August 9, 2016

The Darla Moore School of Business will be welcoming many new faculty members in the coming academic year as part of a three-year hiring initiative.

“Few business schools have been in the position to add such a large number of talented faculty in one year,” Dean Peter Brews said. “Our ability to grow in this way reflects the university’s commitment to providing students with a world-class business education. These new faculty hires will not only allow us to address the growing size of our student population, but also will ensure students receive the course work and experiences they need to succeed in an increasingly challenging labor market.”

The Moore School is adding nearly 40 new tenure track and non-tenure track faculty in the coming year. Some of these new faculty members are replacing retiring faculty or faculty who left for other positions. The balance are part of a three-year initiative to add 30 new tenure track and non-tenure track faculty members authorized by the university. A majority of these new members are being added to address the needs of a growing student population and an evolving curriculum.

“Included are tenured and tenure-track faculty with notable academic records from top academic institutions,” Brews said. “Clinical professors and lecturers with deep industry knowledge and broad managerial experience are also part of the cohort.”

One such example is the former president of the Insurance Information Institute, Robert Hartwig, Ph.D., who received his doctoral degree in economics from the University of Illinois. Hartwig is a very visible, well-known industry expert who will provide beneficial connections for students looking to improve their networks.

Another valuable addition to the Moore School is new professor of management Laura Cardinal, Ph.D. Cardinal is joining the business school after 26 years of teaching at universities such as University of Houston, Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Tulane University. She has been published in many academic journals throughout her career as well as serving on various editorial boards, giving her excellent insight into academic writing and the publication process.

In continuing the effort to bring in a range of expertise, diversity was also a strategic priority in the hiring process.

“In addition to the impressive number of faculty members joining the Moore School, their diversity is extraordinary,” Brews said. “Their arrival enhances the Moore School’s gender and ethnic diversity, just as they add to the many levels of experience within our school.”

Mohammad Irani, Ph.D., for example, is joining the Moore School after earning his doctorate in finance from Stockholm University. He brings both academic and professional experience to the Moore School as he also has eight years of management experience in the workplace.

Overall, the Moore School has brought in “very strong, very talented, world-class faculty,” according to Brian Klaas, senior associate dean for academics and research.

“Whenever you have the opportunity to bring in that much new energy, that many new ideas, that many new connections, that many new perspectives — it’s a game changer,” he said.

The new faculty members are coming from places such as UNC-Chapel Hill, University of Chicago, University of Illinois, Texas A&M University, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul.

“We’re bringing in some experienced individuals from great institutions who are coming here because they view it as an opportunity to really make a difference,” Klaas said.

By Madeleine Vath