A paper co-authored by Dr. Hilary Schloemer, associate professor of management, with a colleague from the University of Kansas has been published in Strategic Management Review. Their central assertion is that work groups are the critical level for complex problem-solving when organizations make strategic decisions and that the social levers of identity and identification can be used to motivate and direct group member effort toward the complex problem.

Dr. Zahid Hossain, professor of civil engineering, has been elevated to Fellow in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). As a member of ASCE for at least 10 years and a licensed professional engineer, Hossain was eligible for Fellow status based on his professional accomplishments and development of creative solutions, as documented by his application and election by the ASCE Membership Review Committee.

Dr. Saul Esparza, assistant professor of management and strategy, Campus Querétaro, and his research  team, which represents four institutions, presented their bibliometric research at FEMIB 2023, an international conference focused on four emerging areas of business, held in Prague. He also has co-authored a book, on teaching strategic management using digital tools, with Dr. H. Steve Leslie, assistant professor of business communication, and two students.

Erika James, student assistant specialist, Dean B. Ellis Library, presented “Shaping the Heart of the Library: One Student at a Time,” at the Arkansas Library Paraprofessionals InfoBits conference. Her session covered methods in which library professionals can invest in student employees and help them become successful students and citizens. Topics included training, team building activities, communicating, and being creative while helping students.

Congratulations to Richard Jorgensen, emeritus professor of music, who was recognized among those who influenced the successful career of an outstanding A-State alumnus. A feature in South Dakota New Watch traces the career of Delta David Gier, who studied trumpet with Jorgensen. Gier is approaching his 20th anniversary as conductor and music director of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, which the article noted has drawn national acclaim.