Dean's Biannual Report

December 2025

Greetings and warm Holiday Wishes from the College of Business & Engineering. It is once again exciting to share another publication of the Newsletter to celebrate all our students, faculty, and staff accomplishments. For example, our Civil Engineering program recently hosted an ABET accreditation review team on campus for a site visit. We appreciated the positive comments and professional insight provided by the review team. The visit highlighted many of the Civil Engineering program’s strengths, and we are proud of the dedication shown by our faculty, students, and stakeholders that prepared us for the ABET visit. We look forward to receiving ABET’s formal report once the review cycle concludes. We are proud to share our story with you each semester and thank you for your support and partnership in the interest of our student’s success.

- Dean Adekola

Welcome New Staff and Faculty Members

Dongfang (Andy) Nie

Dongfang (Andy) Nie obtained his PhD in accounting from the University of North Texas, an AACSB-accredited institution, in May 2019. Prior to that, he completed his MACC (Master of Accountancy), MA (Economics), MS (Financial Engineering), and BBA (Finance) degrees at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He was an assistant professor of accounting at the University of Texas Permian Basin. His research interests span several areas within accounting. He has focused on topics such as voluntary disclosures (including non-GAAP reporting and management earnings forecast), auditing (specifically bankruptcy and auditors' going concern opinions, fraud and misreporting, and audit committees), and the oil and gas industry. In terms of teaching, Dongfang has expertise in various accounting courses. He has experience teaching subjects such as financial accounting, managerial accounting, intermediate financial accounting, advanced accounting, cost accounting, and accounting data analytics. Dongfang has an extensive list of publications and forthcoming papers in reputable academic journals. His research has appeared in publications such as the Oil, Gas & Energy Quarterly, Journal of Forensic and Investigative Accounting, Journal of Corporate Accounting and Finance, Asian Review of Accounting, and more.

Jario Yepes Heredia

Jairo Yepes Heredia, Ph.D., is a geotechnical engineer with a strong academic and professional background in civil engineering. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, where he was awarded the prestigious STEM Doctoral Fellowship. He also holds both a Master of Science in Geotechnical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Dr. Yepes will be joining Wilkes University as an Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, bringing with him a wealth of experience across academia, research, and industry. His prior professional roles include serving as leading researcher and consultant of YH Geomecánica in Colombia, conducting postdoctoral research at Texas A&M University and at University of Kentucky, working as a Visiting Faculty member at Washington State University, and teaching as a Full-Time Lecturer at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). His research focuses on geotechnical engineering with a particular emphasis on Unsaturated Soils, Earthquake engineering, and Pavement analysis. His most recent project in 2025 explored the Shear Strength Response of Clayey Soil via Suction-controlled Ring Shear Testing, contributing valuable insights to the field. Dr. Yepes’s work reflects a commitment to advancing geotechnical research while inspiring the next generation of civil engineers through teaching, research, mentorship, and a strong effort to connect the theory to the daily practice of Civil Engineering.

Irfan Ahmad Ganie

Dr. Irfan Ahmad Ganie is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T), USA, where his research focused on safe and adaptive control for human-robot teaming. He also holds a Master’s degree in Cyber-Physical Systems from the Indian Institute of Technology. Dr. Ganie previously served as a Research Assistant at Missouri S&T and was honored with the Dean’s Ph.D. Scholar Award (2025) in recognition of his academic excellence. His research integrates reinforcement learning, deep learning, artificial intelligence, and nonlinear control to design intelligent controllers that enable robots and nonlinear systems to collaborate safely and effectively in uncertain environments. His work has been published in leading venues such as IEEE Transactions journals, the American Control Conference, and the IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, reflecting his significant contributions to the fields of intelligent systems and robotics.

Jonathan D. Hogan

Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan D. Hogan is the Commander of Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 752 and Professor of Aerospace Studies at Wilkes University, Pennsylvania. He is responsible for the recruitment, training, and development of United States Air Force and United States Space Force officer candidates from Wilkes University and 11 crosstown schools. Lieutenant Colonel Hogan commissioned in the Air Force in 2009 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps and received his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Texas Tech University. He spent eight years in operational cyberspace positions with experience at the Air Force Computer Emergency Response Team, the National Security Agency, and the White House Communications Agency. He also led the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center’s Long Range Stand-Off Nuclear Surety program and the B-61 Tail Kit Assembly Build and Deliver team. In 2021, he transitioned to the Space Force and was stationed at Space Systems Command in Los Angeles, CA, where he architected future SATCOM systems and led Pacific theater Kill Chain analysis. Prior to his current position, he was the Chief Engineer of the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program in Space Systems Command, Los Angeles, CA.

Terry Chase

Terry Chase is the Executive Director of the Cohen Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Wilkes University. Chase led consulting projects for startups, biotech companies, nonprofits, energy acceleration, agriculture tech and investors. She has managed technology, multiple acquisitions, intellectual property, financial projections, valuation and business due diligence with companies, investors and buyers from multiple countries. Chase was Director of the $500M Texas Emerging Technology Fund where she implemented new policies and led investments and grants to multiple universities and startups. She managed investments, acquisitions, sales and exits in molecular tools, energy, pharmaceutical and medical devices. She served on the Board of Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies Texas for the State of Texas. She has served as the CRO in restructuring efforts. She is a member of the National Instructor team at the NSF I-Corps program and an advisor for Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station's Advanced Energy Incubator. She is a patented inventor and holds master’s degrees in both Technology Management and in Finance and Accounting from University of Maryland Global Campus and a degree in Life Sciences from the University of Maryland.

New Promotions Award Winners

Dr. Ge (Grace) Xiao

Professor of Marketing

Dr. Han (Anna) Ma

Associate Professor of Marketing

Dr. Mona Pearl

Innovative teaching

Professor Cynthia Chisarick

Alumni Award for mentorship

Business and Engineering Innovations and Engagements

FBLA National Conference Winners

Three of our Wilkes students from FBLA advanced to the FBLA National Leadership Conference this year and earned national honors. The team of Joseph Geroldi, Liam Hackett, and Brandon Powell placed 4th in the state-level FBLA Accounting Case Competition in April, which qualified them to represent Wilkes at the national conference in Texas. There, they competed in the national Accounting Case Competition and placed 6th overall, outperforming more than 16,000 qualifying FBLA members from across the United States. The national conference is the organization’s premier annual event where members compete in a range of academic and business-related challenges, attend leadership workshops, and connect with peers and industry professionals. This is a great achievement for these young men and the club. Congratulations!

COBE Welcome Event

The COBE Freshman Welcome event marked the first steps into the freshmen's journey here at the Sidhu School of Business. This event featured two speakers from the COBE Dean's Executive Advisory Board: Joe Farrell and Scott Bush. Joe Farrell has extensive experience in supply chain management, currently serving as the Sr. Director of Customer Supply Chain at Mondelēz International. Joe has over 29 years of experience at Mondelez, Kraft Nabisco, and is currently leading the digital transformation to SAP S4 Hana for Customer Service and logistics. He shared his knowledge and advice from the business and supply chain perspective, while Scott Bush shared advice from the engineering side. Scott Bush is a seasoned professional in the heavy and civil engineering construction sector, currently serving as the Vice President, Regional Leader at Verdantas. With a robust background in civil engineering, he has honed his expertise in project management, contract management, and site planning over a career spanning more than three decades. Finally, we also want to highlight Jack Argento from the student advisory board, who was able to bring this amazing event to a close with his student remarks.

ASHE Meeting

Wilkes University Civil Engineering students Carter Jordan (Senior Civil Engineer) , Emily Buraczewski (Junior Civil Engineer) and Chris Milot (Senior Civil Engineer) attended the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) meeting on September 16 where they learned about bridge design and construction. They were able to discover that the I-80 bridges over the Lehigh River are eastbound/westbound structures built in 1965 and approaching the end of their serviceable lifespans. These bridges cross over the Lehigh River, Lehigh Gorge State Park, Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad and SR 1005 (River Road) in Carbon and Luzerne Counties. Combined, the bridges carry an average of 27,400 vehicles per day, about 44 percent of which is truck traffic.

