The Belk College of Business recently presented its annual faculty awards for teaching, research and service and recognized the staff member of the year.
Dr. Moutaz Khouja, professor of operations management, received the Distinguished Scholarship Award, which is presented to a faculty member who has developed a distinguished research record and is a recognized authority in a field of study.
Dr. Khouja has an exceptional research record, with output that is unique in quality and quantity. He has published 72 journal articles, of which 20 are sole-authored. He has published in some of the top journals in his discipline, as well as in publications that span fields.
Dr. Carol Stivender, lecturer in economics, received the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award. This award is based on teaching effectiveness as demonstrated by courses taught, curriculum development, successful use of teaching innovations, and student evaluations.
Dr. Stivender joined the Belk College in 2001. Since then, she has taught five different courses, as well as sections for the Business Honors Program. During this time, her student evaluations have consistently exceeded Department and College averages, even in classes of more than 300 students. She is noted as a leader in the effective adoption of technology in the classroom. From clickers to Moodle to podcasts, she has embraced new technology as a way to better serve students. Additionally, she has mentored and advised dozens of students, both formally and informally.
Dr. Steven Clark, associate professor of finance, received the Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award. This award is based on teaching effectiveness as demonstrated by courses taught, curriculum development, successful use of teaching innovations, and student evaluations.
Dr. Clark teaches some of the most rigorous courses in the Belk College and is lauded for his accessibility and his success in teaching complex material in a way that helps students retain the knowledge and perform successfully on their comprehensive examinations. In addition to his responsibilities in the classroom, he is an advisor and a mentor to many graduate students. In addition, he serves as director of the M.S. in Mathematical Finance program and is a past advisor to the Student Managed Investment Fund.
Dr. Charles Bodkin, associate professor of marketing, received the Outstanding Service Award, which recognizes the contributions of faculty members who distinguished themselves through service to the university, college or community.
Dr. Bodkin has served on various committees at the college and university for many years. During these appointments, he has always taken his responsibilities seriously, going above and beyond what is expected. This past year, he was recognized for his leadership and service by being elected president of the UNC Charlotte Faculty Council. In this role, he has performed with his trademark efficiency, effectiveness and calm demeanor.
Dr. Dmitry Shapiro, assistant professor of economics, received the Best Paper Award, which recognizes a published refereed journal article that makes an outstanding contribution to the academic literature.
Dr. Shapiro's paper, “Profitability of the Name-Your-Own-Price Channel in the Case of Risk-Averse Buyers,” was published in Marketing Sciences, a top journal focusing on both empirical and theoretical research in marketing.
Dr. Shapiro joined the Belk College faculty in 2006 after earning his Ph.D. at Yale. His research interests are in applied microeconomic theory, behavioral economics and finance, and experimental economics. He spent the fall 2010 semester at the Wharton School of Business as a visiting scholar.
Lee Vang, program manager for graduate admissions, was named the Belk College Staff Member of the Year. This award honors a staff member who exhibits exceptional job performance, a commitment to quality, a positive attitude, a focus on teamwork and a dedication to serve the students, faculty, staff and external constituencies of the Belk College.
Lee was described in a nomination as “the consummate professional.” His nominators noted his composure, teamwork and problem-solving initiative. He was also commended for his attention to detail, precision and adaptability. Lee is a proud member of the team that worked together to build and strengthen the M.B.A. program, resulting in the program’s first national ranking.