Tell us about your career at SKEMA and how you got here.
My story began on one hot summer afternoon in Fort Benning, Georgia where I injured my hip jumping from an airplane – a blessing in disguise. The injury triggered my exit from the U.S. Army in 2006 after honourably serving five years post-graduation from the United States Military Academy (West Point) in 2001. Following the military, I earned my MBA at Emory University in 2009 in transitioning to the private sector as an investment banker in NYC.
In late 2011, after spending nearly three years on Wall Street, I suddenly had the urge to change course and ultimately teach, thus my decision to start my PhD in Industrial Engineering in 2012. SKEMA had newly formed in 2011 on Centennial Campus and luckily for me, I had the opportunity to teach as an adjunct professor in fall 2014 en route to the defence of my doctorate in spring 2017 and a full-time faculty position with SKEMA US. Since then I have had the opportunity to lead the MSc Financial Markets & Investments programme and teach a variety of courses surrounding market, corporate and international finance.
Why should a student choose to study on SKEMA’s Raleigh campus?
The Raleigh campus offers students an extension of the SKEMA global experience in the United States. Both undergraduates and graduates have the chance to immerse themselves in American culture while receiving top-tier, advanced business education.
Our partnership with N.C. State University provides students the best resources for both social and academic pursuits, while our location in the Research Triangle Park is ideal for student engagement in a laboratory of small to large enterprises focused on innovation and internationalisation.
What upcoming projects are in the pipeline?
We are soon to kick off the Marketing Analytics track under our International Business MSc specialisation this spring 2019, along with the CFA II track.
Our largest upcoming endeavour will be the launch of the global BBA full programme in fall 2019. Otherwise we are continuing talks with local universities on possible dual degrees and course exchanges-- exciting new extensions of SKEMA’s DNA for the future!