Wyoming Valley Chamber Kickoff Event

Students had the opportunity to connect with members of the Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce during an engaging event highlighting the Chamber's team, it's history, and it's impact on the local community. The Chamber team including Lindsay Griffin-Boylan (President and CEO), Matthew Bickert, Shanie Mohamed, Eileen Rosengrant, Ahmad Ali, Meghan Flanagan, Barb Andrick, Madison Kaminski, David Cooper, and Andrea Buenano shared insight in the Chambers operations, economic development, initiatives, and opportunities for student involvement. The event also featured Timothy Ooms, research Analyst for the institute, who presented an overview of the business and industry landscape of Northeastern Pennsylvania, discussing major employers, emerging industries, and areas for career growth in the region. Following the presentation, attendees participated in an interactive breakout session focused on professional development. Guest also enjoyed lunch provided by Grain & Berry - Back Mountain as they continued conversations with Chamber leaders and peers. This event encouraged students to explore professional pathways, build connections, and gain valuable insights into the growing opportunities within NEPAs business community.

Gordon Panel Discussion

The Sidhu School of Business and Leadership hosted the Gordon Panel discussion featuring the father and son duo of Ivan Gordon, managing director of San Marco Wealth Management of Raymond James and Wilkes University trustee, and Eli Gordon, Investment Portfolio Specialist with Raymond James and Associates. Members of the Dean's Student Advisory Board - Lucas Lesko, Josephine Paolucci, and Steven Millan moderated the conversation guiding both insightful and lighthearted exchanges on topics such as risk-taking, mentorship, resilience, and the impact of AI on future careers. The discussion provided students with valuable advice and inspiration as they prepare to begin their professional journeys.

COBE MBA & Engineering Graduate Student Welcome Back Event

The College of Business & Engineering hosted a welcome-back initiative for MBA and Engineering graduate students, marking the start of an exciting new chapter in the academic year. The program featured updates on newly enhanced lecture designs aimed at making coursework more interactive, engaging, and professionally driven.

Faculty members reaffirmed their commitment to delivering high-quality learning experiences, supported by a collaborative effort with the Communication and Media program. A special recognition was given to Dr. Ruth Hughes, Dr. Corey Moore, and Dr. Woojun Lee, whose leadership and coordination were instrumental in the success of this initiative. The event set a positive tone for the semester, emphasizing innovation, student support, and academic excellence.

NSF EPIIC PI meeting

This fall, Dr. Abas Sabouni, the Chair of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Department and Professor of Electrical Engineering Program and Ms. Therese Kurilla have been awarded a National Science Foundation NSF Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) Grant, with Wilkes University serving as the lead institution in a five-university collaboration—alongside Widener University, Bradley University, University of New Haven, and Penn State Harrisburg—to advance Building Relationships in Innovation and Development for Growth in Emerging Technologies (BRIDGE-TECH) and to help establish the SOAR (Synergistic Opportunities in Academic Research) Center at Wilkes. Notably, this award reflects the outcome of a year-long, highly coordinated collaboration among the partner institutions to develop a shared vision, align complementary strengths, and co-design a competitive proposal. This $2M collaborative grant, equally divided among the five institutions, is significant because it provides the structure and resources needed to build a durable, multi-institution innovation ecosystem—creating shared processes, staffing, and leadership mechanisms to accelerate research development, broaden industry engagement, and strengthen pathways from applied research to real-world impact. For COBE and the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (MEE) Department, the award elevates Wilkes’ role as a regional hub for collaborative, use-inspired research and technology translation, expanding opportunities for faculty scholarship, student involvement in high-impact projects, and sustained external partnerships that support workforce development and economic growth in emerging technology domains, in alignment with Wilkes University’s Strategic Plan 2023–2028 (Innovate. Engage. Thrive.).

