The Dean’s Newsletter - May 2025

Thursday, May 15; 12:00pm and 4:00pm

Check out more details at https://pamplin.vt.edu/undergraduate-programs/commencement/2025-spring.html

Shaping the Workforce: Pamplin Graduate Programs Focus on the Future", published in the April issue of Virginia Tech Magazine, profiles Scott Hoge '85, M.I.T. '24, who is the director, consulting expert, and senior capture manager at CGI Federal.  Scott's role is to lead initiatives that focus on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and interpreting data-driven decisions across several federal agencies. Also in the article is a profile of our Master's in Information Technology program celebrating 25 years of excellence. Our story can be found on page 42 by linking to the magazine here

Open enrollment for health insurance and flexible spending accounts will be held May 16-30.

Required IT Training for all Pamplin employees: All employees should complete Annual Renewal – IT Security Awareness Training in PageUp by July 14. This should be assigned to your PageUp Development Plan.

New employees should complete the IT Security Awareness Training for New Employees within 30 days of beginning employment

The Office of Research and Innovation, in partnership with the Office of Faculty Affairs, will host a webinar on Friday, May 9 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. to address federal funding questions and concerns that have been shared, and to provide information regarding resources for faculty, staff, and students.

During the webinar, Virginia Tech leaders will review the current landscape of federal funding and its impact on our research enterprise, discuss potential policy and priority changes, and highlight university plans for maintaining a vibrant, impactful research and innovation ecosystem.

The university community and its researchers are encouraged to attend this important session and to submit questions prior to the webinar.

For more information and to receive the Zoom link, read this campus notice. For ongoing updates and additional information about research, visit Research and Innovation’s Federal Research Updates webpage.

A pay structure meant to drive corporate success may be doing the opposite. A new study finds that one of the most common forms of CEO compensation – value-based equity grants – can actually weaken executive motivation and stifle innovation by discouraging long-term investments. Read more

Would stricter insider trading regulations make financial markets fairer? China’s 2017 sell-by-plan mandate was designed to do just that by requiring corporate executives to predisclose stock sales – a move aimed at preventing them from cashing out before bad news breaks. Read more

Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Course

The BIT Department financially supported 14 BIT students who recently completed and passed the 3-day Six Sigma Green Belt Certification course. This course was part of a collaborative effort between the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE), the Pamplin College of Management, the Business Information Technology (BIT) Departments, and the Industrial and Systems Engineering department in the College of Engineering.

In total, alongside 17 Management students, these 14 BIT students contributed to the 31 Pamplin College of Business students who are now certified Six Sigma Green Belts!

The Six Sigma Green Belt is part of the broader Six Sigma Certification program. Six Sigma is a set of widely adopted quality management techniques and tools that focus on analyzing processes and outcomes to reduce waste and decrease defects within an organization.

Six Sigma certifications are awarded across six colored belt levels: White, Yellow, Green, Black, Master Black Belt, and Champion. Each level is earned through practical experience, course-based training, and exams. The Green Belt certification is awarded to individuals who learn the principles of Six Sigma and apply them under the guidance of a Black Belt in real-world projects. To earn the Green Belt certification, candidates must pass an exam demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of the Six Sigma methodology.

Laura Clark Receives William E. Wine Award

The Business Information Technology (BIT) Department proudly celebrates Laura Clark, professor in the BIT Department, as a recipient of the William E. Wine Award. Each year, the award recognizes three outstanding Virginia Tech faculty members. Clark was selected by Pamplin College of Business as one of this year’s nominees.

As part of the award, recipients receive a $2,000 prize and are inducted into Virginia Tech’s Academy of Teaching Excellence.

Virginia Tech’s Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) Department hosted Ignite Event Excellence: The EEMG Innovation Showcase in Wallace Hall. The event spotlighted student work from the Catering, Event Management, Hospitality Sales, and Event Capstone courses, featuring applied learning projects and experiential educational opportunities developed both in and outside of the classroom throughout the Fall and Spring semesters. Read more.

