(March 22, 2009) Our Most Talented Colleagues Unique A-Level Hits of Current & Former CoB Faculty – Economics In
May of 2007, untenured assistant professor of economics Sami Dakhlia, a first-year CoB faculty who, to use EFIB
chairman George Carter's term, had just been "canned" by the University of Alabama, took the floor at the end of the
CoB's spring 2007 convocation. He then proceeded to blast the USMNEWS.net editor and various CoB faculty for
speaking out against the CoB's administration in a way Dakhlia felt encouraged his (Dakhlia's) most talented colleagues
to leave USM. Of course, Dakhlia wasn't speaking out in support of those CoB faculty who had been abused by CoB
administrators, as management professor Sharon Topping had spoken for only minutes before Dakhlia was handed the
rostrum by then-interim CoB dean Alvin Williams. The faculty Topping referred to were beginning to leave the CoB as
well by spring of 2007. Dakhlia, however, was, according to sources, speaking on behalf of CoBers (and Dakhlia's
friends) like Zaher Hallab (tourism management) and Akbar Marvasti (economics), CoB administrators' favorites who
were either leaving the CoB at that time or expressing a desire to do so.
ARTICLES CONCERNING
DR. DANIEL MONCHUK, FORMER ASSOCIATE
PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS
(April 9, 2009) 31st & Pearl Chi Omicron Beta The fact that we weren't surprised to learn that untenured assistant
professor of economics Deniz Gevrek is maintaining a residence in Austin, TX, shows just how "like a Phoenix" USM's
College of Business has become since 2003. The earlier finding that another untenured assistant professor of economics,
Daniel Monchuk, is living in Washington, D.C. -- almost 1,000 miles from Hattiesburg's USM -- makes almost every other
location seem nearby. The Gevrek news did, however, get us to thinking about some "economizing" opportunities in the
whole commuter faculty trend. That is that the Monchuks, Gevreks, Jordans, Smiths, and Gunthers of the CoB should all
band together and rent a large house, perhaps even one in Hattiesburg's tony Canebrake neighborhood complete with
swimming pool, hot tub, billiards and wet bar, for their teaching fly-ins (or drive-ins).
(September 14, 2009) 31st & Pearl Dear Denise I don't mean to shove my way into the territory blazed by the creator of
USMNEWS.net's "Dear Skip"series, but it seems important to get out at least one warning message to CoAL dean Denise
von Herrmann, who is now preparing to "welcome home" four of the CoB's nine tenured/tenure]track economists.