Introducing the Incoming Faculty at Schmidthorst College of Business

Miguel Alvarez joins the College of Business as an Assistant Practitioner Professor. Alvarez served as the President of O-I Latin America at Owens-Illinois, Inc., until his departure in 2014. He held several leadership positions in Chile, Argentina, and Ecuador for Belcorp, a leading global beauty products company, from 2005 until 2010.

Dr. Zhang joins the Schmidthorst College of Business with a wealth of expertise in auditing and financial accounting; he holds a CPA license from the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy and brings a robust academic background, having authored over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles and serving in critical roles for prestigious accounting journals.

Zhang earned his Ph.D. and master’s degrees from Louisiana State University and the University of Illinois.

Returning to BGSU as an assistant professor, Emily Crum is a certified public accountant, information systems auditor, and two-time  BGSU graduate. Emily aims to bring recent and relevant field experience into the classroom, integrating it with foundational concepts to demonstrate how the taught principles are applied in everyday business operations.

Emily and her fiancé are avid runners and spend most of their free time trail running, racing, or backpacking.

Lynn brings a wealth of teaching experience to his new role, having previously taught management courses at the college. With his extensive IT, Accounting, and ERP consulting background, he delivers a comprehensive and top-notch educational experience.

Lynn has also  conducted training at Accenture, volunteered in community education, and collaborated with companies such as Cargill, DuPont, and Shell.

Dr. Michael Killey has taught a range of undergraduate and graduate courses in taxation, forensic examination, auditing, and more. His research focuses on auditing, taxation, financial statement analysis,  and forensic accounting, with articles published in top accounting journals. Michael's professional background includes leadership roles in government, corporations, and major accounting firms, as well as  volunteer work with nonprofits.

Michael is the recipient of the  UM-Dearborn COB Teacher of the Year Award and the FAU Outstanding  Faculty Award.

Dr. Janean Rundo joins BGSU as an Assistant Professor of Accounting. Her research dives into the impacts of regulation and reporting standards on financial and audit quality. With over a decade of industry experience, including roles at Deloitte, Keybanc, and Nielsen, she blends real-world expertise with her passion for teaching audit and financial accounting to undergrad and master’s students.

Janean is a Certified Public Accountant in Ohio.

Doug Bujakowski is a seasoned expert in actuarial mathematics and risk management. He currently serves as the O’Brien Professor in Actuarial Mathematics and a Fellow at the Insurance and Risk Management Institute. Prior to this, he was the Sammons Professor and Chair of Actuarial Science and Risk Management at Drake University.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Doug is a proud native of Cleveland. He enjoys spending time with his wife and their 2.5-year-old son

As an assistant professor of applied statistics and operations research, Pei Wang brings a wealth of knowledge by focusing on applying theoretical concepts to real-world situations. He uses various activities and the latest technological tools and software to enhance the learning experience.

Pei loves cooking and trying out new cuisines and ingredients. He finds joy in sharing his culinary creations with family and friends.

Yasemin Ackan-Barto is a dedicated academic with a background in economics and finance. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Econometrics from Gazi University and went on to achieve a Master of Science in Financial Economics from Texas A&M University. Currently, Yasemin is finalizing her Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Delaware, with an anticipated completion date in 2024. Her research focuses on household finance, applied microeconomics, and econometrics.

Dr. An is eager to collaborate with BGSU’s top-notch faculty and connect with our diverse student body. Having lived in Korea, China, and Canada during her teenage years, she’s excited to bring her global perspective into the classroom. Dr. An looks forward to using her international experiences to enhance the learning environment and give students practical, real-world insights into economics.

In her spare time, SunAh enjoys staying active with swimming, yoga, and hiking.

Renee Birnbaum is partnering with the College of Business to teach business law-related courses. Dr. Birnbaum was a Clinical Assistant  Professor of Law at The University of Michigan Law School, where she  taught in the Legal Skills/Legal Practice and LL.M. programs. She has  taught Business Law and Introduction to Law courses at Bowling Green, as well as numerous other legal courses.

Renee is the recipient of several teaching awards.

Yongdong Wang completed both his undergraduate and doctoral studies in Physics at East China Normal University. He further expanded his expertise with a second Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Texas  Rio Grande Valley. His research spans corporate finance, top management teams, and financial technology.

Outside the realm of academia, Professor Yongdong has a passion for movies.

Dr. Yestrepsky started his professional journey by majoring in engineering at Michigan State and spent over ten years owning a small business in energy management. He returned to academia five years later, earning his PhD from Wayne State University. By combining his broad business background and experience as a business owner, current examples from the business world, and his research background, Joe can offer students a unique and practical perspective on class topics.

In his free time, Joe enjoys playing golf and basketball and spending time with his wife and children.

Patrick is a marketing leader with a proven record for increasing sales; he will bring his expertise to BGSU to teach Introduction to  Business. He has a passion for creating a culture of consultative selling and currently serves as an enterprise account manager for Spectrum Enterprise.

Patrick currently serves on the college's marketing advisory board. 

Chuck Collins joins the College of Business to teach business communications. Collins worked as a trial attorney for over 25 years with the law firm Eastman & Smith Ltd and currently teaches business classes at Central Catholic High School.

Collins enjoys staying active, especially through biking; in spring 2023, Collins rode his bicycle from San Diego, California, to St. Augustine, Florida.

Dr. Lahiri brings expertise in platform businesses, the sharing economy, and artificial intelligence. He will teach two dynamic courses: professional selling and AI and sales. His vision extends beyond traditional sales roles, recognizing the importance of sales skills in various career paths. Avishek's courses bridge theory with practical  insights from his extensive background at 3M, Regalix Inc., and his  international experiences.

When not in the classroom, Avi enjoys hiking and cooking.

Kathryn joins the College of Business as a seasoned business consultant with over two decades of experience in non-profit leadership and business growth and is the founder and CEO of Sophisikated Advisors, a comprehensive consulting organization tailored specifically for non-profit entities.

Kathryn's strong ties to BGSU are evident in her academic journey, as she is a two-time graduate of BGSU.