Pamplin College of Business Hosts Delegation from Xidian University

Pamplin College of Business welcomed a distinguished delegation from Xidian University (XDU) in China at the beginning of April. This visit provided an excellent opportunity for faculty and staff to engage with key representatives from XDU, explore future collaborations, and discuss preparations for the arrival of XDU students this fall. Read More

Cooking Class with HTM’s Chef David Yanisko

This past month the Global Mentor Program collaborated with the Dean’s Advisory Board of Students (DABS) and the Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) Department to bring our students an exciting opportunity to learn how to cook with HTM’s Chef David Yanisko! Read more

ACIS Research Publication: Dr. Jing Huang and Dr. Sarah Stein – Contemporary Accounting Research

The Accounting and Information Systems department would like to highlight a recent research publication by Dr. Jing Huang and Dr. Sarah Stein. Along with coauthors Dr. Jessica Filosa (University of Alabama and a Virginia Tech PhD Graduate) and Dr. Gillian Lei (University of North Carolina-Greensboro and a Virginia Tech PhD Graduate), Huang and Stein have published a new study in Contemporary Accounting Research titled “Does Tax Enforcement Inform Auditors’ Risk Assessment? Evidence from Key Audit Matters.”

Key Findings: How Tax Authorities Shape Audit Risk Perceptions

International auditing standards encourage auditors to consider external regulatory oversight—including tax enforcement—during their risk assessment process. This study investigates whether stronger tax enforcement influences auditors’ perceptions of misstatement risk, as reflected in their disclosures of Key Audit Matters (KAMs) in the audit report. The research team finds:

• Auditors report fewer KAMs in countries with stronger tax enforcement, suggesting they perceive lower misstatement risk when tax authorities actively monitor corporate behavior.

• This effect is stronger in high book-tax conformity countries, where financial and tax reporting rules are closely aligned, allowing auditors to more readily rely on tax authorities’ oversight.

• Auditors with greater exposure to complex tax issues are more likely to incorporate tax enforcement into their risk assessments.

Real-World Impact

Tax authorities play a critical but understudied role in financial reporting ecosystems. By constraining managerial opportunism, their enforcement efforts create spillover effects that shape auditors’ professional judgments and benefit other stakeholders. This study offers new insights for:

• Investors: Stronger tax enforcement could mean higher quality financial reports.

• Businesses: Where tax oversight is weak, auditors may demand more proof—potentially raising audit costs.

• Policymakers: Supporting tax authorities does not just boost government revenue; it might improve financial transparency too.

The full academic study can be accessed here: http://doi.org/10.1111/1911-3846.13042

Celebrating 45 Years of Service: Phyllis Neece’s Enduring Impact on ACIS

This year, the Virginia Tech Department of Accounting and Information Systems proudly celebrates Phyllis Neece, Lead Administrative Manager, for her remarkable 45 years of service to the university.

Phyllis’s journey began in high school when she worked part-time for the Associate Dean in the Dean’s Office of Arts and Sciences. After graduation, she transitioned into a full-time role there before joining ACIS when her original position’s grant funding ended. Since then, Phyllis has become a cornerstone of the department as Lead Administrative Manager.

Throughout her career, Phyllis has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the department's success and well-being. Among her proudest accomplishments are fundraising efforts and the meaningful relationships she has built with alumni, faculty, staff, and department heads—connections that have strengthened both internal collaboration and alumni engagement. She takes great pride in having contributed to these efforts, knowing they’ve helped foster lasting engagement with alumni.

Phyllis has witnessed—and helped navigate—decades of transformation at Virginia Tech. From evolving leadership to the digitization of nearly every administrative process, she has embraced change with flexibility and poise. “It’s been incredible to see how far we’ve come,” she reflects. Through it all, she has remained a steady, reliable presence committed to supporting students, colleagues, and the department’s broader goals.