Cohen Center Opening with Terry Chase

The Cohen Center for Entrepreneurship, supported by the Cohen Family and the Benco Family Foundation, is dedicated to empowering students in innovation, business development, and hands-on learning. Serving as a collaborative hub, the center provides spaces for networking, a minimum viable product lab, a conference room, and collaborative meeting areas—all designed to help students bring their ideas to life. Partnering with organizations such as the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Family Business Alliance, and the Kirby Center, the Cohen Center offers customized opportunities tailored to each student. Resources such as scholarships, innovation studies, and workshops help participants shape their unique entrepreneurial paths. Student support is a top priority, with initiatives like the Robotics Challenge, Idea Challenge competitions, and partnerships with global innovators, including a Dutch company focused on removing plastics from rivers. Director Terry Chase highlights the Center's inclusive approach: "Students don't need to be business or engineering majors to take advantage of what the Cohen Center offers. Anyone can be entrepreneurial." Looking ahead, the Cohen Center will launch an Entrepreneurship Club, expand its mentorship network, and forge more connections with regional and global businesses. By building student competencies in finance, management, and networking, the center aims to inspire future leaders who can look back and say their entrepreneurial journey began here.

WEFTC Design Competition

Dr. Prahlad Murthy, Ben Campbell, Gabrielle Vogel and Ethan Parfitt attended the WEFTEC design competition on September 30, 2025 where our Wilkes University undergraduates students competed against graduate students from a variety of other universities. The Wastewater Design Competition is intended to include design projects that traditionally address a challenge within a water resource recovery facility, e.g., hydraulic capacity design, upgrades to existing treatment systems, biosolids handling, etc. This Project was a collaboration between Wilkes University, Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc.(HRG) Consultants, and Chalpont New Britain Township Joint Sewer Authority.

Axel Rad

On October 25, 2025, our PPD 401 and PPD 201 students traveled to the AxelRad Screen Printing Studio, a company that hosts marketing and business internships for Wilkes University students. AxelRad specializes in design, screen printing, embroidery, vinyl, and contract printing. The visit to AxelRad had an impressive number of student attendees. Employees at AxelRad led a Q&A session with the students, in which the students had the opportunity to engage with employees to discuss the cross function of graphic design, general production, marketing, contract printing, IT, and ownership to learn more about AxelRad. After the Q&A session, AxelRad facilitated a tour of the studio step by step, and graciously printed custom designed Wilkes shirts for everyone. We can't thank AxelRad enough for this amazing hands-on experience.

PSPE Conference

The Pennsylvania Professional Engineers Conference, hosted by the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The conference brings licensed engineers together in one location to meet face-to-face with colleagues. Consultants and specialists use the conference to build teams and expand networks. Licensed engineers on the planning committee have designed a lineup of peer-reviewed sessions on a variety of projects. Wilkes University Environmental Engineering Alumni, Dan Cook ’05, was inducted as the President of PSPE. The photo shows students and alumni who connected at the conference.

Front row: Saritha Karnae, Rachel Prato ’18, AnnaBeth Glass, Genesis Hughes, Samantha Gonzalez, Holly Frederick, Marleen Troy

Second Row: Gregorio Soto, Nick Davidson, Aiden Gove, Dan Cook ‘05

i2M Tour

Students from the PPD 401 and 201 recently visited i2M, a leading U.S. manufacturer, designer, and gravure printer of advanced flexible plastic films. The visit provided students with an inside look at how their academic studies connect to real-world business operations and innovation in manufacturing. Hosted by Alex Grover, CEO of i2M, the group learned about the company’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and partnership. i2M integrates environmental responsibility into every aspect of its operations, striving to build a more sustainable future through what it calls Purposeful Polymers. The visit offered students valuable exposure to business practices in a growing and competitive industry, highlighting how leadership, strategy, and innovation drive success in U.S. manufacturing.

CEE Department Homecoming

Eight alumni returned for the Homecoming Reunion of the CEE Department. Wilkes engineering students learned about many different pathways that start with a Wilkes degree.

Nia Williams ’17, Mel Fouts ’23, Matt Boyle ’13, Ian Barchock ’21, Devin Blakely ’16, Emanuel Posluszny ‘14, Amalia O’Brien Thomas ’16’, Neal McHugh ’86.

Absent for photo: Mike Sander ’16,

MKT 419

Students in the MKT 419 (Marketing Research Analytics) class participated in an interdisciplinary learning project with engineering students. Marketing students conducted market analysis to identify consumer needs and opportunities, while engineering students designed and developed the product. This collaboration helped students understand cross-functional perspectives and appreciate how different fields contribute to successful product development.

