, but I’m hooked!).
Yuanyuan Xue
Instructor in Accounting
Published August 10, 2021