Farmer School of Business 2025 faculty award winners announced
10 faculty members receive awards for research, teaching, and service
Ten members of the Farmer School of Business faculty received awards for their work during the 2024-25 school year last week.
Dr. Riley Acton, Assistant Professor of Economics is one of this year’s recipients of the James Robeson Junior Faculty Award for Research Excellence.
Acton's research focuses on the economics of education and education policy, with connections to labor, public, and health economics.
She has published in many prestigious journals, including the Journal of Labor Economics, Journal of Health Economics, Journal of Human Resources, and Economics of Education Review.
Her research has had a significant impact on both academia and policy and has received numerous media mentions and invitations to present at leading institutions.
She has received several research awards, including a nomination for the Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program and has been promoted to a Research Fellow at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
Acton is actively engaged in grant-funded projects, peer-reviewed research, and mentorship.
Dr. Joseph Nwankpa, Associate Professor of Information Systems & Analytics is this year’s recipient of the Farmer School of Business Senior Faculty Award for Research Excellence.
Since joining Farmer School of Business in 2017, Nwankpa’s research has focused on cybersecurity, digital transformation, data privacy, and risk management, with publications in top journals such as IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management and the European Journal of Information Systems.
His work has been widely recognized and featured in major media outlets like Fast Company and The Conversation.
He has secured significant research grants, including funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s NIST, and serves as an Associate Editor for the European Journal of Information Systems.
Nwankpa has received multiple awards, including Best Paper at the International Conference on Information Systems.
Dr. Rayna Xu, Assistant Professor in Information Systems & Analytics, is this year’s recipient of the Gifford Junior Faculty Teaching Innovation Award.
Xu earned the award for her creative and forward-looking integration of Generative AI into undergraduate business programming education.
In her ISA 281 course, she transformed the learning experience by using AI tools like ChatGPT to design hands-on programming competitions, enhance student engagement, and teach AI-assisted coding and debugging strategies.
Her innovations directly addressed key learning challenges by making technical material more accessible, helping students apply concepts to real-world business problems, and giving beginners immediate, interactive support.
Rayna’s work not only improved student performance and enthusiasm but also created a scalable model for integrating AI tools into teaching across disciplines, preparing students with essential skills for a technology-driven workforce.
Dr. Peter Nguyen, Assistant Professor of Marketing is one of this year’s recipient of the David W. Rosenthal Case Method Teaching Support Fund.
The fund will enable Nguyen to enhance his case-based teaching by attending the 2026 AMA Academic Conference, purchasing new case studies and educational materials, developing original cases, and acquiring video recording equipment to capture and improve classroom discussions.
It will also support his use of generative AI tools for case development, ultimately enriching student learning with more engaging, real-world experiences.
Dr. Jay Shan, Rose-Marie Garcia Anderson Chair Assistant Professor in Information Systems & Analytics is another recipient of the David W. Rosenthal Case Method Teaching Support Fund.
The award will allow Shan to attend the Harvard Case Teaching Seminar to refine his case teaching techniques, integrate advanced AI tools into his redesigned ISA 632 course, and create a case-based learning experience that strengthens students’ ability to apply Generative AI strategically and ethically in real-world business settings.
Geoff Zoeckler, Assistant Lecturer in Entrepreneurship & FYIC, is this year’s recipient of the Richard K. Smucker Teaching Excellence Award as the Outstanding Clinical Professor.
Zoeckler was selected because of his extraordinary commitment to student-centered, experiential learning that cultivates creativity, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving skills.
Over his time at Miami, he has taught more than 2,000 students, helped hundreds of teams tackle real-world client challenges, and consistently adapted his curriculum to integrate the latest innovation frameworks and technologies.
His leadership in developing and evolving the ESP 103 curriculum, his proactive adjustments based on feedback, and his high scores in critical areas like enthusiasm and preparedness showcase a relentless drive for teaching excellence.
Beyond the classroom, Geoff’s initiatives—from creating empathy-driven activities to leading international workshops—demonstrate his mission to inspire students to think boldly, embrace failure as a catalyst for growth, and develop into creative, empathetic leaders who will impact the world.
Dr. James Zhang, Assistant Professor in Accountancy, is this year’s recipient of the Richard K. Smucker Teaching Excellence Award as the Outstanding Junior Professor.
Zhang was recognized because of his deep, holistic commitment to student success, his forward-thinking curriculum design, and his relentless pursuit of teaching excellence.
Zhang’s courses blend cutting-edge technologies like Generative AI, Alteryx, Tableau, and RPA with hands-on client projects developed in collaboration with PwC, giving students real-world skills that prepare them to lead in a rapidly changing profession.
His dynamic and student-centered approach—ranging from role-playing games to innovative data analytics projects—creates an engaging, personalized learning environment where every student feels valued.
Zhang not only excels in the classroom, as evidenced by stellar evaluations and sustained innovation, but also continuously reinvests in his own learning and integrates collaborative research into his teaching. Students, colleagues, and industry professionals alike recognize his unique ability to connect, inspire, and transform the educational experience at Farmer School of Business.
Dr. Fadel Megahed, Professor in Information Systems & Analytics is this year’s recipient of the Richard K. Smucker Teaching Excellence Award as the Outstanding Professor.
Megahed earned the award through his unwavering commitment to innovative, student-centered teaching that blends rigor with accessibility.
His thoughtful course design, real-world applications, interactive learning methods, and individualized student support create an environment where every student can succeed.
He consistently surpasses departmental averages in teaching evaluations and has pioneered tools like ChatISA, a groundbreaking AI chatbot that has become highly popular among our students, handling over 12,000 prompts in February and early March of 2025.
Beyond the classroom, his redesign of multiple courses, leadership in curriculum development, and lifelong mentorship of students showcase a deep dedication to their personal and professional growth.
Fadel’s sustained excellence, creativity, and impact on students’ learning journeys make him a standout educator in every sense.
Jim Friedman, Associate Clinical Professor in Entrepreneurship, is one of this year’s recipient of the Farmer School Faculty Service Excellence Award.
Friedman has a long history of service to Entrepreneurship department and area at Miami.
Currently, and over the past several years, Jim has been the academic advisor for the department, advising students across campus in the entrepreneurship programs that started with the Entrepreneurship LLC.
He has taken on the responsibility for scheduling of courses for the department, as well as chairing the department’s curriculum committee, submitting and revising proposals in CIM and is active on several other department committees.
Jim serves on several division committees, primarily focused on students and curriculum. One of the major contributions Jim has made is organizing and leading the World Creativity and Innovation Week (WCIW), bringing together students from 160 countries.
Jim is active in serving many organizations within the Miami community and has had a significant impact on students through his service.
Dr. Jon Pyzoha, Associate Professor in Accountancy, is also one of this year’s recipient of the Farmer School Faculty Service Excellence Award.
Pyzoha has made numerous contributions to the Accountancy department and the FSB through his service.
His service has focused on engaging current and future students in the accounting profession and developing opportunities to explore this field.
Over the past few years, Pyzoha has chaired the department’s external engagement committee which has developed videos and other materials for recruiting students and promoting the activities of the department.
His and the committee’s efforts have dramatically increased the social media presences of the department on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook as well as through electronic newsletters.
In addition, he has chaired and been active in the department’s faculty search committees and been active on a variety of department committees.
For the FSB, he is chairing the Quantitative Literacy committee and has or is serving on the Research, International Studies, and Honors committees. He has also served on the University Senate.
