by Neely Borger | Dec 13, 2013 | COBA Faculty
Last month, ACU celebrated our veterans during chapel. This month, we want to continue to take time to remember those who have courageously fought for our country’s freedom. Rob Byrd, a member of the ACU faculty and a former officer in the US Air Force from 1982 – 1992, served as a navigator, electronic warfare officer, flight simulator programmer and supervisor, instructor, signals collection specialist, and mission director. He was born in Lafayette, Indiana and graduated with a degree in math from Harding University. He was commissioned into the Air Force in 1982 and served for 10 years before gaining his Masters in Math with an emphasis in Computer Science from Creighton University in 1992. Rob taught in the computer science department Western Kentucky University in addition to developing a new technical major titled Information and Knowledge Management at the York College in Nebraska. Rob joined the ACU faculty in January and now works in the school of IT and Computing.
Rob originally joined the military seeking an adventure and ways to serve others. He describes his time in the military as a time of serving others but in a completely different way. He states, “There were just people, missions, and opportunities to help people-the same opportunities I would have had if I had chosen any other career.” While in the military, Rob learned the life lesson of serving those who are hard to work with, no matter what the circumstance might be. Serving in the military truly opened his eyes to a different angle of service, performing difficult jobs most people would not want to do. In addition, Rob believes his service has directly translated to the service he does here at ACU, striving to humbly serve individuals and help them to accomplish their own missions in life. From Paul’s words, Rob encourages individual’s not to “become weary in doing good”. In order to live out God’s calling and mission for our lives we must serve others. ACU honors and thanks other family members, friends, and faculty in the ACU community who have served our country. These include: John Altman, Jim Bartee, Rob Byrd, Malcolm Coco, Brian Golden, Don Jackson, Ray Pettit, Jim Porter, Charles Small, David Swearingen, and Vince Swinney.
“Ultimately, what I learned was that one doesn’t really serve countries or companies, but individuals, and that it is more fulfilling to serve others than to be served,” says former Air Force officer Rob Byrd.
by Neely Borger | Sep 26, 2013 | Academics, COBA Faculty, Research
Beginning September 1, 2013, Dr. Monty Lynn will begin his appointment as the W.W. Caruth Chair of Owner and Managed Business in the College of Business Administration. The appointment is a three year assignment and will include an annual stipend along with a research and travel budget to be managed by Dr. Lynn for the benefit of Abilene Christian University, COBA, and his own professional areas of interest. Dr. Lynn was also appointed to the chair from 2006-2009.
During the last appointment, Dr. Lynn used some of the endowment to prepare for the course, International Poverty and Development, and to attend a conference at Yale University and participate in microfinance training. For the current appointment, Dr. Lynn is planning on using the funds to invest more into COBA faculty and services.
“It is an honor to receive this title from COBA. I am excited to continue serving students and faculty through research, teaching, and service,” says Dr. Monty Lynn, recipient of the 2013-2016 W.W. Caruth Chair of Owner and Managed Business.
Dr. Rick Lytle praised Dr. Lynn on his esteemed work in the field of research and leadership. “Dr. Monty Lynn clearly exemplifies great leadership in COBA, the ACU community, and beyond. This honor could not be given to anyone more deserving.”
Dr. Lynn is a well-known professor in COBA, exemplifying honor, character, and diligence to his students and colleagues. His exceptional expertise in teaching, research, and service show his influential role in COBA, on the ACU campus and around the world. Congratulations to Dr. Lynn on his well-deserved appointment!
by Neely Borger | Sep 17, 2013 | COBA Faculty
On October 12, 2012, one of COBA’s most esteemed professors, Dr. Daryl Jinkerson, passed away. This past summer, Dr. Vardiman along with Dr. Jinkerson’s family, including his wife Cindy, daughter Amanda, and mother Lavern, went to Honduras to work with the organization Casa de Esperanza , or House of Hope. The Jinkerson family and Dr. Vardiman worked with Perry Jinkerson, Dr. Jinkerson’s brother, and a church group from Starkville, Mississippi. The team engaged in various forms of mission work, including working in the school of the blind, visiting a local prison and hospital, and going to an extremely impoverished area called the “dump”.
