Nicole L. Freiner is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Bryant University, specializing in Comparative Politics and Environmental Politics. She has published extensively on rice policy in Japan, gender politics, and environmental activism. PhD: Colorado State University MA: Colorado State University BA: Alfred University Her research focuses on the intersection of agricultural policy and cultural preservation, emphasizing food sovereignty and gender dynamics in Japan. Recent work explores the impacts of trade agreements like the TPP, post-Fukushima environmental movements, and the role of women in shaping policy discourse. Freiner's publications span topics such as rice farming traditions, nuclear disaster response, and Confucian nationalism. Key themes include institutional change, local governance, and cultural identity in policy frameworks. Best Faculty-Student Collaboration, 2022 School of Health and Behavioral Sciences Fellow, 2022 Merit Pay Awards (2019, 2017, 2014) NEH Summer Scholar Award, 2015 Active in interdisciplinary collaborations, Freiner contributes to environmental discourse through her research on agricultural cooperatives, food security, and social movements. She mentors students and participates in professional organizations including the American Political Science Association and the Japan Studies Association.
David A. Anderson is the Paul G. Blazer Professor of Economics and Business at Centre College. He holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan, M.A. and Ph.D. from Duke University, and an MBA from the University of the People. His research focuses on environmental economics, the economics of crime, gender bias, law, childbirth, and public policy. He has authored over 15 books, including Environmental Economics and Natural Resource Management and The Cost of Crime , and numerous peer-reviewed articles. Awards include the Innovative Teaching Award (2016) and the NEH Distinguished Professorship (1996–98). His teaching spans courses like Law and Economics, Environmental Economics, and Economic Development. Anderson has secured grants from organizations like the 3M Foundation, NEH, and the Andrew Mellon Foundation. His work bridges theoretical and applied economics, emphasizing policy relevance and innovative pedagogy. He is affiliated with the American Economic Association and Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiUnited States
Alex F. Manini, MD, MS, is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he practices clinically at Elmhurst Hospital Center in New York City. He serves as the Director of the Mount Sinai Center for Research on Emerging Substances, Poisoning, Overdose, and New Discoveries (RESPOND Center), and the Associate Program Director of the T32 Clinician Scientist Training Program focused on emergency care research. Dr. Manini earned his Bachelor of Science from MIT, Doctor of Medicine from UCSF School of Medicine, completed his Emergency Medicine Residency at Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency (Brigham & Women's Hospital / Massachusetts General Hospital), and Medical Toxicology Fellowship at NYU/Bellevue where he also earned a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation. Dr. Manini's research focuses on emergency medicine and medical toxicology, with particular expertise in drug overdose, opioid-related emergencies, cardiovascular complications of drug overdose, and novel substances of abuse. His work aims to develop clinical tools to individualize prevention strategies for curtailing the national rise in drug overdose fatalities through risk prediction instruments, laboratory biomarkers, and genetic analyses. He has published over 110 peer-reviewed articles in the emergency medicine and medical toxicology literature. Analysis of Dr. Manini's recent publications reveals a strong focus on emerging drug threats, particularly novel synthetic opioids like nitazenes and fentanyl analogs, as well as the increasing prevalence of xylazine and other adulterants in the illicit drug supply. His research spans emergency department management protocols, health disparities in overdose treatment, and the intersection of mental health and substance use disorders. Scientific Awards: Fellow of the American College of Medical Toxicology (FACMT) Young Investigator of the Year, Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) NIH Study Section Member, CEBRA (Cutting Edge Basic Research Awards) NIH Early Career Reviewer (ECR), Center for Scientific Review Young Investigator Award WINNER, XXXIII International Congress EAPCCT The Dr. Harold and Golden Lamport Research Award, Mount Sinai School of Medicine Dr. Manini has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 2009, totaling over $10 million as a principal investigator. He has mentored over 40 pre- and post-doctoral students, residents, and junior faculty who have secured millions in federal grant funding. His major grants include an R01 from NIDA studying risk prediction for overdose fatalities, an R56 as Site PI for the NIDA National Early Warning System Network (iN3), and a K23 Career Development Award. As Director of the RESPOND Center (Research on Emerging Substances, Poisoning, Overdose, and New Discoveries), Dr. Manini leads a multidisciplinary team focused on identifying emerging drug threats and developing evidence-based approaches to manage novel substances of abuse. His work bridges emergency medicine, toxicology, cardiology, and public health to address the evolving overdose epidemic.
