MBA Faculty & Staff
All of our faculty teaching in our MBA Program are full-time and academically qualified, holding or currently working toward a terminal doctoral degree in their discipline. Our faculty work diligently to stay current in their disciplines as active researchers who publish in a variety of peer-reviewed academic journals and who maintain a presence at academic conferences. Many of our faculty additionally have professional experience or are actively providing consulting services to business and industry. This means that our faculty meet stringent research requirements and other standards above those required for undergraduate instruction. We are most proud that our faculty are strongly dedicated to their teaching, making the classroom experience and student success a priority. All of our faculty hold regular office hours to meet the needs of students.
Please follow the links below to learn more about the faculty teaching in our MBA Program.
- Isaacs, Trish (Director)
- Morris, Heather (Administrative Assistant)
- Allison, Lee
- Barthel, Laura
- Easterling, Kirby
- Gardner, Lisa
- Mahaney, Bob
- Martin, Tom
- Polin, Beth
- Roberson, Mike
- Robles, Marcel
- Stearns, J.P.
- Woodruff, Ben
- Xiao, Qian
- Zhuang, Weiling
Dr. Trish Isaacs (Director)
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Interim Associate Dean, School of Business Professor of Accounting Office Location BTC 211 859-622-1590 trish.isaacs@eku.edu |
Dr. Isaacs earned her PhD in Accounting from the University of Kentucky in 1994 after earning both her MBA and BBA in Accounting from Eastern Kentucky University in 1981 and 1980, respectively. In the MBA Program, she teaches "MBA 821: Survey of Accounting for Managers."
Ms. Heather Morris (Administrative Assistant)
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Administrative Assistant Office Location BTC 210 859-622-7701 heather.morris@eku.edu |
More information coming soon.
Dr. Lee Allison
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Assistant Professor of Marketing Office Location BTC 142 859-622-8944 lee.allison@eku.edu |
In the MBA Program, she teaches "MBA 813: The Showing Tell: Empathetic Interactive Communication."
Laura Barthel
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Instructor of Accounting Office Location BTC 074 859-622-7892 laura.barthel@eku.edu |
In the MBA Program, she teaches "MBA 831: Corporate Entrepreneurial Ventures."
Kirby Easterling
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Lecturer of Management Office Location BTC 075 859-622-7893 james.kirby.easterling@eku.edu |
In the MBA Program, he teaches "MBA 833: Supply Chain as a Driver of Organizational Effectiveness."
Dr. Bob Mahaney
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Associate Professor of Information Systems Office Location BTC 228 859-622-1118 bob.mahaney@eku.edu |
In the MBA Program, he teaches "MBA 814: Big Data Analytics."
Dr. Tom Martin
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In the MBA Program, he teaches "MBA 842: Impact Capstone."
Dr. Beth Polin
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Assistant Professor of Management Office Location BTC 118 859-622-4970 beth.polin@eku.edu |
Dr. Polin earned her PhD in Labor and Human Resources from The Ohio State University in 2013 after earning her BA in Economics from DePauw University in 2008. She actively researches and publishes in the areas of conflict management, socialization, leadership, and pedagogy. At the undergraduate level, Dr. Polin teaches topics including principles of management, organizational behavior, and conflict navigation, and in the MBA Program she teaches "MBA 824: Authentic Leadership and Design of the Employee Experience." Dr. Polin's accomplishments have been recognized through the receipt of numerous awards, including the Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Society New Educator Award, the Eastern Kentucky University High-Impact Practice Teaching Award, the Student Government Association Distinguished Educational Leadership in Outstanding Service Award, the Eastern Kentucky University Critical Thinking Teacher of the Year Award, and the Eastern Kentucky University School of Business Jack L. Dyer Excellence in Teaching Award.
Dr. Mike Roberson
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Professor of Management Office Location BTC 117 / 011 859-622-1377 mike.roberson@eku.edu |
In the MBA Program, he teaches "MBA 822: Leading and Managing Human Capital."
Dr. Marcel Robles
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Professor of Corporate Communication and Technology Office Location BTC 022 859-622-1117 marcel.robles@eku.edu |
Dr. Robles earned her PhD in Teaching and Learning, Information Systems, and Higher Education from the University of North Dakota in 1996 after earning both her MS in Business Education with a minor in Vocational Education as well as her BBA in Information Management Systems and Business Management from the University of North Dakota in 1991 and 1989, respectively. She actively researches and publishes in the areas of assessment, business communication, and educational technology. At the undergraduate level, Dr. Robles teaches topics including business communication, business research, and commputer applications, and in the MBA Program she teaches "MBA 811: Managerial Communication."
Dr. J.P. Stearns
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Assistant Professor of Accounting Office Location BTC 108 859-622-1592 justin.stearns@eku.edu |
In the MBA Program, he teaches "MBA 812: Data, Decisions, and Business."
Dr. Ben Woodruff
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Assistant Professor of Finance Office Location BTC 136 859-622-8881 benjamin.woodruff@eku.edu |
In the MBA Program, he teaches "MBA 834: Enterprise Risk Management."
Dr. Qian Xiao
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Associate Professor of Management Office Location BTC 178 859-622-7349 qian.xiao@eku.edu |
In the MBA Program, she teaches "MBA 841: Driving Strategic Impact: Mastering Managerial Tools in Top Management Process."
Dr. Weiling Zhuang
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Associate Professor of Marketing Office Location BTC 168 859-622-1363 weiling.zhuang@eku.edu |
Dr. Zhuang earned his DBA in Marketing from Louisiana Tech University in 2010 after earning his MS in Mathematics and Statistics from Louisiana Tech University in 2010, his MBA in Marketing from Southwest Jiao Tong University in 2004, and his BS in Investment Economics from Guangdong University of Business Studies in 1997. In the MBA Program, he teaches "MBA 832: Dynamic Marketing Management."