Pillar 4

Accounting

K. Ramesh

(left)

Herbert S. Autrey Professor of Accounting

Karthik Balakrishnan

(right)

Professor of Accounting
Faculty Lead of Undergraduate Business Programs

• “Racial Diversity Exposure and Firm Responses Following the Murder of George Floyd”

Stephen A. Zeff

Keith Anderson Professor of Accounting

• “Evolution of Accounting at the University of Michigan: 1901 to 2024 ”

Finance

Alex Butler

(left)

Jesse H. Jones Professor of Finance

James Weston

(right)

Harmon Whittington Professor of Finance

• “Racial Disparities in the Auto Loan Market”

Jefferson Duarte

Gerald D. Hines Associate Professor of Real Estate Finance
Associate Professor of Finance

• “Research Handbook on Alternative Finance”

David Zhang

Assistant Professor of Finance

• “Mortgage prepayment, race, and monetary policy”

Marketing

Ajay Kalra

Herbert S. Autrey Professor of Marketing

• “It's Good to Be Different: How Diversity Impacts Judgments of Moral Behavior”

Vikas Mittal

J. Hugh Liedtke Professor of Management – Marketing

• “Reaching for rigor and relevance: better marketing research for a better world”
• “Investigating the academic performance and disciplinary consequences of school district internet access spending”

Organizational Behavior

Daan van Knippenberg

Houston Endowment Professor of Management – Organizational Behavior

• “Agree to disagree if you want to create synergy from diversity”
• “You may need to change how you manage diversity, equity, and inclusion”
• “Interacting Elements of Leadership: Key to Integration But Looking for Integrative Theory”
• “Keeping Employees Safe During Health Crises: The Effects of Media Exposure, HR Practices, and Age”
• “A diversity mindset perspective on inclusive leadership” 
• “Team members’ reactions to a gender-dissimilar leader: Competence monitoring and influence” 
• “Team leadership and team cultural diversity: The moderating effects of leader cultural background and leader team tenure” 
• “Minority status, access to information, and individual performance” 
• “How diversity promotes team creativity: Two bumpy roads to collective inspiration” 
• “Racial biases in the publication process: Exploring expressions and solutions” 

Jing Zhou

Mary Gibbs Jones Professor of Management and Psychology
Deputy Dean of Academic Affairs

• Hoever, I., Betancourt, N., Chen, G., & Zhou, J. How others light the creative spark: When and why diverse environments trigger creativity through inspiration. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. Accepted for publication.

Sora Jun

Assistant Professor of Management – Organizational Behavior

• “The Missing Middle: Asian Employees’ Experience of Workplace Discrimination and Pro-Black Allyship”
• “Chronic frames of social inequality: How mainstream media frame race, gender, and wealth inequality”
• “Barriers and Boosts: Expanding the Lens on Mechanisms of Racial and Gender Inequity”
• “The ‘equal opportunity jerk’ defense: Rudeness can obfuscate gender bias”
• “Why benefiting from discrimination is less recognized as discrimination”
• “Words that hurt: Leaders’ anti-Asian communication and employee outcomes”

Siyu Yu

Assistant Professor of Management – Organizational Behavior

• “The role of resources in the success or failure of diverse teams: Resource scarcity activates negative performance-detracting resource dynamics in social category diverse teams"

Michelle “Mikki” Hebl

Professor of Psychology and Management – Organizational Behavior

• “Facing an Unexpected Negotiation Partner: the Impact of Hiring Manager Gender Role Violation on Job Candidates”
• “Post-traumatic stress disorder and hiring: The role of social media disclosures on stigma and hiring assessments of veterans”
• “The Influence of Social Norms on the Expression of Anti-Black Bias”
• “The impact of organizational statements of support for the Black community in the wake of a racial mega-threat on organizational attraction and revenue”
• “A call to action: The imperative of supporting women scholars in academia through pregnancy, postpartum, and caregiving demands” (in press)
• “Social inequalities in leadership: shifting the focus from deficient followers to destructive leaders”
• “Do employees’ tattoos leave a mark on customers’ reactions to products and organizations?”
• “Now protected or still stigmatized? A 25-year outlook on the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act”
• “Subtle discrimination overtakes cognitive resources and undermines performance”
• “Experimental sleep loss, racial bias, and the decision criterion to shoot in the police officer’s dilemma task”
• “How behavior science can inform policies to prevent discrimination against the Asian community in the era of COVID-19”
• “Anti-racist actions and accountability: Not more empty promises”

Strategy and Environment

Douglas Schuler

Professor of Business and Public Policy

• “Addressing the Interlinkages of Persistent Social Problems: Food for Change as Social Entrepreneurship”

Laszlo Tihanyi

William Alexander Kirkland Professor of Strategic Management

• “Publishing practical and responsible research in AMJ"

