News Releases

Ph.D. program announces graduate placements, outstanding students

Ph.D. graduates Esma Nur and Hilla Rantala lead the student procession at graduation

Ph.D. graduates Esma Nur and Hilla Rantala lead the student procession at graduation

Friday, June 6, 2008

The University of Kansas School of Business Ph.D. program continues to produce outstanding business educators and researchers. Three Ph.D. students graduating this year have accepted teaching positions at major universities across the country. Eight Ph.D. students also received awards this spring for their teaching or research skills.

Jake Messersmith, Patrick McClellandand Hilla Rantala have accepted full-time positions with George Washington University, the University of Delaware and the University of Wyoming. Ph.D. graduate Esma Nur Cinicioglu will return to Turkey for possible placement after graduation.

"The caliber of these placements shows that the KU School of Business Ph.D. program continues to produce top educators and researchers across the field," said KU School of Business Dean William L. Fuerst. "We're proud of all the accomplishments made by our highly talented group of Ph.D. students."

Four students received awards for their research and dissertations from the KU School of Business this year.

The KU School of Business presented Jake Messersmith with the John O. Tollefson Best Paper Award and Esma Nur Cinicioglu with the Max E. Fessler Dissertation Award. Dissertation fellowships from the School went to Shane Moser, Qian Wang and Ying Huang. Shane Moser also received a $20,000 Dissertation Fellowship from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, Mo.

The School also honored four Ph.D. students for their teaching accomplishments.

Miguel Aguirre and Hilla Rantala received the John O. Tollefson Teaching Award. Ze Wang received the Constance Ducey Teaching Award and Miguel Aguirre received the Holmes Teaching Excellence Award. Each of the Ph.D. honors included a cash award.

The small and highly selective Ph.D. program at the KU School of Business fosters a close working relationship between students and professors. Ten new Ph.D. students will begin the program this fall.


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