Brandon Ofem

Brandon Ofem is an Associate Professor in the Global Leadership and Management Department at the Ed G. Smith College of Business, University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). His academic career spans over a decade with expertise in interdisciplinary research bridging business strategy, social networks, and community development. He holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Kentucky (2014) with a concentration in Strategy/Entrepreneurship.

Dr. Ofem's educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Business Administration, University of Kentucky (2014)
• M.B.A., University of Kentucky (2008)
• B.A. in Economics, Transylvania University (2007)

His research centers on interorganizational collaboration, social networks, and entrepreneurship in distressed regions. He examines how network structures influence economic development organizations, STEM teacher retention, and social venture commercialization. Recent work explores cultural tightness in founding teams and digital/AI-driven strategic management, reflecting his focus on practical applications in rural and educational contexts.

Analysis of his 2023-2021 publications reveals consistent use of social network theory to study collaboration dynamics across education, entrepreneurship, and economic development. Key trends include network bridging in teacher career commitment, gender-cultural interactions in social ventures, and STEM workforce modeling, demonstrating methodological rigor through UCINET and STATA analysis.

No scientific awards were mentioned in the provided text.

Dr. Ofem has secured significant research funding through two National Science Foundation grants:

• "A research study of teacher retention and network formation in Noyce communities of practice" (2017-2021), $1,026,372 as Co-PI
• "Cognitive, relational, and strategic drivers of organizational effectiveness" (2011-2013), $485,553 as Project Manager

His collaborative approach spans education and business domains, though specific student advising details are not provided.

The text does not specify any dedicated research labs or teams led by Dr. Ofem.