Dr. Lan Jiang is an Associate Professor in the School of Resort & Hospitality Management at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). He holds a Ph.D. in Hotel Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and an M.S. in Hospitality Business from Michigan State University. His research focuses on hospitality finance, revenue management, and technology, with publications in top-tier journals like the International Journal of Hospitality Management and Tourism Economics. He is a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) and holds the Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA). Education: Ph.D. in Hotel Administration, University of Nevada, Las Vegas M.S. in Hospitality Business, Michigan State University Research Interests: Hospitality Financial Management Revenue Management Strategies Managerial Accounting Technology in Hospitality Publications Highlight Trends in: Sustainability practices in hotels Digital marketing and travel demand Franchising and financial strategies in restaurants Cross-cultural education and competency modeling Scientific Awards: Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) Advising and Grants: No specific advising or grant information is listed, though his research has explored industry-relevant topics like capital expenditures and debt monitoring in hospitality sectors. Labs/Teams: No lab affiliations explicitly mentioned, though his work involves collaborative research with industry stakeholders and international institutions.
Ted Ralphs is a Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Lehigh University’s Rossin College of Engineering. He serves as co-founder and director of the Computational Optimization Research at Lehigh (COR@L) Laboratory, and chairs the INFORMS Computing Society. His research focuses on large-scale computation and optimization, bridging theoretical and practical applications through high-performance computing and mathematical techniques. Ralphs holds a Ph.D. in Operations Research from Cornell University and advanced degrees in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics from Carnegie Mellon University. His expertise spans Supply Chain Management, Grid Computing, Mathematical Optimization, Financial Engineering, and Algorithm Development. He teaches courses in computational methods, discrete optimization, financial optimization, and algorithms in systems engineering. Ralphs has received notable honors including the 2021 Rossin College Outstanding Doctoral Student Advising Award and election as an INFORMS Fellow in 2023. His research contributions include advances in bilevel optimization, decomposition methods, and open-source optimization software (e.g., COIN-OR’s Cbc solver). He has led collaborative projects such as a Naval grant-funded initiative with the University of Pittsburgh on bilevel optimization. Ralphs’ work emphasizes scalable algorithms and their real-world applicability in energy markets, logistics, and combinatorial problems.
Brian Rutherford is a Professor of Marketing and Professional Sales at the Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University. His research focuses on sales management, buyer-seller relationships, employee burnout, and international sales dynamics. He has published extensively on topics such as salesforce burnout, job satisfaction, cross-cultural selling, and crisis-driven market adaptations. Dr. Rutherford’s work examines how disruptions (like the pandemic) impact sales strategies, buyer behaviors, and workforce welfare. He explores themes such as emotional labor in retail environments, multi-faceted job satisfaction among salespeople, and the design of retail spaces. His research also addresses global market challenges, including post-disruptive sales interactions and industrial buyer-seller exchanges. Key trends in his recent articles include analyzing burnout mitigation strategies for road warriors, optimizing salesforce go-to-market strategies, and measuring the impact of disruptions on international sales processes. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical insights for sales management and organizational effectiveness.
