Business Professors' Outstanding Records Earn Palmer Awards
For release: August 26, 2003
For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey

The University of Memphis has named nine faculty members as this year's Suzanne Downs Palmer Professors. The cash awards honor outstanding achievement in research, teaching, scholarship, service, community outreach and fundraising. They are awarded to tenured and tenure-track faculty in the Fogelman College of Business and Economics.

Recipients in the research category are Rabi Bhagat ($12,500), professor of management; William T. Smith ($10,000), associate professor of economics; Christine Jiang ($10,000), associate professor of finance, insurance and real estate; and Larry Abbott ($7,500), assistant professor of accounting.

In the teaching category, awards go to David Ciscel ($12,500), professor of economics, and Balaji Krishnan ($7,500). assistant professor of marketing and supply chain management.

Recognized in the service category are David Spiceland ($12,500), professor of accounting; Thomas Miller ($12,500), professor of management and associate dean; and Barbara Davis ($10,000), associate professor of management.

Bhagat is a leading researcher in his department and at his rank. Over the past three year he has published five journal publications, three of which ranked A+ or A, and a number of books and book chapters. He is a fellow of four national professional organizations and has contributed substantial research-related editorial service to professional journals and related conferences.

Smith's research has included four journal publications, two of which ranked A+ or A. He has received three best paper awards in the Fogelman College, the most among college faculty at the associate professor rank, as well as several summer research grant awards.

Jiang has had five publications in the past three years, with four ranked A+ or A. She also received a best paper award and has been working on a paper targeted for submission to a top-tier journal in her field.

Abbott's research has generally appeared in the leading journals in his discipline and are ranked A+ or A. His contributions are in the critical areas of professional research and practice, including the effects of post-bankruptcy financing on auditor reporting. Abbott has a number of works under review at top-tier accounting journals.

Ciscel has consistently been recognized as an outstanding teacher by University administrators and by faculty and students of the Fogelman College. He received the U of M's 2003 Distinguished Teaching Award. Ciscel has taught undergraduate and graduate courses, including distance education and executive MBA courses.

Krishnan's excellence in teaching is illustrated by his superior evaluation scores, strong administrative assessment and positive student feedback. His classes in undergraduate, executive MBA and international MBA programs have made extensive use of technology and innovation.

Spiceland performed considerable work on the accreditation reaffirmation process for the School of Accountancy and for the Fogelman College. He is the doctoral and master's level program coordinator, he maintains the School of Accountancy Web site, and he has served on 16 committees during the last three years. Spiceland received a TAF award for a student recruitment projects, has made 34 professional program appearances and served on six civic organizations.

Miller is chair of the Fogelman College's tenure and promotion and master's graduate council committees. He was active on several accreditation reaffirmation committees, he serves as an editorial board member and associate editor of the Case Research Journal, and he is a member of three community organizations. Miller has served on numerous university, college and departmental committees, and he is faculty adviser for all MBA and MSBA degree-seeking students in management department.

Davis is very active in the community. She was awarded the 2002 Inspirational Woman Award by the Baptist Memorial Healthcare system. She has served on 11 civic organizations and many university, college and departmental committees. She holds membership is several professional service organizations, and she serves on a dissertation committee and works with University College students.

The professorships were established by a $400,000 gift to the Fogelman College by U of M alumnus Dan Palmer, in appreciation for his U of M education and in memory of his wife of 38 years who died in 1999.

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