Duane Windsor

Lynette S. Autrey Professor of Management – Strategic Management
Ph.D. Area Adviser

• “The Ethics of Employee Diversity in Different Kinds of Businesses"

Alessandro Piazza

Jones School Distinguished Assistant Professor of Strategic Management

• “Gender Inequity in Entrepreneurship: Understanding Barriers, Boundary Conditions, and Opportunities”

^{*Note: Rice Business faculty are highlighted in this section, but many publications are co-authored with non-Rice Business faculty. Click the links below each listing to see a full list of authors and other publication details.}

Communication

Ginger Koto Vaughn

Lecturer in Communication

• Asia Society Texas: Author Talk: James Rhee on “red helicopter”
  Ginger Vaughn moderated the author talk and audience Q&A. (May 16, 2024)

Marketing

Constance Elise Porter

Senior Associate Dean for Belonging and Engagement
Associate Clinical Professor of Marketing

• “Houston is one of most diverse cities in the U.S., says new report,” cited in Houston Chronicle, 4/24/2024 by Shakari Briggs
• “Most Diverse Cities in the US (2024):  Ask the Experts” cited in WalletHub, 4/15/2024 by Adam McCann

• Business School Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Collaborative Workshop 
  “DEIB Best Practices That Ensure Faculty/Student/Staff Success” was a workshop delivered jointly by Dean Porter and Prof. Ann J. Tasby (director, Office of Inclusive Excellence, TCU Neeley School of Business) at the Business DEI Collaborative Conference (2024). The workshop addressed DEIB best practices for administrative leaders including topics such as mobilizing and engaging stakeholders, developing and implementing marketing strategy, partnering with HR for staffing excellence, and infusing DEI into the curriculum.

  

  

Organizational Behavior

Minjae Kim

Assistant Professor of Management – Organizational Behavior

• Unanswered Outreaches: Mechanisms of Gender-Based Network Segregation in Entrepreneurship
  Winner of the 2024 Best Organization and Management Theory Entrepreneurship Paper Award, Minjae Kim presented Unanswered Outreaches: Mechanisms of Gender-Based Network Segregation in Entrepreneurship research at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting (Summer 2024).

Strategy and Environment

Yan Anthea Zhang

Fayez Sarofim Vanguard Professor of Management – Strategic Management

• Congratulations to our 2024 AIB Fellows Electees
  Yan Anthea Zhang was recognized as one of the 2024 Academy of International Business (AIB) Fellows electees. The AIB Fellows are a select group of distinguished scholars who have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to both our association and the international business field as a whole. In addition to selecting individuals to be honored with AIB’s prestigious annual awards, these accomplished researchers are responsible for leading official task forces and developing cutting-edge content for our global conference series.

Career Development Office Staff

Jennifer Applebee

Associate Director, Recruiting and Employer Relations, Career Development Office

• MBA Career Services & Employer Alliance conference session, Summer 2024
  “Stepping Into the Shoes of Another” – An increasingly frequent area of discussion for career professionals is focused on the experiences and obstacles international students navigate in the U.S. This session focused on DEI as it applies to international students. This session addressed topics such as contemporary DEI issues in the U.S., commonly used terminology, the Mattering framework, a toolkit of best practices/methods to present DEI training to international students and how participants can apply these tools to their schools.

Emile Chamoun-Farah

Assistant Director, Employer Engagement

• Southern Association of Colleges & Employers (SoACE) Employer Relations Presenter, Summit 2025
  “From Idea to Impact: Go-To Strategies for New Employer Development”

Office of Academic Programs and Student Experience Staff

Mohammad Khan

Assistant Director, Global Programs and Experiential Learning

• “Dean-Scott, S. R., Stites, A., & Khan, M. (2024). Exploring the role of involvement in cultivating a Multiracial identity. ACPA Developments, 21(2).”
• “Defining Social Impact through Global and Experiential Learning Courses”
  Presented at the Annual Conference of the Graduate Business Student Services Association (GBSSA) Chicago – November 2023

Timoteo Modrow

Assistant Director of Student Experience, Office of Academic Programs and Student Experience

• Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education, Gulf Coast Region Chapter conference session, Spring 2024
  Timoteo Modrow co-presented “Guiando y Mentorando: Exploring the Testimonios of Two Latino/x Male Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education,”  focused on identity-based mentorship.

Sparking Success, our annual conference, is designed to provide a forum for awareness, dialogue and skill-building around issues of belonging as it relates to the business world. At Rice Business, we endeavor to create a rich learning environment that considers and appreciates a multitude of perspectives that lead to enhanced decision-making. We consider this mindset a critical leadership skill in today’s increasingly global and inclusive workplace.

