ETSU Business & Technology News

ETSU Grad, Filmmaker Jostin Woods Wins Top Prize

Jostin Woods, a recent ETSU graduate, has won an international award for his documentary film, "George: A Well-Crafted Life," which portrays the inspiring journey of a blind woodworker from Greeneville, Tennessee. Woods' film was selected from nearly 2,300 entries at the BEA 2025 Festival of Arts.

Hall Named Interim Chair of Department of Management and Supply Chain

Dr. Kelly Hall has been named Interim Chair of ETSU’s Department of Management and Supply Chain, bringing extensive experience in leadership, curriculum innovation, and industry collaboration to the role starting January 2025.

Why I Teach: Dr. Melanie B. Richards

Whether you're an educator, a media and marketing professional, or simply curious about the future of AI technology in higher ed, this episode of Why I Teach is a must-listen. It features Dr. Melanie B. Richards, the interim director of ETSU's new School of Marketing and Media in the ETSU College of Business & Technology.

ETSU Student Graduates Despite Losing it all to Helene

Fate Walker graduated from ETSU last weekend with a bachelor’s degree in Digital Media, concentrating in Animation, and will begin the Master of Fine Arts program this spring to continue studying motion capture and feature animation. After overcoming the challenges of losing everything in Hurricane Helene, Fate hopes to teach future animators, inspired by their experiences to become a better educator.

BlueSky Tennessee Institute Graduates First Cohort at ETSU

Twenty-six students from East Tennessee State University’s College of Business and Technology will make history as the first graduates of the BlueSky Tennessee Institute, a milestone they will celebrate during ETSU’s Fall Commencement later this week.

ETSU CyberBucs Shine at 2024 CyberForce Competition®

ETSU’s CyberBucs cybersecurity team showcased their growing expertise at the 2024 CyberForce Competition®, finishing an impressive 25th place out of 96 teams from 75 universities and colleges across the country.

Supply Chain and Digital Technology Summit Returns to ETSU Nov. 15

ETSU’s Department of Management and Supply Chain invites the public to the 2024 Appalachian Highlands Supply Chain and Digital Technology Summit on Friday, Nov. 15. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by an optional networking lunch, at the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts.  

Inspiring the Next Generation of Supply Chain Leaders

ETSU’s Supply Chain Management program is excited to welcome high school students to campus for the Supply Chain Experience on November 8th, 2024 at the Brinkley Center. This event, in partnership with local high schools, aims to introduce students to the vital field of Supply Chain Management (SCM), a critical element in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and technology.

Dr. Melanie Richards Named Interim Director of CBAT’s School of Marketing and Media

The College is pleased to announce that Dr. Melanie B. Richards has been appointed as the Interim Director of the newly established School of Marketing and Media within the College of Business and Technology.

Celebrating CBAT’s 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees

Congratulations to the five individuals recently inducted into the College of Business and Technology Hall of Fame. These leaders exemplify our mission to educate, innovate, collaborate, and inspire, making lasting impacts on their industries and communities.

Dr. Andrew Dunn Appointed as Inaugural Director of Research and Innovation in CBAT

Dr. Andrew Dunn has been named the inaugural Director of Research and Creative Activities for the College of Business and Technology. In this newly created role, Dr. Dunn will lead the College's efforts to expand its foundation for scholarly excellence and foster innovation across all disciplines. 

CBAT Andrew Leadership Academy Celebrates Largest Cohort

The College of Business and Technology is excited to introduce the newest, and largest, cohort of the CBAT Andrew Leadership Academy! The 2024-2025 class includes 58 exceptional senior and graduate students from across the college. 

Cybersecurity Receives ABET Accreditation

The College of Business and Technology and the Department of Computing continues to solidify its reputation as a leader in computing education. The Cybersecurity and Modern Networks program has earned accreditation by ABET, the premier global accreditor for computing, engineering and technology programs. 

Spotlighting Faculty and Staff Achievements

The College of Business and Technology is proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of its faculty and staff through the 2024 CBAT Faculty and Staff Awards. These awards honor excellence in teaching, research, service, and staff contributions across the college.

Working in the era of AI: ETSU scholars offer insights 

From the classroom to the real world, ETSU is empowering students with cutting-edge skills in AI. Faculty within the College of Business and Technology are not only educating students on the potential of AI but also emphasizing the importance of using it responsibly.

Turning Business Challenges Into Strategic Innovation

MBA students demonstrated their knowledge in strategic management through their capstone projects this year. Over the past nine months, student-led teams have collaborated with various businesses and organizations offering practical solutions to real-world challenges.

