Walker College of Business

Four faculty members in Appalachian State University’s Walker College of Business were recognized for outstanding research contributions with 2025 Dean’s Club Research Prizes, presented at the Sywassink Day of Excellence Dinner Program on May 1.

The awards honor scholarly work that aligns with the college’s mission and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

“These projects reflect the intellectual vitality of our faculty,” said Associate Dean for Advanced Studies in Business, Dr. Jason Xiong, who helped present the awards. “They tackle real-world challenges with creativity and rigor, advancing both scholarship and practice.”

2025 Dean’s Club Research Prize Winners

First Prize ($5,000): Dr. Jacqueline Tilton and Dr. Justin Kent, Department of Management

Tilton and Kent co-authored “Using SWAG Day to Teach Bootstrapping, Value Creation, and Effectuation,” which offers a novel experiential learning model for entrepreneurship education. Both scholars bring deep expertise in organizational behavior and pedagogy, making their work a standout in applied business education.

Second Prize ($2,500): Dr. Mark Bolinger, Department of Management

Bolinger’s article “Keeping it real: How entrepreneurs effectively disclose risk” explores the psychological dimensions of entrepreneurship, including risk disclosure and founder identity. His work bridges strategy and behavioral science, offering fresh insights into venture performance and ethical leadership.

Second Prize ($2,500): Dr. Lubna Nafees, Department of Marketing & Supply Chain Management

Dr. Nafees’ study, “For the ’Gram: An Exploration of the Conflict between Influencers and Citizen-Consumers in the Public Lands Marketing System,” examines the ethical tensions in digital marketing. Her interdisciplinary approach blends consumer psychology, sustainability, and media studies.

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