Nine new faculty members bring their expertise and experience to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business for the 2025–26 academic year. The new hires in accountancy, economics, finance, management, marketing and supply chain management and analytics will advance the college's mission to drive discovery, create opportunity and empower individuals to lead the future of business.
"Our new faculty bring expertise in their fields and a wide variety of valuable experiences to our college and the university. They are committed to enhancing the student experience, advancing impactful research and strengthening our connections within the university, the community and beyond,” said Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean and professor of finance.
Brett Campbell – Accountancy
Brett Campbell, assistant professor of accountancy, came to Nebraska Business after completing a Ph.D. in accounting at Yale University, where he assisted teaching Security Analysis and Valuation in the Master of Business Administration program and Informed Business Decisions: Tax and Financial Perspective in the Executive MBA program. He also earned a master's and bachelor's degree in accounting from Brigham Young University.
"Brett brings an impressive academic background that will help students apply accounting concepts in real-world contexts,” said Jimmy Downes, director of the School of Accountancy, George and Evelyn Brewster Professor of Accountancy and associate professor of accountancy. “He will prepare undergraduate students to interpret financial data in Using Accounting Information (ACCT 301) and educate graduate students to leverage analytics to make informed decisions in Accounting and Data Analytics (ACCT 850)."
Campbell's research interests include retail trading, social media, disclosure processing costs and the information content of earnings. His paper, “Earnings Virality,” appeared in the Journal of Accounting and Economics. He also contributed to "Sermons with Stories of Debt Can Help Churchgoers Stay Frugal" in Yale Insights.
He received the Deloitte Foundation Doctoral Fellowship, the Harry and Heesun You Fellowship, the Yale School of Management Doctor Student Teaching Fellowship and Yale's Doctoral Student University Fellowship. He presented his work at the Yale Summer Accounting Conference and Financial Accounting and Reporting Section (FARS) Midyear Meeting. He also serves as a reviewer for FARS and Central Accounting Reporting System (CARS).
"Nebraska has a fantastic School of Accountancy, and I was fortunate to be connected through my network," Campbell said. "I look forward to engaging with students and contributing to the school’s tradition of excellence in accounting education and research."
Megan Harris – Accountancy
Megan Harris, assistant professor of practice of accountancy, joined Nebraska Business in the spring after serving as an accounting lecturer at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Completing her Ph.D. in computing and information science, she earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and business at UNO and a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Iowa.
A Certified Public Accountant, Harris brings expertise in accounting, auditing and accounting information systems to the classroom. She previously worked in financial services, nonprofit organizations and healthcare, serving as senior auditor at KPMG, senior accountant at TD Ameritrade, senior internal auditor at Nebraska Methodist Health System and assistant controller at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. She continues to provide tax, bookkeeping and consulting services as an independent CPA.
"Meg's background combines practical accounting and technical experience in both the public and private sectors,” said Downes. “She teaches undergraduate students the research side of our award-winning improvisation course, Research and Communication in Accounting (ACCT 455), helping them develop professional writing and presentation skills, and Auditing (ACCT 410), guiding them through the audit environment from standards, risk, evidence and the audit report."
Harris' research explores cybersecurity, human-computer interaction security (HCI-security) and the psychology of suspicion. She also holds professional memberships in the Nebraska Society of CPAs, American Accounting Association, Institute of Internal Auditors, Institute of Management Accountants, and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, where she served as treasurer and academic advisor.
"The University of Nebraska is the flagship, a Big Ten school and home of the Huskers," Harris said. "The School of Accountancy has an incredible undergraduate program, and I’m thrilled to be able to contribute."
Cole Williams – Economics
Cole Williams, assistant professor of economics, joined Nebraska Business from Durham University, where he served as an assistant professor teaching courses in industrial organization and game theory. He earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Irvine, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, Riverside.
He previously served as a postdoctoral researcher in economics at the University of Vienna, where he worked on two Austrian Science Fund Projects. They included Information Acquisition, Diffusion and Disclosure in Markets and Pricing in Imperfectly Competitive Markets. He also taught a course on incentives and strategic behavior.
"Dr. Williams' expertise and dedication to economic theory and industrial organization bring a new dimension to our department and the college,” said Ed Balistreri, department chair, Duane Acklie Chair and professor of economics. “This fall, he is teaching a new course in Applied Game Theory (ECON 435), introducing students to the theory of how people interact strategically with applications spanning economics, political science, finance, management and other disciplines.”
Williams researches digital economics, social learning and the economics of culture and identity. He published "Affirmative Action with Multidimensional Identities" in Management Science, "Echo Chambers: Social Learning Under Unobserved Heterogeneity" in The Economic Journal and "Consumer Search and Product Returns in E-Commerce" in the American Economic Journal: Microeconomics.