Cyber Bucs Excel in Security Competition

ETSU’s Cybersecurity Team, the Cyber Bucs, made an impressive debut in MITRE's annual Embedded Capture the Flag (eCTF) competition, securing 17th place out of 95 teams from institutions across nine countries.

Bulls, Bucs, & Bears Challenge Winners

During this campus-wide stock challenge, students started out with a hypothetical $10,000 to see how much they could accumulate in five weeks. The challenge was sponsored by STIFEL Investments and cash prizes were awarded to the top 10 finishers. 

Celebrating Student Excellence

Each year, the College of Business and Technology at ETSU honors an outstanding student for their excellence in their program. While criteria may vary by department, the honor of being recognized as a Student of Excellence remains constant. With over 3,000 students and six academic departments, we're proud of our diverse and thriving student body.

American Marketing Association Shines at National Conference

The American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter from ETSU recently made waves at the AMA International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans! Standing out among 300+ chapters, ETSU's AMA was honored with national recognition for Professional Development and Chapter Planning.

Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society Inductions

Founded in 1913, Beta Gamma Sigma is the international business honor society for AACSB-accredited schools, which are the top 5% of business school programs around the world. ETSU inducted 17 students into the society.

Koren Meadows Awarded National Surveying Scholarship

Koren Meadows, a senior in the Surveying and Mapping Science program, has been awarded the Slavoj (Dr. Ing Desider E.) Scholarship by the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). This scholarship, totaling $5,000, recognizes Meadows' outstanding academic achievements and commitment to the field of surveying.

ETSU’s NSBE Chapter Recognized at Annual Convention

Congratulations to ETSU’s National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) chapter for being recognized as the "Most Consistent Small Chapter" at the recent NSBE Region III Awards ceremony.

College Renews Niswonger Faculty Fellowship

The College is pleased to announce the renewal of the Niswonger Faculty Fellowship for two distinguished faculty members. The fellowship program is designed to stimulate and facilitate projects by faculty members to improve their teaching, advance their scholarly and creative work, enhance the university's academic programs, and realize institutional goals.

Q&A with BlueSky Tennessee Institute Instructors

Get to know instructors Benjamin Burton and William Rochelle who joined the BlueSky Institute team last summer. Both are graduates of the ETSU Master of Computer Science program and now live in Chattanooga.

Students Shine at Tennessee Bankers Association

Students had the opportunity to attend the Tennessee Bankers Association Annual Credit Conference, thanks to support from the Center for the Study of Finance and Mountain Commerce Bank. The trip proved to be not only a valuable learning experience but also a chance for the students to showcase their professionalism and dedication.

Fall 2023 Dean's List Announced

Congratulations to the College of Business & Technology students on the Fall 2023 Dean's List

Keynote Speaker set for Appalachian Highlands Economic Forum

Stuart C. McWhorter, Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development Commissioner, has been named as this year’s keynote speaker for the 2024 Appalachian Highlands Economic Summit. McWhorter has a diverse background in entrepreneurship, corporate finance and strategic planning and will discuss the state’s economic environment and how it relates to the Appalachian Highlands. 

Students Excel in TVA Investment Challenge

ETSU’s Applied Equity Class outperformed the S&P 500 in the Tennessee Valley Authority's Investment Challenge for the 5th consecutive year. This unique, hands-on experience empowers Economics and Finance students to make decisions related to a substantial portfolio valued at over $500,000.

Launch of Mechatronics Engineering Program

The college excited to announce the launch of a new Bachelor of Science in Mechatronics Engineering program. This cutting-edge program will be available to students starting in the Fall of 2024.

Dr. Christel Young Promoted to BlueSky Site Director

The College of Business and Technology is pleased to announce the promotion of Dr. Christel Young to the position of Site Director at the BlueSky Tennessee Institute, effective January 1, 2024.

ETSU Hosting Inaugural Construction Summit

ETSU College of Business and Technology’s Department of Engineering, Engineering Technology, Interior Architecture, and Surveying is proud to announce the upcoming Construction Summit, set to take place at the ETSU Culp Center in Johnson City, TN on May 16-17, 2024 from 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM. 

Launch of Appalachian Highlands Economic Update

The Department of Economics and Finance has launched the Appalachian Highlands Economic Update. This new quarterly newsletter will provide timely information on regional topics such as the financial markets, labor and employment, housing, and macroeconomics. 

ETSU student will fulfill promise at Commencement

Congratulations to first-generation college student James “Jack” Smithey, an interior architecture major who graduated this December. Jack upheld a promise made to his dad 14 years ago and has since secured a job in Nashville.