The keynote presentation featured Mikki Hebl, Martha & Henry Malcolm Lovett Chair of Psychology.
Breakout session topics included corporate insider perspectives, navigating potentially charged discussions over differing views, neurodiversity and inclusive work spaces, legal considerations, and leading with confidence and self-care.

The conference sponsors included NRG, Phillips 66 and Cheniere Energy.

Rice Business Partners

On October 23, 2024, Rice Business Partners hosted the Faculty Roundtable discussion with Professor Minjae Kim. He spoke on the topic: “Flexible Morals: A Key Reason American Voters Support Divisive Misinformation.”

In front of a sold-out audience, he challenged the conventional wisdom around misinformation, offering attendees a provocative look into the psychology behind why Americans knowingly endorse factually incorrect claims. Attendees walked away with deeper insight into the partisan dynamics of belief, the limitations of fact-checking, and how moral framing may hold the key to navigating today’s complex information landscape.

This topic is a must for anyone working in policy, media, public discourse or civic engagement.

On February 14, 2025, Rice Business Partners hosted a Faculty Roundtable discussion with Professor Jaeyeon Chung on the topic: “How Can Influencers Boost Consumer Engagement?”

These events are open to the public, and this one sold out as well. Prof. Jae Chung equipped attendees with actionable strategies to boost authenticity in influencer partnerships and elevate the impact of their digital campaigns. She helped our attendees reshape how they thought about connection, trust and consumer behavior.

Impact of Reunion:

With a 12% increase in unique attendees over the prior year and the highest recorded attendance to date, Reunion continues to be the flagship event for large-scale alumni connection. The milestone events served as a first point of connection for 36 alumni who had never attended a Rice Business alumni event before, and one member of the original Rice Business class of 1975 (pictured) was able to join us. This shows Reunion’s ability to re-engage previously unengaged alumni and broaden the base of connected graduates. Alumni feedback emphasized a strong emotional resonance with the school’s culture and leadership, with multiple responses noting that Reunion reaffirmed their original sense of belonging and pride in the Rice Business community.

National Black MBA Association Alumni Social, Fall 2024

Rice Business drew 11 alumni to our NBMBAA event in Washington, D.C., reinforcing the school’s visibility and alumni presence at a key national gathering for Black business professionals. President DesRoches’ attendance signaled strong university-level commitment to alumni and affinity-based engagement, deepening alumni pride and connection. This event marked our first formal partnership with McCombs, setting a precedent for future inter-school collaborations that expand alumni networks and create shared value.

Social Media Engagement:

Alumni Engagement highlighted 15 student veterans for Veterans Day, eight alumni couples for Valentine’s Day, four alumni mothers for Mother’s Day, and seven alumni fathers for Father’s Day across social media. Altogether, these posts received around 23,400 views and 400 likes across all our platforms. Our Valentine's Day campaign was the most popular!

The Rice Business Black alumni network abounds with talented and accomplished professionals across industries and sectors. As the network grows each year, there is an increased desire to intentionally connect students with the Black alumni network. To address this need, Black Business Student Association (BBSA) and Black alumni leadership worked together to launch the Rice Business Black Alumni Gateway, a website featuring an easy-to-search directory of Black alumni profiles by industry and career, along with highlights of Black excellence, leadership and accomplishment.

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“The Rice Business Black alumni network’s achievements are extraordinary, and our expanding network is a powerful asset to alumni, as well as current and prospective students. The Black Alumni Gateway, launched in 2021, is a great way to make our network more visible for ongoing inspiration, collaboration and engagement. Working on this project was a labor of love. I remember how important it was for me to see others who looked like me during the MBA application process. I appreciate Dean Peter Rodriguez, Senior Associate Dean Constance Porter and the Rice Business staff for their support in bringing this vision to fruition, and I look forward to seeing its utility grow.”
Patra Brannon-Isaac ’11

The marketing and communication team partners with students, staff, faculty and alumni to reflect and highlight the diversity of our community. Through digital advertising, videos, podcasts, blog posts and articles in Rice Business magazine and other print pieces, we share the story of Rice Business: that you belong here and that diverse groups make the best decisions. We also know that representation matters.

Social Media

Our social media channels serve as a digital gathering space for the Rice Business community to connect, celebrate and share perspectives. In FY25, we used these platforms to highlight the people, milestones and everyday moments that shape our school.
Here are a few of our top-performing posts:

• A look at Partio, our beloved Thursday afternoon tradition: Even with the patio closed for construction, students gathered to meet new classmates, reconnect with familiar faces and explore our diverse club offerings.
• A feature honoring Women’s Entrepreneurship Day: We spotlighted students and alumni who are leading groundbreaking ventures. And of course, we gave a shoutout to our No. 1 Graduate Entrepreneurship Program ranking.
• Celebrating alum Ope Amosu ’14: We invited our audience to join the conversation by tagging other alumni-owned businesses in the comments.

