Faculty Fellows

Dr. Stephanie Bilderback recently earned her Ph.D. in Management and is currently a faculty member at Austin Peay State University, where she teaches a variety of business courses. Dr. Bilderback has contributed significantly to the academic field through multiple publications exploring innovative training methodologies, workforce development strategies, and the impact of digital tools on learning outcomes. Her work provides valuable insights into how organizations can implement effective, scalable, and long-lasting training programs. Dr. Bilderback brings extensive real-world experience as both a business consultant and a small business owner. Her expertise in business operations, leadership development, and organizational strategy allows her to bridge the gap between theory and practice, equipping students and professionals with the knowledge needed to thrive in today’s dynamic business environment.

Eren Cifci, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Finance at Austin Peay State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Alabama in 2022, with research focusing on pivotal topics in finance and real estate, blending theoretical depth with practical relevance. Dr. Cifci has produced multiple high-impact publications in leading real estate journals, earning several prestigious awards and attracting significant attention from prominent national and international media outlets. His work has been featured on platforms such as Realtor.com, Fox Business, Yahoo Finance, Daily Mail, Fortune Magazine, USA Today, New York Post, and Futurity.org, underscoring its broad implications for both industry professionals and the academic community.

Melynda Conner, Ph.D. is the Instructor of Business Communication. Having taught corporate communication courses for nearly 20 years, she has delivered more than 200 presentations and workshops to organizations and businesses supporting effective internal communication and external company relations. Dr. Conner holds an M.A. in Communication (2006) and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration (2019). Her research focuses on the employee experience of organizational communication during times of system-wide change, as well as on the student and faculty experience of classroom communication. As an experienced small business owner and organizational trainer, Dr. Conner enjoys working with local professionals to identify and mitigate their employee relations and customer service challenges.

Terry Stringer Damron is an Associate Professor of Marketing at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, USA. Damron is published in the areas of preventive health care marketing, social media marketing, consumer behavior, supply chain management, and marketing education. A champion of undergraduate research and experiential learning, she was the 2020 recipient of the AJ Taylor Distinguished Professorship Award for Excellence in Teaching. Damron holds an M.A. in Communication Arts (2007), an Ed.D. in Leadership and Professional Practice (2011), and an M.B.A. in Marketing (2022).

Dr. Matt Hampton is an Associate Professor of Economics at Austin Peay State University. Prior to joining APSU, Dr. Hampton was an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Northern Iowa. Dr. Hampton earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Alabama and his Bachelor's in Economics from Middle Tennessee State University. In 2022, Dr. Hampton was the recipient of the APSU College of Business A.J. Taylor Distinguished Professorship Award for Excellence in Research. Dr. Hampton enjoys spending time with his wife, Tara, and two-year-old son Mac.

Dr. Stephanie Bilderback recently earned her Ph.D. in Management and is currently a faculty member at Austin Peay State University, where she teaches a variety of business courses. Dr. Bilderback has contributed significantly to the academic field through multiple publications exploring innovative training methodologies, workforce development strategies, and the impact of digital tools on learning outcomes. Her work provides valuable insights into how organizations can implement effective, scalable, and long-lasting training programs. Dr. Bilderback brings extensive real-world experience as both a business consultant and a small business owner. Her expertise in business operations, leadership development, and organizational strategy allows her to bridge the gap between theory and practice, equipping students and professionals with the knowledge needed to thrive in today’s dynamic business environment.

Eren Cifci, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Finance at Austin Peay State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Alabama in 2022, with research focusing on pivotal topics in finance and real estate, blending theoretical depth with practical relevance. Dr. Cifci has produced multiple high-impact publications in leading real estate journals, earning several prestigious awards and attracting significant attention from prominent national and international media outlets. His work has been featured on platforms such as Realtor.com, Fox Business, Yahoo Finance, Daily Mail, Fortune Magazine, USA Today, New York Post, and Futurity.org, underscoring its broad implications for both industry professionals and the academic community.

Dr. Towhid Iqram Mahmood is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Austin Peay State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural and Applied Economics from Texas Tech University in 2024. His research interests span applied microeconomics, economic development, political economy, and labor economics. Dr. Mahmood’s work has been published in Kyklos, the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Independent Review, and Scientific Reports. He has previously held research positions at the Free Market Institute, the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), and the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD). His current projects explore the economic impacts of institutional change, the dynamics of labor markets in developing countries, and the role of regulation and governance in shaping development outcomes.

Originally from Bangladesh, Dr. Mahmood holds an M.A. in Applied Economics from Western Kentucky University and a B.S.S. in Economics from the University of Dhaka.

Dr. Amye Melton is an Associate Professor of Management and the MBA Coordinator for the College of Business. With over 20 years of executive-level experience in operations and marketing, she brings industry knowledge to her teaching and research. Dr. Melton's research focuses on corporate citizenship, lowering barriers to entry, strategic intent, and location strategy. She has delivered presentations to organizations such as the Better Business Bureau, where she spoke on strategic planning, and The Honor Foundation, where she addressed organizational research in military-to-civilian transitions.

Asit Bandyopadhayay, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Business Analytics and MIS. His research interests include blockchain applications in ensuring data privacy; blockchain applications in supply chain management; information literacy and cybersecurity challenges among Gen Z; cybersecurity breaches and privacy policy, Generative AI, big data analysis, and sustainable supply chain management. His work has been published in academic journals such as International Journal of Social and Humanistic Computing, International Journal of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management Journal. He loves to work with local businesses to solve their data, supply chain, information systems and cybersecurity related problems.

Terry Stringer Damron is an Associate Professor of Marketing at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, USA. Damron is published in the areas of preventive health care marketing, social media marketing, consumer behavior, supply chain management, and marketing education. A champion of undergraduate research and experiential learning, she was the 2020 recipient of the AJ Taylor Distinguished Professorship Award for Excellence in Teaching. Damron holds an M.A. in Communication Arts (2007), an Ed.D. in Leadership and Professional Practice (2011), and an M.B.A. in Marketing (2022).

Dr. Matthew Farrell serves as an Assistant Professor of Strategic Management at Austin Peay State University. Dr. Farrell's academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Strategic Management from Old Dominion University, a Master's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, and Bachelor's degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University.

An active participant in the academic community, he is a member of the Academy of Management, Southern Management Association, and serves as Assistant Director of the Center for Applied Business Research.

Elizabeth Rankin is an Instructor of Business Law at Austin Peay State University. She has been a practicing attorney in Clarksville, TN, for over thirty years. Dr. Rankin has served as a former Trust Officer for First Federal Savings Bank of Clarksville, a General Sessions Judge for Montgomery County, and an attorney in the Law Offices of Cunningham, Mitchell, and Rocconi. She has taught business law classes at APSU since 1995.

Dr. Tim Self serves as an Associate Professor of Hospitality Management at Austin Peay State University. Dr. Self has a Ph.D. in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University, a master's degree from the University of Alabama, and a bachelor's degree from California State University, Chico. He also has extensive industry experience in recruitment in Atlanta, GA, collaborating with Fortune 500 companies, and gained hands-on experience in the hospitality sector. Dr. Self specializes in research focused on employee attraction and retention within the hospitality industry.