Dr. Yuanxiang John Li is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Information Systems & Operations Management at Suffolk University. He holds a PhD from Iowa State University and an MBA from California State University, San Bernardino. His research focuses on information security, privacy, behavioral economics, and game theory, with applications in digital business strategies and compliance mechanisms. Dr. Li has been certified by the US Committee on National Security Systems for Information Security Professionals and is a member of prestigious honor societies like Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Beta Delta. Education: PhD, Iowa State University MBA, California State University, San Bernardino Research Interests: Information security compliance and policy design Incentive mechanisms for behavioral change Blockchain applications in cybersecurity Game theory models for strategic decision-making His recent work explores topics such as cross-boundary knowledge management in digital platforms, paradoxical effects of digital transformation on organizational resilience, and tax identity theft mitigation strategies. Dr. Li has published in journals like Decision Support Systems and Information and Computer Security. His certifications and honor society memberships reflect his expertise and recognition in interdisciplinary fields. Awards & Memberships: Certified Information Security Professional (US CNSS) Senior System Manager Certification (US CNSS) Member, Beta Gamma Sigma (AACSB International) Member, Phi Beta Delta (International Scholars) Teaching responsibilities include courses like Cybersecurity Fundamentals (ISOM 340) and Data and Decision Analysis (ISOM 201). He actively contributes to professional networks through LinkedIn and Google Scholar profiles.
Christian J. Rivera is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Princeton University's High Meadows Environmental Institute and an Affiliated Scholar in the Department of Anthropology. He holds academic degrees from Princeton (B.A.), Columbia (M.A.), and the University of Florida (Ph.D.). His research bridges ecology, anthropology, and conservation science, focusing on multispecies relations, social-ecological systems, and urban biodiversity conservation. He is transitioning to a tenure-track position at the University of Massachusetts Boston's School for the Environment in 2025. Education: Ph.D., University of Florida M.A., Columbia University B.A., Princeton University (2014) Research Interests: Biocultural conservation in urbanizing regions Wildlife trade dynamics and criminology Human-animal interactions in Amazonian cities Sustainability education and pedagogy Recent Work: Authored/co-authored 10 manuscripts and one report during his Princeton tenure Developed courses like FRS 109: The Wildlife Trade and ENV/ANT/EEB 307: Systems Approaches to Conservation Mentored three undergraduates in Iquitos fieldwork (2024) and plans NYC coastal biodiversity studies (2025) Professional Roles: Associate Editor of Human Dimensions of Wildlife (2024–present) Collaborator with Professors Agustín Fuentes and David Wilcove Future Directions: Focus on biocultural diversity in coastal cities, integrating conservation science with urban development challenges.
Sai Manoj Pudukotai Dinakarrao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at George Mason University's College of Engineering and Computing. He leads the HArt (Hardware and AI Research) Group, focusing on cutting-edge research at the intersection of hardware security and artificial intelligence. His educational journey includes a BTech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (2010), an MTech in Information Technology from International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (2012), and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2015). Following his doctoral studies, he completed post-doctoral research at TU Wien, Vienna (2015-2017) and George Mason University (2017-2018). Dr. Dinakarrao's research spans hardware security, adversarial machine learning, IoT networks, and deep learning in resource-constrained environments. His work integrates hardware design with AI techniques to address security challenges in computing systems, with particular focus on side-channel attack detection, malware detection in IoT networks, on-chip security, and hardware accelerator design for machine learning applications. His research has resulted in numerous publications in top-tier conferences and journals including IEEE Transactions, ACM conferences, and Design Automation Conference. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward hardware security solutions using machine learning techniques. His work increasingly focuses on Processing-in-Memory architectures, energy-efficient security solutions for IoT devices, and innovative approaches to hardware Trojan detection. Many publications demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration across electrical engineering, computer science, and cybersecurity domains. Young Research Fellow Award at Design Automation Conference (DAC) 2013 Best paper award at International Conference on Data Mining (ICDM) 2019 Best paper award at International Conference on Consumer Electronics (ICCE) 2020 Best paper nomination at International Conference on Computer-Aided Design (ICCAD) 2019 Best paper nomination at Design Automation and Test in Europe (DATE) 2018 Dr. Dinakarrao has successfully mentored numerous PhD and MS students, with alumni securing positions at AMD-Xilinx, US Government agencies, and academic institutions. His research has been supported by significant grants from NSF, DARPA, and Virginia Commonwealth Cyber Initiative. Current projects include securing supply chains with UVA, developing novel architectures for machine learning acceleration, and creating energy-preserving cryptography protocols. The HArt Group maintains active collaborations with industry partners including AMD-Xilinx and government agencies. The lab focuses on practical implementations of theoretical security concepts, with particular emphasis on creating deployable security solutions for real-world hardware systems. Current research directions include intermittent computing with energy harvesting, hardware fuzzing techniques, and robust machine learning models resistant to adversarial attacks.
