VCU honors business faculty for global impact in research and teaching
By Megan Nash
Three professors from the VCU School of Business received one of the university’s highest distinctions this month: the National/International Recognition Award (NIRA).
The honorees—Lindsay Andiola, Ph.D.; Sven Kepes, Ph.D.; and Jason Merrick, Ph.D.—were celebrated at a Dec. 4 ceremony in the University Student Commons, joining a cohort of scholars recognized for advancing their fields on a national and international scale.
“Any university is a reflection of its faculty,” VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., said during the ceremony. Calling the recipients “the brightest and hardest workers, role models shaping the human experience,” Rao praised their innovation and dedication to their disciplines.
2024 NIRA School of Business honorees:
Lindsay Andiola, Ph.D.
An associate professor of accounting, Andiolahas built a career exploring the human side of auditing. Before joining academia, she worked as an auditor for KPMG and later in corporate accounting in New York City. Her research focuses on how auditors collaborate and how firms ensure quality in their processes, work that has been widely published in leading academic journals. In the classroom, she challenges students with real-world case studies that prepare them for the complexities of modern auditing. She also mentors doctoral students and holds leadership roles in professional accounting associations.
Sven Kepes, Ph.D.
A professor of management and meticulous scholar, Kepes focuses on understanding how organizations function. His research often uses meta-analytic techniques to examine the effectiveness of management practices as well as the robustness of the obtained results. Recently, he started to study the use of AI-powered tools in organizations and their effect on employees. A native of Hamburg, Germany, Kepes’ academic journey was shaped by his early career in industrial engineering and business. His published studies have influenced how researchers assess the trustworthiness of scientific results and the broader credibility of management practices.
Jason Merrick, Ph.D.
A professor of supply chain management and analytics, Merrick is known for his ability to translate complex statistical methods into practical solutions for industry and government. His research combines statistical modeling and simulation techniques, with applications in public safety, logistics and organizational decision-making. He has been recognized for his engaging teaching style, receiving accolades such as the INFORMS Prize for the Teaching of Operations Research and Management Science Practice.
Introduced in 2023, the NIRA honors faculty who have achieved significant national or international acclaim in their academic fields. The award was created by Fotis Sotiropoulos., Ph.D., provost and senior vice president of academic affairs, in partnership with Marlon Levy, M.D., senior vice president for VCU Health Sciences and CEO of VCU Health System. Recipients are selected based on recommendations from their deans.
“Great faculty don’t just lead in their research—they bring that same energy into the classroom and business community,” said Brian Brown, Ph.D., interim dean of the School of Business. “It’s an honor to see their work recognized at this level. Their achievements are influencing their fields and encouraging students and others in the business world to think bigger.”
Andiola, Kepes and Merrick join an elite group of NIRA honorees, including last year’s inaugural recipients from the School of Business: Seong Byun, Ph.D.; Jose Cortina, Ph.D.; Xiaojin Liu, Ph.D.; Christopher Reina, Ph.D.; Jeffrey Smith, Ph.D.; and Victoria Yoon, Ph.D.
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