When asked what has kept her motivated for over four decades, Phyllis speaks with heartfelt sincerity: “I truly enjoy the work I do. Supporting students, helping them feel welcome, and being part of their journey has given me a real sense of purpose.”

One particularly memorable moment for her came when an alumnus returned to campus with his son, soon to begin his own journey at Virginia Tech, and asked Phyllis to look out for him. “That simple request really stuck with me,” she recalls. “It reminded me that the relationships we build here can last a lifetime.”

As she reflects on her legacy, Phyllis keeps her perspective grounded and heartfelt:
  “I hope my legacy at Virginia Tech is simply that I’ve helped someone along the way. Whether it was a student navigating a new environment, a faculty member needing support, or a colleague facing a challenge, I’ve always tried to be someone people could count on. If my time here made things a little easier or more welcoming for someone else, then I feel I’ve done something worthwhile.”

After 45 years of devoted service, it’s safe to say Phyllis Neece has done far more than that—she’s left an indelible mark on the department, the college, and the countless lives she’s touched.

Mentoring In Action: MAB and Judge Panels in Strategic Marketing  

The Marketing Advisory Board joined the Marketing Capstone Course on April 24th, providing our graduating seniors invaluable insights into navigating early career paths in marketing and business. Panelists, Amy Cropper, Seth Lytton, and PearAivey Street, together with Moderator Donna Wertalik, shared honest experiences about the non-linear nature of their journeys, emphasizing the importance of staying curious, coachable, and open to change. They also highlighted the value of taking initiatives, embracing discomfort as growth opportunities, and building authentic connections. Students learned that failure and pivoting are both expected and valuable in shaping a fulfilling career. The students in Strategic Marketing also presented their final projects to a panel of judges, consisting of Don Gresh, Marc Kaplan, Rodney Kimbangu, Steve Kleiber, Michelle Seref, Cierra Simmons, and Phil Xiang, on April 29th and May 1st, receiving constructive, insightful feedback on their final projects and more broadly advice on business communication, personal branding, and strategic storytelling. 

Register NOW: The Unconference Tackles Tech and Trust 

The Unconference (VT Co-chairs: Broderick Turner and Shane Wang) is happening June 17th and 18th at the Innovation Campus. The Unconference addresses some of the urgent and complex challenges faced by consumers and the organizations that serve them. Attendees will discuss how businesses can serve as better stewards of technological progress, ensuring their products, services, and practices contribute positively to consumers and society. The Unconference features presentations from more than 30 scholars across a variety of disciplines including Marketing, Management, Computer Science, and Economics. There is also a special mixed methods workshop.  

Register NOW: https://myscp.org/events/boutique/alexandria2025/  

From Theory to Practice: Undergraduate Research that Matters 

The Marketing Department offers a unique 3-credit course—MKTG 4994: Undergraduate Research—each semester to give marketing majors hands-on research experience. Following a competitive selection process, students are paired with faculty mentors to explore real-world marketing and consumer issues. Working one-on-one with faculty, students engage in all phases of the research process, from hypothesis generation to data analysis. Weekly seminars curated by Professor Shreyans Goenka provide essential research tools and theories, complementing their practical work. The semester ends with a formal research presentation, encouraging synthesis and reflection. This program fosters curiosity, offers an immersive introduction to research, and prepares students for graduate study or research-based industry roles. 

Where Marketing Meets Security: Dr. Shilpa Rao’s Interdisciplinary Research 

Dr. Shilpa V. Rao was recently awarded the Security, Privacy, and Trust Grant from the Pamplin College of Business for her interdisciplinary cybersecurity research. Her work investigates the marketing and organizational determinants of security vulnerabilities. she Sheis collaboratingcollaborates with faculty in the Department of Business Information Technology to extend this line of inquiry. Her ongoing research contributes to a deeper understanding of how firms navigate the evolving challenges of technology adoption and risk management. She focuses specifically on inter-firm relationships, IPOs, and digital risk management. She integrates these emerging insights into her teaching in AI and analytics courses. Read more here.