Recognizing Achievements
Recognizing the latest accomplishments of our students, alumni, and faculty.
STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
We are proud to recognize students who have shown a commitment to academic excellence,
earning a semester grade point average of 3.5 or greater, with placement on the Dean’s
List.
The Dean's Circle Award is presented to graduating students who exemplify professionalism and academic excellence. This award was developed after the Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award was discontinued. In 2017, the award requirements were broadened to include one graduating student from each major.
Student marshals from each college leads the graduates into their Commencement ceremony.
These students, selected for academic excellence in their discipline, carry what are
known as gonfalons. Banners, such as these, have been used since medieval times in
graduation ceremonies to symbolize the different academic areas within the university.
FACULTY RECOGNITION
Susan Cockrell, Ph.D., Professor of Accounting, Elif Demiral Saglam, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Economics, awarded 2021 AJ Taylor Distinguished Professorship Award. Dr. Cockrell received the award
for teaching excellence and Dr. Demiral Saglam for excellence in research.
Thayer Jennifer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Accounting, received Distinguished Faculty Award for Community
Service by the Clarksville Chamber of Commerce.The award is based on service to the
community with emphasis placed on contributions that have enhanced or will enhance
the quality of life in the Clarksville/Montgomery County area.
Pilsik Choi, Ph.D., assistant professor of Marketing
, Weisstein, Fei L., & Peter Andersen's paper, “The Role of External Reference Price in Pay-What-You-Want Pricing: An Empirical
Investigation across Product Types,” was accepted by the Journal of Retailing and
Consumer Services, an “A-ranked” peer-reviewed journal.
, Weisstein, Fei L., & Peter Andersen's paper, “The Role of External Reference Price in Pay-What-You-Want Pricing: An Empirical
Investigation across Product Types,” was accepted by the Journal of Retailing and
Consumer Services, an “A-ranked” peer-reviewed journal.
Michael Phillips, Ph.D., professor of Finance, Ph.D., John Volker, Ph.D., professor of Management, and Susan Cockrell, Ph.D., professor of Accounting, recently had a paper, “A Student-Managed Investment Fund Course Design Structure,
Managerial Finance," accepted for publication in the B-ranked peer-reviewed journal,
Managerial Finance.
Victoria McCarthy, Ph.D., professor of Management, and Dong Nyonna, Ph.D., professor of Finance, published a paper, “Developing a Culture of Corporate Social
Responsibility: A Survey of Banking and Financial Institutions," in the Journal of
Academy of Business and Economics.
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS
Beth Bedwell Jackson ('86) was recently promoted to Vice President and Corporate Controller at Southwestern
Family of Companies in Nashville, Tennessee. Jackson is a graduate from the accounting
program and joined Southwestern Family of Companies in 1996. During her 22-year career
with the company, she has risen through progressive promotions from senior accountant
to accounting manager and assistant controller. Read more
Larry W. Carroll (‘76) was recently named among Forbes’ Top Wealth Advisors for the third year in a row.
Carroll, a 1976 APSU graduate of the accounting program, is president and CEO of the
North Carolina-based Carroll Financial Associates, and he is considered one of the
top financial planners in the nation. In 2012, the Tennessee Board of Regents honored
him with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Philanthropy for his generous support
and outstanding volunteer efforts on behalf of his alma mater. In 2017, he became
an inaugural member of the APSU Board of Trustees.
George Ortega (’19) was recently acceptance to the University of Southern California’s Master of Business
for Veterans (MBV) program through the Marshall School of Business. Ortega is a graduate
from the management program. 
Ginna Holleman ('95) was recently named Vice President of Marketing for Fortera Credit Union in Clarksville, Tennessee. Holleman
is stepping down as Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director of United Way, a position
she has held since 2012. Ginna is a graduate from the marketing program.