Phillip Wiseman is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Texas Tech University's Rawls College of Business. His research explores sales force management, digital transformation in marketing, and relationship marketing strategies. Education: PhD in Marketing from University of Houston, MBA in Marketing from Rollins College (top of class), BA in Sociology from The George Washington University Wiseman's scholarly work focuses on enhancing sales performance through training, digital technology adoption, and relationship marketing. His publications in Journal of Marketing , Journal of Marketing Research , and Journal of International Marketing demonstrate practical applications for Fortune 500 firms in pharmaceuticals, energy, and hospitality sectors. His research portfolio spans four key areas: Sales force training methodologies Digital sales technology implementation Global sales force management Customer relationship optimization Sales pipeline automation Contractual relationship dynamics
Dr. Robert South is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Cincinnati, where he has served since 1976. He has held leadership roles including Department Head (1987-2000), Director of Graduate Studies (1981-1985), and Director of Undergraduate Studies (1972-1980). His academic career includes a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Maryland (1972), M.A. in Geography from Indiana University (1965), and B.A. in Geology from Indiana University (1961). He also studied at the National University of Mexico (1958). His research focuses on economic geography, regional development in Latin America, industrial location patterns, and the impacts of environmental policy. Notable work includes studies on Mexico’s maquiladora industry, Bolivia’s commodity flows, and NAFTA’s economic effects. He has conducted fieldwork in Bolivia, Chile, and Mexico, including roles as a Peace Corps Volunteer (Chile, 1961-1963) and Fulbright Scholar (Mexico, 1985-1986). Dr. South has secured over $1.4M in grants, including federal funding for projects like the NASA OhioView initiative (2000) and Department of the Army SCAN-1 collaboration (2008-2011). His consulting work spans environmental impact assessments for firms like AMAX Corporation and FMC Corporation, as well as advising U.S. companies on industrial location strategies in Mexico. He has organized international field trips to Mexico’s Yucatán and Cuba, emphasizing experiential learning. His awards include the Canadian Studies Program Award (1977) and National Science Foundation support for training and research. He actively participates in professional organizations like the Association of American Geographers and Conference of Latin Americanist Geographers.
Arjun Mukherjee is a Lecturer at the Department of Computer Science , University of Houston , where he teaches courses in Machine Learning , Data Mining , Natural Language Processing , and Data Structures . His research focuses on Bayesian Inference , Data Mining , Natural Language Processing , Sentiment Analysis , Opinion Spam , and Web Mining , with a strong emphasis on deception detection and social media analysis. His recent publications explore advanced techniques in LLM-generated content detection synthetic data applications cross-domain deception modeling temporal user behavior analysis , reflecting his commitment to addressing modern challenges in digital content authenticity and machine learning robustness. Dr. Mukherjee has developed educational materials for graduate-level courses, including a well-structured Machine Learning course (COSC 6342) covering probabilistic inference, supervised/unsupervised learning, and neural networks. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2014, with a thesis titled Probabilistic Models for Fine-Grained Opinion Mining: Algorithms and Applications .