He presented at the United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority, the Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory in Paris and Tinbergen Institute Conference in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Williams organized the Theory & Policy in the Digital Economy Workshop and the DREAM Theory Conference at Durham and served as a referee for many journals including The Economic Journal, The RAND Journal of Economics and Journal of Economic Theory.
"I wanted to come to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln as the Department of Economics includes young, brilliant and ambitious faculty," Williams said. "I’m looking forward to contributing to this collaborative environment."
Ryan Clark – Finance
Ryan Clark, assistant professor of finance, joined the College of Business after completing a Ph.D. in finance at the University of Kansas. While at Kansas, he taught corporate finance and served as a teaching assistant in investment theory, financial markets and intermediaries. A Nebraska native, Clark earned bachelor’s degrees in finance and mathematics from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
"Dr. Clark's work on insider trading and corporate disclosure tackles some of the most pressing issues in today’s financial markets," said Stanislava Nikolova, chair of the Department of Finance, Alice M. Dittman Chair of Banking and Finance and professor of finance. "He combines outstanding scholarship with a strong Nebraska connection, making him a tremendous asset to our department and students."
Clark’s research examines insider trading, corporate disclosure and retail investor behavior. His work explores whether corporate insiders strategically time the disclosure of trades. He also co-authored papers on corporate insiders’ tax withholding elections, insider trading as value investing and the use of short-squeeze “buzzwords” in corporate disclosures.
His research received multiple awards at Kansas, including the School of Business Best Paper Award and two John O. Tollefson Awards for Best Paper and Doctoral Student Teaching. Clark presented at the Silicon Prairie Finance Conference and the annual meetings of the Financial Management Association and Southern Finance Association. He also served as president of the Association of Business Doctoral Students at Kansas and as an ad hoc reviewer for the Journal of Economics and Business.
"I am excited to contribute to the teaching and research at my home state's flagship institution," Clark said.
Niklas Hüther – Finance
Niklas Hüther, assistant professor of finance, came to Nebraska Business from San Diego State University, where he served as an assistant professor of finance. He previously taught at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and held research positions at Duke University and the University of Cologne in Germany, where he earned a Ph.D. in economics and social sciences.
“Dr. Hüther’s experience at internationally recognized institutions and his Big Ten business school background will complement the strength of our department well. This fall, he will focus on advancing his research in private equity and venture capital, and in the spring, he will help us launch a new course in entrepreneurial finance, bringing his expertise directly to our students,” said Nikolova.
Hüther’s research examines how private equity affects crime and credit markets, as well as the role of judicial assignment in Chapter 11 bankruptcies. His work on private equity compensation structures and fund performance reporting appears in Management Science and the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis. He’s also interested in crime and agricultural economics, corporate finance, and contract theory and governance.
He earned the Best Paper Award at the University of Texas AIM Conference and received the BAI Science Award for best dissertation in alternative investments. Hüther presented at the Midwestern Finance Annual Meeting, Financial Economics Research Annual Conference, Midwest Economics Association and Boca Corporate Finance & Governance Conference. He also served as a referee for the Journal of Finance, Review of Financial Studies and Review of Finance.
"I'm looking forward to this new career opportunity in a welcoming and striving environment," said Hüther. "I aspire to broaden my research at Nebraska while assisting students in making informed decisions that will support their careers in finance and foster the growth of our economy."
Shawntell Kroese – Management
Shawntell Kroese, assistant professor of practice in management, returned to Nebraska Business after nearly five years as an assistant vice president at Werner Enterprises and more than two decades as an executive at Union Pacific Railroad. She earned her MBA from Creighton University and a bachelor's degree in management at Nebraska.
This fall, Kroese leads the college’s inaugural Introduction to Business (MNGT 101) course, the first class in the newly revamped undergraduate business curriculum. The course immerses first-year students in the business disciplines through hands-on, team-based learning with peer coaches and volunteer industry mentors.
"Shawntell's proven industry expertise and award-winning teaching make her the ideal leader for our new Introduction to Business course,” said Jake Messersmith, department chair and professor of management. “She brings real-world insight and a passion for engaging students that makes the class a transformative first step in our students' business education.”
Previously, Kroese served as an assistant professor of practice in supply chain management and received the college's Excellence in Teaching Award in 2021. During her 15 years as Union Pacific’s lead recruiter, she also hired many Nebraska students and collaborated with Rob Simon, associate professor of practice in marketing, to develop a career-preparation course still offered.
