Dr. Tammy Kowalczyk and Dr. Rajat Panwar have been named co-directors of sustainable business for the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University for the 2018-19 academic year.
Dr. Kowalczyk is a professor in the Department of Accounting, where she teaches predominantly in the area of financial accounting and sustainability accounting. Her research interests have been predominantly in the area of judgment and decision-making in accounting environments, taxation and sustainability accounting. Dr. Kowalczyk, who joined Appalachian’s faculty in 1999, earned her MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. Most recently, she established the Impact Clinic at Appalachian.
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Dr. Panwar is an associate professor in the Department of Management. He has a versatile academic background that includes researching and teaching in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Dr. Panwar holds two doctoral degrees, one in the forest sector business sustainability from Oregon State University, and the other in strategic management from Grenoble École de Management in France. Recently, Dr. Panwar’s work on entrepreneurial solutions to forest conservation was funded by Chancellor Sheri N. Everts’ Appalachian Innovation Scholars Program.
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“Tammy and Rajat bring a wealth of knowledge and energy to this role,” said Walker College of Business Associate Dean of Civic Engagement, Dr. Marty Meznar. “They have both been recently engaged with an extensive team of faculty and staff members who are working on initiatives that are critical to our students’ Appalachian education, including global learning, understanding diversity and inclusion, and sustainability.”
Dr. Meznar added that founding sustainable business director, Dr. Jim Westerman, remains closely involved with the work of the college. Dr. Westerman currently holds the James E. Holshouser Distinguished Professor in Ethics in the Walker College and served as director of sustainable business from 2015-2018.
About Sustainable Business at Appalachian
Appalachian’s Walker College of Business is committed to advancing sustainable business practices that promote responsible management of economic, social and natural resources. The theory and practice of sustainable business recognizes that the economy, environment and society (the triple bottom line) are interconnected and interdependent, and strives to enhance the business model so that it can flourish and thrive to benefit future generations. The college offers a sustainable business minor available to business and nonbusiness majors, a bachelor’s degree in environmental economics and policy, and an MBA concentration in sustainable business. The programs focus on student engagement, research and community involvement. For more information, visit business.appstate.edu/sustainability.
Walker College Sustainable Business co-Directors Tammy Kowalczyk and Rajat Panwar
Kowalczyk, Panwar