New Class of the CBAT Andrew Leadership Academy

Congratulations to our newest 43 Ambassadors in the 2023-2024 CBAT Andrew Leadership Academy.  They are already leading and serving in our college, university and community.

Faculty Win Research Award 

Drs. Michelle Freeman (Accountancy) and Kelly Atkins (Marketing) won the best paper award for paper, “Demystifying Team Creation” at the Atlantic Marketing Association Conference. 

National Society of Black Engineers Fall Conference

ETSU achieved a significant milestone as it boasted representation from over 34 students, underscoring the growing commitment of NSBE ETSU.

ETSU Cyber Security Team Excels in 2023 CyberForce Competition®

East Tennessee State University's Cyber Security team demonstrated exceptional skills at the recent 2023 CyberForce Competition®, securing the 29th position out of 95 teams representing 75 universities and colleges across the nation.

National Company Ranks Digtial Marketing Program as Elite

Intelligent.com, a longtime resource for program ranking and educational planning, has ranked our Digital Marketing Master's degree as one of the top programs in the country. The program was ranked as the No. 7 Top online master’s degree in Digital Marketing.

Business and Technology Inducts New Hall of Fame Members

The College inducted four people into its Hall of Fame at an awards ceremony earlier this month. The college presented awards in three categories: Horizon, Faculty Lifetime Achievement and Lifetime Achievement Awards, honoring inductees who have earned noteworthy achievements in business, technology and community service.  

Launch of the Center for the Study of Finance

The Center for the Study of Finance,  under the leadership of Kevin Kilgore and Dr. Bill Trainor, will endeavor to be a leader and promoter for the College of Business & Technology as a “real-world business educator”  among students, faculty, financial institutions, and local businesses.

Student Interning with Influential Federal Contractor

Andrew McDonald worked with the company’s research and development team, working on a cybersecurity investigation tool called Cyberscape. His work included programming and coding, as well as making critical updates to Cyberscape, a platform in development by Core4ce that detects, investigates and identifies cyber threats. 

ETSU’s prestigious Digital Media program aiding area schools

The Digital Media program is offering STEM demos, taught by professionals associated with the department, to 4th to 12th grades. The teaching sessions last between 30 minutes and an hour and feature real-world experts providing clear instruction. 

Discover Accounting Day

Students from Greeneville High School and Dobyns Bennett High School engaged with several accounting professionals to learn about careers in accounting during Discover Accounting Day at ETSU.

Accounting Networking Night

The Accounting Networking Night recently had 90 recruiters representing 29 employers seeking accounting majors from ETSU. Students offered resumes and recruiters provided specifics concerning the firms' business and job openings.

ETSU Hosting Supply Chain, Digital Tech Summit

Business and IT professionals, recruiters, educators and government representatives are invited to join the Appalachian Highlands Supply Chain and Digital Technology Summit in October. The event is scheduled for October 20 at the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts. It runs from 8:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m., with an optional networking lunch with ETSU supply chain and computing students from 12:15-1:30 p.m. 

First Year Experience Events

Our College understands that the first year of college can be both exciting and challenging. That's why we've curated a series of special events to ensure our incoming students feel right at home from day one. These events are designed to help students transition smoothly into college life.

Alumnus to Speak at the UN

ETSU College of Business & Technology alum Handaa Enkh-Amgalan (B.B.A in Marketing and Economics, 2016) has been invited by the Office of the President from the UN General Assembly to deliver remarks as a panelist at the 78th General Assembly that is occurring in September.

Studio Rome 2023

For six weeks interior architecture students spent time studying design in Rome, Florence, Venice, and Vicenza Italy.

Faculty/Student Research

A Computing faculty/student research collaboration produces a published article on using VR for musical training.

New Hospitality and Tourism Concentration

The hospitality and tourism concentration will provide students with immersive experiences and a comprehensive understanding of the industry. The new concentration offers numerous career opportunities in hospitality and tourism management, ranging from hotels and resorts to event planning and destination marketing.

Digital Media Agreement

A new agreement between ETSU and Northeast State Community College will help digital media students move seamlessly from a two-year education program to an accelerated bachelor's degree path.

Harrison Simm - First Supply Chain Graduate

Meet Harrison Simm, the first graduate of the College of Business and Technology's Supply Chain Management program at ETSU. Harrison is a Johnson City native and chose to attend ETSU because of his love for the area and ETSU's personalized attention and opportunities for growth.