"I loved all my experiences at the College of Business and Nebraska, and I'm so glad to be back," Kroese said. "With the mentorship built into MNGT 101 and opportunities like the first-ever Business Battle case competition with MotoAmerica, students will gain valuable experience and build a network to help them succeed in college and beyond. I feel so fortunate to be able to teach this class and to get to spend time with these students. It's going to be a great semester!"
Lisa Tschauner – Management
Lisa Tschauner, assistant professor of practice in management, came to Nebraska Business from Doane University, where she served as assistant professor of practice and founding chair of the entrepreneurship program. She earned a Master of Science degree in organizational management from Peru State College with an emphasis in entrepreneurship and economic development and is completing her doctorate in human science with an emphasis in leadership at Nebraska.
“Lisa joined the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship in the spring and teaches Business Strategy (MNGT 475) and Foundations of Entrepreneurship (ENTR 321). She uses her mix of classroom knowledge and real-world entrepreneurial experience to support the next generation of entrepreneurs,” said Messersmith. “Her work reflects the mission of the center to connect education, innovation and community impact.”
Previously, Tschauner worked as director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Rural Development at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and as entrepreneurship director at Central Community College in Hastings, Nebraska. An entrepreneur herself, she founded Open for Business Magazine LLC in Central Nebraska; worked as a business consultant and coach in Hastings; and authored a book on customer service tactics and strategies for business professionals.
She also volunteers with many businesses and organizations in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including the Center for People, Lincoln Partners for Economic Development, the ECHO Collective and NMotion. She's also a member of the Nebraska Entrepreneurship Task Force (NETForce), Nebraska Innovation Campus and Women Investing in Nebraska.
“I enjoy helping students connect what they learn in the classroom with real-world opportunities, so they can see the impact they’re capable of making,” Tschauner said. “At the same time, I’m passionate about supporting Nebraska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and helping business owners succeed and the community thrive.”
Sushma Kambagowni – Marketing
Sushma Kambagowni, assistant professor of marketing, came to Nebraska Business after completing a Ph.D. in marketing at the University of Pittsburgh, where she taught Introduction to Marketing and assisted with Digital and Social Media Marketing. She also earned a postgraduate diploma in management from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering from Pondicherry University.
Kambagowni researches digital platforms and immersive technologies such as augmented and virtual reality, online communities and user engagement. She also co-authored studies on advertising in virtual reality games, healthcare app usage during the COVID-19 pandemic and online brand communities.
“Dr. Kambagowni is an outstanding scholar whose expertise strengthens our department’s focus on emerging areas of marketing,” said Amit Saini, department chair, W.W. Marshall Jr. Professor and professor of marketing. “Her innovative research focuses on platform innovations and app performance, and we are looking forward to the contributions she will make as a researcher and educator."
Her work earned the American Marketing Association TechSIG Doctoral Student Award and Marketing Strategy SIG Doctoral Student Research Award, and was a finalist for the MS Mary Kay Dissertation Proposal Award. Kambagowni served as a co-author for the Journal of Marketing Research Scholarly Insights blog, production manager of the JM Buzz podcast and reviewer for the Academy of Marketing Science Annual Conference.
"I joined Nebraska Business because I loved the collegial nature of the faculty in my department and the ample research opportunities provided for junior faculty to build and grow my career as an academic," Kambagowni said.
Lu He – Supply Chain Management and Analytics
Lu He, assistant professor of practice in supply chain management and analytics, joined Nebraska Business from Mississippi State University, where she taught business decision analytics, international logistics and supply chain management and incorporated student projects with Raytheon Technology, International Paper and PACCAR Engine to address real-world supply chain challenges. She earned a Ph.D. and master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering from Binghamton University in New York and a bachelor’s degree in logistics management from Southeast University in Nanjing, China.
She previously worked at Mount Sinai Health System in New York, where she focused on inpatient flow, staffing optimization and predictive modeling. She also taught data mining in healthcare at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
"Dr. He's teaching and research experience will greatly benefit our students and our department,” said Özgür Araz, department chair and Ron and Carol Cope Professor of Supply Chain Management and Analytics. “This fall, she is teaching Business Analytics-Information Analysis (SCMA 350) and Global Sourcing and Distribution (SCMA 439), and she will connect classroom learning with real-world supply chain challenges to benefit our students."
She researches optimization, healthcare operations and machine learning applications. He published "Activation Function Optimization Scheme for Image Classification," in Knowledge-Based Systems and "A Systematic Review of Research Design and Modeling Techniques in Inpatient Bed Management," in Computers & Industrial Engineering.
"I'm excited to bring my passion for data-driven problem-solving into the classroom and explore Lincoln’s outdoor spaces. It seems like the perfect place to grow professionally and personally," He said.