The mission team also built a house in memory of Dr. Jinkerson. After five hours of strenuous work, the house was complete and ready for a Honduran family to move in. The money to build the house was collected in donations and cost less than $2,000 to construct. This was the second house Dr. Jinkerson’s mother, Lavern, had built in honor of a family member. Dr. Vardiman stated, “Building this house truly was a healing experience for all who were involved.” Dr. Jinkerson will always be remembered as a revered son, father, teacher, and friend. He has left an incredible legacy in COBA and the entire ACU community through the way he served others and walked with Christ. The Honduran home built in honor of Dr. Jinkerson reflects the diligence, the hard work, the commitment, the hope, and the strong foundation Dr. Jinkerson personified to everyone whose lives he touched.
by Neely Borger | Sep 10, 2013 | Academics, COBA Faculty, Current Students
STAR Team
COBA’s STAR program recently added Morningstar Direct software which will help the group continue to excel in the stock market. Morningstar Direct is a software on the PC that will enable students to use analytical tools to evaluate stocks more efficiently. Since 1999, the STAR program has flourished by making solid financial decisions involving stock investments.
STAR’s primary goal is to perform as well or better than the entire stock market. In June 2000, the program made its first investment of $110,000. Today, STAR has grown its investments to approximately $540,000 invested in 60 diverse stocks including consumer goods, banks, insurance, and technology companies. Ten student managers work for STAR alongside COBA professor Dr. Terry Pope. Dr. Pope stated, “This tool will greatly assist our students with evaluating and comparing STAR’s portfolio to other benchmarks.”
Morningstar Direct will also aid the STAR program by allowing students to have access to high quality equity analysis which will contribute to better research and higher quality reports. This will provide the STAR students with the ability to make more informed investment decisions. The Investment Committee of the ACU Board of Trustees has already given STAR additional money to invest twice. STAR will continue to pursue excellence in the financial world with the aid of the new Morningstar Direct.
by M. C. Jennings | Aug 23, 2013 | Academics, COBA Faculty, Dean Chronicles, Research
What has Dr. Rick Lytle, Dean of the College of Business, been up to in the past year?
Dr. Rick Lytle, Dean
Photo Credit: Steve Butman Photography
The answer is a lot. Dr. Lytle was given a unique opportunity to do post-doctoral work with the Marketing Insights team at Walmart headquarters, completed a research fellowship with CEO Forum, and was named to the board of directors for Focus on the Family. We’re proud of the accomplishments of Dr. Lytle and we’re excited for the opportunities that this will bring to our COBA students. Read more about Dr. Lytle’s professional endeavors in ACU news.
by Allison Phillips | Apr 29, 2013 | Careers In..., COBA Faculty, Current Students
Members of STAR at the RISE Conference
You may have heard about Student Trading and Research, one of COBA’s student organizations. In fact, you may even have heard about the fact that they manage half a million dollars of ACU’s endowment.
However, you probably haven’t heard about the recent opportunity STAR portfolio managers had to attend the Redefining Investment Strategy Education (RISE) Conference at the University of Dayton.
Dr. Terry Pope, who led this trip, explained that,
“Day one comprises panel discussions with recognized experts regarding the economy and financial markets. Day two comprises break-out sessions led by practitioners covering a host of topics of interest to the investment community.”
Whitney Stevens, a junior accounting and finance major who participated in the trip, said she was incredibly impressed with this year’s list of speakers, which included the following:
CHARLES L. EVANS, PH.D., President & CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
DENNIS P. LOCKHART, President & CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
ROGER W. FERGUSON, JR., PH.D., President & CEO, TIAA-CREF
ROBERT S. KAPITO, President & Director, BlackRock
STEPHANIE LINK, CIO & Co-Portfolio Manager, TheStreet, Inc.
LIZ ANN SONDERS, Senior Vice President & Chief Investment Strategist, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
FRED TOMCZYK, President & CEO, TD Ameritrade
Participating in this experience had a big impact on Whitney.
“This experience allowed me to correlate what I have learned in the classroom with its practical application in the finance industry,” she explained. “The advice given by the accomplished professionals alerted me to some key areas on which to focus. As my graduation date approaches it is exciting to know that my hard work in college is preparing me to be successful in my career.”
Dr. Pope understands the impact the RISE Conference can have, which is why he enjoys sponsoring the trip.
“I like taking the students to this conference because it presents the best collection of expertise of any conference available to our students,” he elaborated. “It also provides a great opportunity for our students to visit with peers from universities all over the world.”
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out STAR and the great things they’re doing here on campus!
