Business and Economics Faculty

Utica College's business and economics faculty are nationally and internationally recognized for their scholarly accomplishments as well as for their real-world business experience. Collectively they represent a wide range of expertise and research interests, including health care financing, public school aid formulas, banking, and managing change.

At the same time, at Utica College, teaching is the faculty's first priority. Small classes provide opportunities for close interaction between and among faculty and students, and the relationships students form with their professors often last a lifetime.

The overwhelming majority of faculty are doctorally trained; several additionally hold an M.B.A. Faculty regularly share their expertise by serving as members of professional organizations, presenting at scholarly conferences, and consulting with local businesses and government agencies. These connections help faculty develop internship opportunities for students, and also serve as networking resources for UC graduates seeking employment.

The faculty's scholarly accomplishments, professional experiences, and academic credentials combine to provide students majoring in business and economics programs with a dynamic and fulfilling learning experience both inside and outside the classroom.

	Atasi Basu, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Accounting E-mail: abasu@utica.edu Phone: (315) 792-3167 Room 119, DePerno Hall More about Atasi Basu
Professor Basu joined the UC faculty in 2005. She earned a Ph.D. in accounting from Syracuse University, as well as both a master's and a Ph.D. in statistics from Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata, India. The author of numerous articles in statistics and business journals, Professor Basu has previously taught at SU, LeMoyne College, Purdue University, and the Indian Institute of Technology.
	Richard Fenner, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Economics E-mail: rfenner@utica.edu Phone: (315) 792-3112 Room 123, DePerno Hall More about Richard Fenner
Professor Fenner joined the Utica College faculty in 1989 after earning his M.B.A. from Cornell University and his Ph.D. in economics from Syracuse University. His research interests are in the areas of education finance and teaching of economics, and his most recent work includes a study for the U.S. Department of Education on the impact of state aid on local school districts and an article titled "Addressing Prerequisite Mathematics Needs: A Case Study in Introductory Economics," which was published in the International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology. Professor Fenner is the director of Utica College's Mohawk Valley Center for Economic Education.
	James B. Heian, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Accounting E-mail: jheian@utica.edu Phone: (315) 792-3372 Room 118, DePerno Hall More about James B. Heian
Professor Heian joined the Utica College faculty in 2003. He has a Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Utah and is a Certified Public Accountant. He has had numerous articles published in accounting journals. In addition to his academic career, Professor Heian was manager of the audit staff for Touche Ross & Co., in San Francisco and Honolulu, a position he held for 11 years.
	Sung Jun Jo, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Management E-mail: sujo.edu Phone: (315) 223-2470 Room 104, DePerno Hall More about Sung Jun Jo
Professor Jo received his Ph.D. in Human Resource Development and his M.A. in Human Resources & Industrial Relations from University of Minnesota. He has taught several online and classroom-based courses in HR at the University of Minnesota and at Korea Polytechnic University. He also has seven years of working experience as a business strategist in various industries of Korea. He is certified as Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and his areas of research interest include employee training, organizational learning, mentoring, social network analysis, and historical aspect of management.
	Zhaodan Huang, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Finance E-mail: zhuang@utica.edu Phone: (315) 792-3247 Room 118, DePerno Hall More about Zhaodan Huang
Professor Huang joined the Utica College faculty in 2004 after earning his Ph.D. in Economics from West Virginia University. He finished his undergraduate education from Renmin University of China in 1997, and received his MA in economics from the University of Saskatchewan in 2000. His research interests are in the areas of investments, asset pricing, emerging financial markets, and financial intermediation. He received the AAII Best Paper Award from the Southwestern Finance Association in 2004, and presented several of his works at the Financial Management Association (FMA) annual meetings in 2003, 2004, and 2005. He has been published in the Journal of Economics & Business and Global Economy Journal. His teaching interests include Corporate Finance, Financial Markets and Institutions, and Investments.