Shakiba Enayati is an Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL), specializing in Supply Chain and Analytics. She holds a Ph.D. in Operations Research from North Carolina State University and prior degrees in Industrial Engineering. Her research focuses on stochastic and dynamic systems modeling, particularly in healthcare, supply chain, and service systems, with notable contributions to vaccine distribution strategies and opioid crisis management. She previously served as an Assistant Professor at the State University of New York, Plattsburgh (2017–2020) and held roles at North Carolina State University, including Graduate Research Assistant and Instructor. Her educational background includes a B.S. (2004–2009), M.S. (2009–2012), and Ph.D. (2012–2016) in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research. Her work emphasizes optimizing complex systems to address real-world challenges, such as equitable vaccine distribution and improving emergency medical services. Research Interests: Analytic modeling and optimization of stochastic systems applied to healthcare logistics, supply chain resilience, and public health emergencies. Her recent work includes drone-based vaccine delivery systems and analyzing disparities in pandemic interventions. Enayati teaches courses in Business Analytics, Supply Chain Management, and Prescriptive Analytics. Publications span 2024 to 2017, addressing topics like ambulance service optimization, hybrid procurement strategies, and multi-modal logistics. Her research often bridges theoretical models with practical implementation to enhance decision-making in dynamic environments.
Jill Bernard Bracy is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Supply Chain and Analytics at the University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL), and Director of the Supply Chain Risk & Resilience Research (SCR3) Institute. She also serves as Assistant Director of Program Development for the Center for Transportation Studies at UMSL. Her academic roles include teaching courses in supply chain management, analytics, marketing, and transportation. Dr. Bracy’s research focuses on transportation safety, policy initiatives, autonomous vehicles, and supply chain resilience. She actively contributes to professional organizations, serving as faculty advisor to the Transportation Club and Vice President of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals-St. Louis Roundtable. Her research explores topics such as policy guidance for road infrastructure, autonomous vehicle impacts on motor carriers, and crash severity analysis. Notable projects include studies on temporary rumble strips in work zones and gender differences in truck crash injury severity. Dr. Bracy has collaborated on interdisciplinary projects, combining statistical methods (e.g., CHAID decision trees) with transportation policy analysis. While no formal awards are listed, her contributions to transportation safety and education reflect her leadership in these fields. She advises student organizations and engages in program development to advance transportation studies. The SCR3 Institute under her direction focuses on supply chain risk mitigation strategies, aligning with her teaching and research priorities.
Dr. John C. Tyndall is a Professor in the Department of Natural Resources Ecology and Management at Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He directs the PLUS Lab (People, Land Use and Society), where he leads research at the intersection of natural resource economics, policy, and sociology within forestry, agriculture, and urban contexts. His work focuses on financial and economic explorations of environmental quality management in highly managed landscapes. Dr. Tyndall's educational background includes a B.S. in Sociology and Environmental Studies from Western Michigan University (1991), an M.S. in Forest Resource Management from Iowa State University (1996), and a Ph.D. in Natural Resource Economics from Iowa State University (2003). His academic journey has positioned him as a leading expert in conservation economics and policy. His research interests span natural resource economics, conservation planning, ecosystem services valuation, and sustainable agricultural systems. Dr. Tyndall specializes in developing and applying economic frameworks to evaluate conservation practices, particularly in the context of water quality management and agricultural landscapes. His work bridges the gap between economic theory and practical conservation implementation, with a focus on spatially targeted approaches that maximize environmental benefits per conservation dollar spent. Analysis of Dr. Tyndall's recent publications reveals a strong focus on precision conservation, ecosystem service valuation, and the development of decision-support tools for conservation planning. His work increasingly incorporates social equity considerations into environmental management frameworks while maintaining a strong economic foundation. The Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) and related tools like PT 2 and FiNRT represent significant contributions to making conservation planning more effective and cost-efficient. Through his leadership of the PLUS Lab, Dr. Tyndall has mentored numerous graduate students who have gone on to contribute significantly to the fields of natural resource economics and conservation science. His collaborative approach is evident in the extensive list of interdisciplinary projects and co-authored publications spanning multiple institutions and disciplines. Dr. Tyndall's work has practical applications through several conservation planning tools he has helped develop, including the Prairie and Tree Planting Tool (PT 2 ), the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework Financial and Nutrient Reduction Tool (ACPF FiNRT), and economic evaluation tools for barriers to minimize sportfish escapement. These tools represent the applied dimension of his research, translating complex economic analyses into practical decision support for conservation practitioners.
