May

Zheng “Phil” Xiang, associate professor of hospitality and tourism management, received one of the two Papers of the Year 2016 awards from Electronic Markets, a leading international academic journal that offers a forum for research on networked business. Xiang’s co-authored paper, “Smart tourism: foundations and developments,” was published in the 25 (3), 2015 issue.

Cancer drug company founder and CEO Brian Slingerland will give the keynote address at the Pamplin College of Business commencement ceremony on Friday, May 13, at 3:30 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum. Slingerland, an alumnus who received a bachelor’s degree in finance in 2000, co-founded Stemcentrx, a biotechnology company in San Francisco that is doing research to develop new types of cancer treatments. Stemcentrx, which has five cancer drugs in human clinical trials, is being acquired by drugmaker AbbVie Inc. in a $10.2 billion deal that is one of the 10 biggest biotechnology deals in history.

A May 2016 Pamplin College of Business Graduate, Calyn Witz, was recently awarded the prestigious NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women’s Enhancement Scholarship to help with the costs associated with pursuing graduate studies. Her undergraduate experience of serving as a student manager for the women’s lacrosse team, her extensive experience in other parts of the VT Athletic Department, and her work with the Management Department’s Undergraduate Programs Committee were important factors in her selection for the NCAA Women’s Enhancement Scholarship. Ms. Witz is currently pursuing a Master’s in Education in Adult and Higher Education with an emphasis in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration.