Business Administration Faculty

Dr. Musa Ayar is a Professor of Business and Economics in the School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Dr. Ayar received his M.S and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. The University of Wisconsin System granted Dr. Ayar tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2015 and Full Professor in 2020.

Dr. Ayar believes that high-quality teaching is critical for student success, which must be at the center of everything we do. Dr. Ayar has broad experience in designing and teaching in various course delivery formats, including flex, online, blended, and accelerated blended. Due to Dr. Ayar’s outstanding commitment to teaching, he was the recipient of the Faculty of the Year Award, nominated by the Student Government Association in 2019.

Dr. Ayar regularly presents his work at international, national, and regional academic conferences. Dr. Ayar’s primary area of expertise is industrial organization. He is a board member at the Wisconsin Economics Association. Dr. Ayar has dedicated much of his time to student research and honors projects, making him the eventual recipient of the Arthur M. Kaplan Award in 2018 for his exceptional dedication to student research. Dr. Ayar is a strong advocate for community engagement, and he is currently serving as a commissioner of the Baraboo Economic Development Commission.

Dr. Ayar has considerable leadership experience in higher education. From 2016 to 2019, he served as the Chair of the Business and Economics Department (with 15 faculty and 31 lecturers) for 13 branch campuses (around 10,000 students) of the University of the Wisconsin System. As the department chair, Dr. Ayar worked with the department members and committees, other department chairs, and the provost to achieve the department’s goals. He also served as the Chair of Chairs from 2017 to 2019 for the branch campuses of the University of the Wisconsin System. His leading role as the Chair of Chairs was to effectively work with and manage communication among the chairs while working with and serving as a link between the chairs and the provost. From 2019 to July 2021, Dr. Ayar served as the Academic Director of Master of Science in Healthcare Administration at the UW-Platteville.

Dr. Ayar is married, and he has four kids (10-year-old, 7-year-old, and 3-year-old twins). He enjoys watching sports, and he loves playing soccer and table tennis.  Dr. Ayar is currently on sabbatical (a well-deserved one :)) at Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

Dr. Bahmani is Professor of Finance at the University of Wisconsin at Parkside. She received her B.A. in Economics and Political Science from UW-Madison in 2003, her M.A. in Economics in 2004 from UW-Milwaukee and her Ph.D. in Economics in 2007. She has taught previously at the business schools of UW-Milwaukee, UW-Whitewater, and Marquette University. She has taught courses on Corporate Finance, Investments, Money and Banking, International Financial Management and Financial Institutions and Markets. Professor Bahmani has published over 50 articles on money market dynamics in journals such as Empirical Economics, Journal of Economics and Finance, Journal of Developing Areas, Economics Bulletin, and Applied Economics. Additional information can be found at  https://www.uwp.edu/learn/instructorprofiles/facultystaffdetail.cfm?uid=bahmani

Suresh Chalasani is a professor in the Business department at UW-Parkside. Prior to joining UW-Parkside, he worked as an assistant professor at UW-Madison. He also served as a consultant for several companies in the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor. Dr. Chalasani’s educational background includes a PhD from the University of Southern California. Dr. Chalasani’s current research and teaching interests include management information systems, technologies for business supply chains, transforming business processes using technologies, sustainable management, healthcare management, and healthcare technologies. He is a senior member of IEEE and a member of the Association for Information Systems (AIS). He has received numerous research and teaching grants from the National Science Foundation, University of Wisconsin System, and WiSys Technology Foundation. Dr. Chalasani has published an extensive number of research articles in journals such as IEEE Transactions on Computers, IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems, IEEE Transactions on Communications, and Information Systems Frontiers. He has also presented papers at a number of IEEE- and AIS-sponsored academic conferences. He is on the editorial board of the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, where he co-edited a special issue on “Nanotechnology for Medical and Surgical Applications.” He also served as a guest editor for the IEEE System’s journal’s special issue on “RFID Technology: Opportunities and Challenges.” Additionally, Prof. Chalasani serves on the international program committees for several conferences. Additional information can be found at https://www.uwp.edu/learn/instructorprofiles/facultystaffdetail.cfm?uid=chalasan