By amplifying these stories and creating space for authentic dialogue, our social channels help extend the welcoming, collaborative culture of Rice Business far beyond campus.

Owl Have You Know podcast

Our award-winning podcast, Owl Have You Know, shares the diverse experiences and perspectives of the Rice Business community. In FY25, our podcast continued to bring the Rice Business community together through stories that reflect the many ways our alumni, faculty and leaders shape business and society.
Here are a few of our most impactful conversations:

• Shai Littlejohn (EMBA ’26): on pivoting from law to music and back again, showing the power of resilience and reinvention.
• Ramon Marquez (Online MBA ’25): on building a career in retail operations across global brands, including JCPenney, Abercrombie & Fitch, Old Navy, Kmart, and Sears.
• Steve Jimenez (PMBA ’22): a veteran who founded Hives for Heroes, a nonprofit teaching beekeeping to veterans, active-duty military, and first responders as a path toward healing and purpose.

We also hosted a live event featuring Senior Associate Dean of Degree Programs James Weston — drawing alumni, faculty, staff, students and prospective students into one shared space for connection.
Through these stories and gatherings, Owl Have You Know highlights the richness of experience within Rice Business and fosters a deeper sense of belonging across our community.

Admissions Blog

Admit It, our MBA admissions blog, gives prospective students a window into life at Rice Business. Each post highlights the people, programs and opportunities that define our community, offering practical advice, student stories and insights from those who know the MBA journey best. In FY25, the blog continued to connect future Owls with the experiences that make Rice Business distinct — from application tips to reflections on how our students and alumni are shaping the world of business.
Posts related to belonging and engagement include:

• 6 Reasons These Working Professionals Chose the Rice MBA: Class of ’27 students have begun their MBA journey, which means Rice Business continues to grow — in both numbers and ambition. Kicking off this year’s Launch Week, we asked a few of our new Professional and Hybrid MBA students: Why did you choose Rice?
• How Rice and Houston Are Shaping Tomorrow’s Founders: Houston’s startup scene is booming and Rice Business is dedicated to its success — helping emerging entrepreneurs turn bold ideas into real ventures.
• Celebrating Women in Business: Together, We Will Break Boundaries: This International Women’s Day, Rice Business is proud to celebrate the women who are shaping industries, opening new doors and redefining what’s possible in business and beyond.

Rice Business Magazine

Rice Business magazine is published twice a year. The fall 2024 and spring 2025 issues included feature stories such as:

• Fighting Fate: Because of a genetic mutation he’s inherited, Daniel Barvin ’18 faces the possibility of developing frontotemporal dementia or ALS. His future is uncertain — but rather than let the risk of disease overshadow his life, he has dedicated himself to driving innovation and creating a healthier future for people like him. (Spring 2025)
• What Makes a Legacy?: For the Viranis, legacy is about family, hope, and the promise of future generations. It is also something created through everyday actions and interactions. (Spring 2025)
• A Life That Echoed: Remembering Scott Gale ’19: An alumni reflection by Maya Pomroy ’22 (Spring 2025)
• 50 Things We Love About Rice Business: In celebration of our 50th anniversary, a collection of things that make us fabulous — in no particular order. (Spring 2024)
• First Class: In May, Rice Business welcomed its first 60 undergraduate business majors into the alumni ranks, marking a milestone on the journey that started in 2021 when the business school, under the leadership of Peter Rodriguez, launched the degree. Since then, the major has become one of the fastest-growing at Rice. Here is a brief look at just a few of the talented students who claimed their spot in that first cohort. (Spring 2024)

Rice Business Wisdom

Rice Business Wisdom, the school’s online ideas magazine focused on faculty research, publishes two to three articles per month on the website, as well as two LinkedIn newsletters and one email newsletter per month. All three platforms — web, social media, email — continue to grow in audience and engagement.
Many of the stories on Rice Business Wisdom provide actionable insights to problems of social inequity, including:

• Corporate Activism Tends To Follow, Not Lead, Social Change (based on research by Alessandro Piazza): Companies often avoid using a “collective action frame” in their messaging until after a controversial issue is legally and politically settled.
• The Front Line Against Elder Financial Abuse (based on research by Bruce Carlin and Tarik Umar): A “permissive governance” policy is empowering financial advisers to fight the exploitation of older Americans.
• Thumbs Up: Fixing the Bias in Gig Work Ratings (based on research by Sora Jun): When a gig-work platform switched from a five-star rating system to a simple thumbs-up/down, it eliminated a 9% racial earnings gap for their workers.
• The Hidden Inequality in Auto Lending (based on research by Alexander Butler and James Weston): Each year, an estimated 80,000 auto loan applications in the U.S. are denied to minority borrowers due to racial bias.