	Pamela Hurley, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Risk Management and Insurance E-mail: phurley@utica.edu Phone: (315) 223-2564 Room L002, Gannett Library More about Pamela Hurley
Pamela Hurley joined the Utica College faculty in 2006. Pamela's area of research and academic interests is Risk Management, insurance, financial planning, alternative investments and hedge funds. She holds a dual bachelor's degree in finance and risk management from the University of South Carolina Honors College, and earned both an M.B.A. and a Ph.D. in finance from Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute. Prior to her arrival at UC, Pamela was manager of quantitative anlysis and head of portfolio risk at MCP Inc. Her hometown is Glenville, NY.
	Stephen Peek, M.B.A. Associate Professor of Management E-mail: speek@utica.edu Phone: (315) 792-3329 Room 104, DePerno Hall More about Stephen Peek
Professor Peek joined the Utica College faculty in 1987. He received an M.B.A. from the University of North Dakota and has more than 20 years work experience and consulting in industry. Professor Peek's research interest is on effective methods for managing rapidly changing technology in organizations.
	Herbert Rau, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Marketing E-mail: hrau@utica.edu Phone: (315) 223-2571 Room L002, DePerno Library More about Herbert Rau
Herbert Rau joined the Utica College faculty in 2006. Herbert's area of research and academic interest is business, organizational theory, marketing, systems thinking. He and his wife, Lynne have two children and have moved here from Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Herbert holds a B.S. from SUNY Oneonta, an M.B.A. from Nasson College, and a Ph.D. from Union Insitute in Cincinnati. He enjoys sea kayaking, cross country skiing and gardening.
	Thomas Rossi, M.B.A. Associate Professor of Management E-mail: trossi@utica.edu Phone: (315) 792-3085 Room 257, White Hall More about Thomas Rossi
Professor Rossi earned his M.B.A. from Monmouth University. He joined the Utica College faculty in 1979, and also has more than 20 years of combined banking, human resources management consulting, teaching, and coaching experience. He is nationally accredited as a Professional in Human Resources and is an active member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).
	Tejashree Sayanak, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Economics E-mail: tesayanak@utica.edu Phone: (315) 223-2440 Room 113, DePerno Hall More about Tejashree Sayanak
Professor Sayanak received her Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University and her M.A. from East Carolina University. She finished her undergraduate education in India. Her area of research and academic interest is in International Trade and Development Economics. She enjoys reading, cooking and crafts.
	Huanglin Wang, M.A. Assistant Professor of Management E-mail: huwang@utica.edu Phone: (315) 223-2524 Room 112, DePerno Hall More about Huanglin Wang
Professor Wang completed her M.A. in Business Economics at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics in 1998 and a B.S. at Zhengzhou College of Aviation Industry Management. She is expected to recieve her Ph.D. in Business Administration from Ivey School of Business in Canada this year. Wang has many awards and honors, accompanied by much experience in her field.
	Charles J. Whalen, Ph.D. Professor of Economics Director of Business and Economics E-mail: cjwhalen@utica.edu Phone: (315) 792-3302 Room 113, DePerno Hall More about Charles Whalen
Professor Whalen, a native of the greater Boston area, has served as a professor at Cornell University in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and Wells College. A former Fulbright Senior Scholar and visiting professor at Zhongshan University in Guangzhou, China in 1998-1999, Whalen went on to sit on the Fulbright Scholar Review Committee for China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. He has also worked as associate economics editor for BusinessWeek, where he provided analysis and commentary on the U.S. economy. Professor Whalen has written extensively for both academic and non-academic audiences. His recent books include Political Economy for the 21st Century, New Directions in the Study of Work and Employment, and he is currently preparing Human Resource Economics and Public Policy. Whalen also serves as editor of Perspectives on Work, a journal published by the Labor and Employment Relations Association. In addition, he is a visiting fellow at Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Professor Whalen earned his Ph.D. in economics from The University of Texas at Austin, and holds an undergraduate degree from Cornell University.