Dr. Parag Dhumal is an Professor and Chair in the Department of Business at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside, USA. Prior to joining UW-Parkside, he has worked at Angelo State University (TX, USA) and Winona State University (MN, USA). He has also provided consulting services to businesses. Dr. Dhumal received Ph.D. in Manufacturing Management & MS in Industrial Engineering from The University of Toledo, USA. He is CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) and CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) certified from APICS.  He is an active researcher with his interests include Inventory Management, Healthcare Management, learning technologies and styles, Structural Equation Modeling, and Simulation. He has published papers and case studies in many reputed journals such as, but not limited to, Decision Science Journal of Innovative Education, Journal of Computer Information Systems, Health & Technology, International Journal of Inventory Management and Journal of Critical Incidences.  He has conducted workshops in Structural Equation Modeling for faculties and doctoral students. He has received many awards for his research papers at International level conferences worldwide. Dr. Dhumal has taught many courses at graduate (MBA) and undergraduate level. These courses include, but not limited to, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Business Statistics, Quantitative Methods, Forecasting, Project Management, and Simulation. He has taken extensive training to develop online courses and is recipient of grants to develop online Business Statistics and Supply Chain Management courses.  He has participated in the IPad project to explore innovative ways of using mobile computing technology in classroom. Additional information can be found at  https://www.uwp.edu/learn/instructorprofiles/facultystaffdetail.cfm?uid=dhumal

Carl Gahala is an assistant professor of business at UW-Washington County. He completed a B.A. in Accounting from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in 2006 and an M.S. in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University in 2007. Carl is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and worked in public accounting prior to entering academia. Courses he has taught include: Introductory Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Personal Finance, and Introduction to Business. Additional information can be found at http://washington.uwc.edu/bio/carl-gahala

Sheronda Glass received her master’s degree in Human Resources from Cardinal Stritch University and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Organizational Management and Human Resources from Capella University. She has taught Human Resource Management and coursework in project management for UW-Parkside. She has over 20 years of human resource experience from a variety of industries, including healthcare, consumer products/manufacturing, and education. She has expertise in the areas of performance management, labor relations, and diversity management. She has also worked as a consultant for over six years, consulting in both for profit and non-profit organizations. Ms. Glass achieved the Professional in Human Resources certification awarded from the Society for Human Resources Management and the HR Certification Institute.

Jill Halverson is associate professor of accounting at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Fox Cities Campus, where she teaches a wide variety of courses, including Essentials of Financial Accounting, Essentials of Managerial Accounting, Business Communication, and Introduction to Business.  In addition to face-to-face courses, Professor Halverson has taught accelerated hybrid and online courses as well.  Prior to joining academia, she spent several years in management, marketing, marketing research, and managerial accounting for non-profit, financial services, and manufacturing companies.  She holds a Master of Business Administration from UW Oshkosh and a Graduate Certificate in Corporate Communication from Concordia University Wisconsin.  A Certified Management Accountant, she is also Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis and in the Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting.  She holds memberships in the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), the North American Management Society, and the North American Accounting Society.  She has also held various board positions for Women in Management, Fox Cities Chapter, is currently a trustee for the Elisha D. Smith Menasha Public Library, and is currently on the board of directors for her local IMA chapter and was named 2017-2018 Outstanding Member for that organization.  She has been an active volunteer for Junior Achievement for many years and is also an active volunteer for the Neenah Animal Shelter.  A 2015 recipient of the Kaplan Award, she was also the 2014-2015 Wisconsin Teaching Fellow and has completed several studies in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

Dr. Peter Knight is Professor and the Academic Director of the UW Flexible Option B.S. in Business Administration, and the Project Management Certificate programs at UW-Parkside. He is a marketing generalist with broad corporate and SME experience and wide ranging interests in the field of Marketing. Knight has proven curriculum development skills in emerging areas, including Digital Marketing, Multi Cultural and Global Marketing,  Sports and Event Marketing, Marketing in the Hi-Technology Sector, Sales, Flexible Learning Methods, Community-Based, Competency-Based and Online Learning and extensive experience with simulation learning including Stukent MIMIC, CAPSIM,Country Manager, Momentium, New Shoes and Marketplace.

