Building Community with the Dean's Research Seminar Series 2024-25

The intersection of research and business thrives at Cal Poly Pomona

The College of Business Administration (CBA) and Singelyn Graduate School of Business (SGSB) at Cal Poly Pomona are thrilled to introduce the inaugural Dean’s Research Seminar Series. This exciting initiative spotlights groundbreaking research by distinguished CBA and SGSB faculty members and other universities in a curated series showcasing the most rigorous and high impact working papers and presentations, which will be shared with other faculty members and graduate students.

Spearheaded by Singelyn Family Dean Sandeep Krishnamurthy, in partnership with Nastaran Simarasl, associate professor of strategic management and entrepreneurship, this series is designed to foster a vibrant culture of inquiry, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.

"Our Dean's Research Seminar Series is a cornerstone of intellectual exchange, bringing together world-renowned scholars and innovative thinkers to explore the frontiers of business and management,” explains Dean Krishnamurthy. “This series not only enriches our academic community but also empowers our students and faculty to engage with cutting-edge research that shapes the future of business. We are committed to fostering an environment where innovative ideas flourish."

By showcasing CPP educators’ research, the series aims to build a robust intellectual community that bridges faculty members and graduate students in a way that fosters scholarly sharing and collaboration.

“I was inspired to read the interesting and high-quality working papers that our faculty submitted to be considered for the series. I hope the series encourages more sharing of high-caliber research and collaboration among the CBA faculty members,” notes the series director Nastaran Simarasl.

This fall, the series will host four exceptional presenters, each offering unique insights into today’s dynamic business environment. The first presentation of the series began on Thursday, August 29th with a fascinating look at Employees’ Extra Role Security Behaviors, a very timely discussion in this era of cybersecurity by Deepti Agrawal, a new assistant professor of computer information systems at Cal Poly Pomona.

Each of these sessions promises to enrich our business acumen and understanding while also sparking new ideas that will ultimately shape the future of global business. All presentations will take place at the Dean’s Conference Room, 11:30-12:45 PM on specified dates.

Meet Our Inspiring Speakers:

• Deepti Agrawal
  Presentation Date: Thursday, August 29
  Topic: Employees’ Extra Role Security Behaviors
  Bio:
  Deepti Agrawal has a doctorate in business administration from the University of Memphis and is an assistant professor of computer and information systems at Cal Poly Pomona. Agrawal’s research is driven by the belief that information is today’s most valuable currency. Her work focuses on the adoption of emerging technologies and behavioral information security. Known for her dynamic teaching style, Agrawa is deeply committed to student success and is passionate about empowering future leaders in information systems.
• Maria Ortiz
  Presentation Date: Thursday, September 17, 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
  Location: Building 164, Dean’s Office Conference Room
  Topic: User-Generated Content and Consumption Decision-Making
  Bio:
  Maria Ortiz has a doctorate in philosophy from Concordia University and is an assistant professor of marketing at Cal Poly Pomona. Ortiz brings a wealth of experience in teaching marketing and consumer behavior courses, and her research delves into socially responsible behavior and online decision-making. Ortiz’s work has been published in prestigious journals. and her real-world experiences in customer profiling and market analysis enrich her classroom instruction, providing students with invaluable insights into the complexities of marketing.
• Qian (Ken) Zhang
  Presentation Date: Thursday, October 17, 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
  Location: Building 164, Dean’s Office Conference Room
  Topic: Personalized Pricing Impact on Stakeholders
  Bio:
  Qian Zhang has a doctorate in business analytics and operations and serves as an assistant professor of technology and operations management at Cal Poly Pomona, Zhang’s research focuses on revenue management, pricing strategies, and platform design. His research applies game theory and machine learning to optimize revenue management. Zhang’s innovative approaches to teaching data mining and statistics inspire students to excel in the ever-evolving world of technology and operations.
• Dr. John Joseph
  Presentation Date: Thursday, November 7, 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
  Location: Building 164, Dean’s Office Conference Room
  Topic: Organizational Designs for Innovation and Growth
  Bio:
  John Joseph holds a doctorate from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and he currently serves as a professor of strategy at the Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine. John Joseph is renowned for his research on organizational design and strategic decision-making, and he has seen his work widely published in leading academic journals. Joseph also serves as a senior editor at Organization Science. Joseph’s expertise in fostering innovation and effective decision-making will undoubtedly provide attendees with valuable perspectives on driving organizational success.

The College of Business Administration and Singelyn Graduate School of Business are excited to welcome the CPP and local faculty members and graduate students to this enriching series. We extend our sincere thanks to Nastaran Simarasl for her visionary leadership in organizing these impactful sessions. Stay tuned for more updates on our Spring 2025 presenters!

For more information, please contact Dr. Nastaran Simarasl at nsimarasl@cpp.edu.