Northeast Partnership Dinner

Students and faculty from Wilkes University attended the Northeast Pennsylvania Environmental Partnership Dinner on October 23, 2025. The Northeast Environmental Partners, comprised of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, PPL Corporation, Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, and Wilkes University, are pleased to announce the recipients of the 35th Annual Environmental Partnership Awards. Awardees will be honored at the Evening for Northeast Pennsylvania’s Environment on October 23, 2025, at the Woodlands Inn & Resort, Plains, PA.

Shown in photo: Marleen Troy, Ter Chase, Saritha Karnae,

2nd row: Gabrielle Vogel, Grace Slane. Grace Alderson

HL 201: Westmoreland Club Visit

Students met with General Manager Matthew Riviello, Event Coordinator Lesley Schrode, Executive Chef Luke Swick, and Beverage Manager Alex Cruz. The leadership team provided valuable insights into service culture, event operations, and culinary excellence. Students also toured the club, gaining an in-depth understanding of private club management. This visit strengthened students’ real-world knowledge in leadership, event management, and the teamwork required to operate a premier private club. We are grateful to the Westmoreland Club for welcoming our students even on a busy board meeting day and for providing such an exceptional learning experience.

Glenmaura National Golf Club Visit

HL 201 students also visited Glenmaura National Golf Club. CEO Philip Mahasky shared thoughtful insights into club management and hospitality leadership, explaining how the club balances long-standing traditions with the expectations of today’s members. Students engaged in meaningful discussions and toured the club’s facilities, connecting classroom concepts to real-world practice.

Business Ethics Workshop

Dr. Kedir Tessema, Director of the Business Ethics Engagement Program, led a series of Business Ethics workshops throughout October and November 2025. These sessions offered undergraduate and MBA students valuable opportunities to strengthen their critical thinking and ethical decision-making skills, which are essential for their development as future business leaders.

"The Business Ethics Engagement Program successfully concluded its Fall 2025 weekend workshops. Across two rounds, 15 students from both the MBA and Undergraduate programs participated in the series. Each workshop totals four hours, divided into two-hour weekend sessions designed to unite graduate and undergraduate students. The primary aim of the program is creating awareness around business ethics, specifically focusing on the contemporary challenges confronting today's organizational leaders. Upon successful completion of the series, participating students received both digital and paper certificates."

New York Trip

Students from Wilkes University traveled to New York City for an immersive learning experience that connected classroom concepts with real-world business environments. The visit included stops at Bloomberg Headquarters, Central Park, Wall Street, and the 9/11 Memorial, giving students a unique blend of professional exposure, cultural context, and historical reflection.

Throughout the day, students gained insight into global finance, economic systems, and the role of data and innovation in modern business decision-making. The trip highlighted the importance of professional curiosity and opened doors to new perspectives on career pathways in business and finance.

The experience was planned and guided by Dr. Woojun Lee and Dr. Corey Moore, whose leadership and support helped students navigate the city, engage meaningfully with each site, and maximize this valuable learning opportunity.

Bloomberg for Educators conference

Wilkes University faculty participated in the Bloomberg for Educators Conference in New York City, an event designed to strengthen academic integration of Bloomberg tools and resources. The conference emphasized the importance of real-time data, financial literacy, and analytics in preparing students for today’s rapidly evolving business landscape.

Faculty attendees explored new instructional strategies, discussed best practices with peers from other institutions, and gathered ideas on enhancing experiential learning within the curriculum. The event reinforced Wilkes University’s commitment to professional development and continuous improvement in teaching methods, particularly within finance and business education.

Majors Fair

The Major Fair provided students with the opportunity to explore academic pathways, ask questions, and learn more about the programs offered at Wilkes University. Faculty members were available throughout the event to discuss curriculum requirements, career opportunities, and areas of study across multiple disciplines.

This event played a key role in helping students clarify their academic goals and make informed decisions about potential majors. Students who were unable to attend were encouraged to visit the university website to learn more about business programs and connect with advisors for additional guidance.

FACULTY & STAFF ACCOMPLISHMENTS (05/01/25 - 12/31/25 )

Please see the links below for a full list of faculty Scholarly Activity:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XdF5VDHzfPGaGYKmiv3gNSLN-SSwcuoNAAhz__VdBLY/edit?usp=sharing

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