Dr. Knight has authored and co-authored nearly 50 peer reviewed journal and conference publications, including those in prestigious journals such as the Journal of Marketing Education, the Journal of Electronic Commerce in Organizations, Organizations and Markets in Emerging Economies, Leisure Studies(UK) , Higher Education Policy, the International Journal of Sports Marketing and Management and the Journal of Teaching in International Business, as well as Best Conference Paper at the Fall 2013 Marketing Management Association Conference at the Drake Hotel in Chicago and being the only North American Presenter at global conferences in Seoul and Dubai. Since 2009, under Dr. Knight’s leadership, UW-Parkside teams have garnered 30 individual and team awards in National Sales Competitions in a field that has virtually doubled in terms of participation during that period. Dr. Knight played a key role in guiding the UW-Parkside student team that won the National Title at the 2013 Team Selling Championship at Indiana University. Additional information can be found at https://www.uwp.edu/learn/instructorprofiles/facultystaffdetail.cfm?uid=knightp

Terry McGovern earned two doctorates, his Doctorate of Business Administration from the University of South Florida’s Muma School of Business and a Doctorate of Management from the University of Phoenix’s School of Advanced Studies. He also holds an M.H.S. from Providence University, an M.S. in Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a B.A. from the University of Iowa. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Management and Business at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Dr. McGovern’s areas of expertise include leadership, strategy, organizational behavior, and professional ethics. He is interested in case research and was recently awarded by the North American Case Research Association’s at its annual conference in October of 2017 for a case study he authored and was named a Lawrence Fellow for 2019 (8% selection rate out of 130+ applicants). Dr. McGovern also has consulted in the areas of strategic planning, leadership development, employee feedback systems, family business succession planning, and multi-generational workplaces. He is currently investigating the utility of academic digital badges and completing a case study for publication concerning equity growth strategy. Dr. McGovern has authored numerous articles, presented in a wide range of settings including academic and industry conferences. His doctoral dissertations involved field experiment using academic digital badges and he examined executive development in the United States Air Force. He has taught a wide range of courses including Operations Management, Professional Ethics, Strategic Planning, Organizational Behavior, Global Business, and Leadership development courses at the graduate and undergraduate level, in various delivery formats, including face-to-face, blended, and online. Dr. McGovern served for 20 years as a U.S. Air Force officer in the areas of nuclear missile operations, satellite operations, and staff positions including speech writer, faculty member, and director of an enterprise-level research cell while stationed in the Pentagon. Since 2010, he has conducted research, written articles and a book chapter concerning the multi-generational workplaces and managing the conflict that arises when different generations with different value systems are working together. 

Sunita Mehrotra has completed 21 additional credits in Fall 2016 from Marquette University and is currently enrolled in Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Sciences department to pursue a PhD in Math Education. She has earned her Master’s in Mathematics from Bhopal University in India. In addition to her work with UW-Parkside, she is also a lecturer at the UW-Milwaukee, Waukesha campus, where she has worked since 2007. She is an adjunct faculty at Waukesha County Technical College. Sunita is Wisconsin certified secondary school teacher as well and has taught mathematics to students at all school level. She currently trains students for College entrance ACT and SAT in addition to tutoring students of all age group in order to motivate them to pursue mathematics. She is very passionate about her job and is dedicated to build students self confidence in making sense of mathematics and be able to connect it to real life.

Patrick Spott has practiced law for over 30 years and is a founder of the Spott Law Office.  He is also an Adjunct faculty member of the College of St. Scholastica, teaching graduates negotiation and conflict resolution.  Patrick received his Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota and his Juris Doctor degree cum laude from Hamline University School of Law, where he served as a law review editor.  He also received his Masters in Business Administration from the College of St. Scholastica.  After serving as a law clerk for the Minnesota Court of Appeals and Sixth Judicial District, Mr. Spott began the active practice of law, which he continues to this day.  Additionally, Patrick has developed and taught a variety of law related courses as a Senior Lecturer and Adjunct faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, both live and online, and has worked as a Dale Carnegie Trainer for Norman & Associates out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.  His published works have appeared in the American Journal of Management and Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice.  He is also a frequent speaker at continuing legal education programs.  Additional information can be found at http://www.spottlaw.com/profiles/patrick-spott