Dr. Michelle Freeman Wins Women to Watch Award

Dr. Michelle Freeman was named a recipient of the TSCPApex Women to Watch award for the state of Tennessee. This prestigious award recognizes the exemplary efforts and achievements in advancing the accounting profession and celebrates her significant impact in the field.

Beta Gamma Sigma Honors Society Inductions 

ETSU inducts 16 new members into its Beta Gamma Sigma honors society, which recognizes outstanding business students who have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership.

High School Entrepreneurship Camp

ETSU's Entrepreneurship Program is partnering with FoundersForge and the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce to host the inaugural High School Entrepreneur’s Boot Camp. This four-day summer camp runs June 26-29, and is open to students in grades 8-12.

Cybersecurity Summer Camp

The Department of Computing is hosting a Cybersecurity Boot Camp for middle school students this summer. The camp will be June 12-16 at ETSU's Brinkley Center. This is an exciting opportunity for students to learn about cybersecurity concepts, cyber hygiene, and other STEM activities.

BlueSky Signing Day

On April 22nd, in a ceremony at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BlueCross) headquarters, students formally committed to join the next incoming class at the BlueSky Institute. 

NSAC Student Team Wins at District

ETSU continues a winning streak in District 7 of the 2023 National Student Advertising Competition. The victory this season marks the FOURTH district win (in 6 seasons) over teams from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee. This year, we competed live against: Tulane (2nd place), LSU (3rd place), Ole Miss, University of Tennessee, University of Alabama, Lee University, and University of Memphis.

Emma Named Digital Media Chair

The College of Business and Technology is pleased to announce the appointment of Tod Emma as the newest Chair of the Department of Digital Media.

Preparing Students for Career Success

The College of Business and Technology is leading the way in ensuring that students are prepared for success in the workforce. The college has taken a proactive approach to helping students succeed by creating a Director of First Year Experience (FYE) position and a series of Career Readiness courses.

Interior Architecture CIDA Visit

ETSU's Interior Architecture Program is  going through it's accreditation process with CIDA, Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The accreditation process involves a thorough review of the program's curriculum, faculty, resources, and student work to ensure that it meets the rigorous standards set by CIDA.

Virtual Robot Cave Fight

The Department of Computing is excited to announce the upcoming Virtual Robot Cave Fight competition on April 14th from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. The event will take place in the ETSU Culp Center Cave and is the result of the hard work and creativity of the department's Introduction to Computer Science students.

CMA Scholarship Winners Announced

10 ETSU accounting students were recipients of a 2023 CMA Scholarship through the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).

AMA Case Competition

Congratulations to ETSU's AMA students! This past week, they won 3rd place at the American Marketing Association (AMA) International Conference in New Orleans. This competition was sponsored and judged by the Wall Street Journal. 

Dr. Sharon Feeney, Fulbright Scholar

This semester, ETSU’s College of Business & Technology is hosting the first Fulbright Scholar from Ireland to visit Tennessee.  Dr. Sharon Feeney is the Head of Learning Development in the College of Business at the Technical University Dublin, Ireland.

Dr. Reza Maihami Authors Two Journal Articles

Dr. Reza Maihami, an Assistant Professor in the College of Business & Technology's Management, Marketing & Supply Chain Department has two recent publications.

ETSU Cybersecurity Team Places 3rd

The East Tennessee State University Cybersecurity team has placed 3rd in the regional round of the 2023 Southeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (SECCDC). This year's competition saw 33 teams participate, with only the top eight advancing to the regional round.

Q & A with Mathew Desjardins

Bluesky interviews mathew Desjardins and he speaks about the student-first, student-focus of the program.

Business & Technology Alum in the News

The Trust Company of Tennessee has hired Mark Williams as relationship manager, based in the firm’s Tri-Cities office.

Free Tax Assistance

A group of East Tennessee State University business student volunteers, under the guidance of accountancy faculty member Dr. Michelle Freeman, will offer free tax preparation assistance again this year through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.

BlueSky Institute Highlighted

East Tennessee State University’s BlueSky Tennessee Institute, a pivotal partnership with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, has been highlighted by Google.

Entrepreneurial Competition

A “Shark Tank” style entrepreneurship competition offers East Tennessee State University students and faculty the unique opportunity to win seed money for their innovative ideas.

Animation Program Nationally Ranked

East Tennessee State University has been ranked the top animation school in Tennessee and No. 7 nationally among schools offering an animation-related B.S. degree

Research Collaborators

Two engineering faculty research collaborators have published an article titled "Framework to Compute Emission Costs Associated with Work Zones" at the 9th International Conference on Construction Engineering and Project Management.