Name: Dr. Christie Hough
Title: MBA Director/ Associate Professor of Management
Undergraduate Courses: Organizational Theory & Behavior; Leadership & Ethics; International Business
Graduate Course: Human Behavior in Organizations; Special Topics in Ethics
Please tell us a brief bio of your career – how long have you taught at Rankin College of Business, what courses do you typically teach, what are your research interests, what is your educational background, etc.
I completed my BBA & MBAs in Accounting at Mississippi State University, then proceeded to Jackson State University for my Ph.D. in Management. As I was completing my Ph.D., I was offered a management faculty position at SAU. That was 10 years ago!
I typically teach Organizational Behavior, Leadership and Ethics, and International Business at the undergraduate and graduate levels. My favorite opportunity at RCB was to assist in taking a group of 10 students to Greece! That trip changed not only their lives, but mine as well! We planned to return in May, 2020, but were prohibited by Covid. I hope to go again in the future.
I have served as the Director of the MBA program since 2013. The program began in 2008 and by 2013 had 70-80 students. Last academic year, we had 170 MBA students! I love working with these students and seeing their success both in the program and after completion!
My research interests include ethics, personality and leadership.
How does the Rankin College of Business prepare students for their professional careers?
Rankin College of Business prepares students for their professional careers by giving them the knowledge they need to get started but moreso, by giving them opportunities for field experiences and hands on projects with actual companies and managers. We offer tools that will usually only be truly appreciated once students are in the work world and begin to use the knowledge they’ve gained!
What sets the Rankin College of Business apart from other business schools?
Heart. Rankin College of Business truly cares about our students! Not just their education, but their lives! Yes, we are AACSB accredited, but so are other schools. Students have told me they have come to SAU because we actually answer the phone and talk to them. We respond to program interest by email quickly. And once admitted, students get all the help they need with schedules, class load, encouragement and help with issues or concerns they may have. If a student has trouble with a class, we work with them until they understand the material. If a student has a crisis, personal or educational, we work to assist any way we can. Most students really do know that we care about them and appreciate being where faculty and staff encourage their success!
Do you have any favorite memories from your time at the Rankin College of Business?
Greece! Coffee time with colleagues! Open door policy of faculty and staff. Pictures drawn once or twice a year in the break room by Dr. Wise!
What advice would you offer to a new student beginning their course of study at the Rankin College of Business?
Get to know classmates, faculty and staff in RCB! Be honest academically and when you find you need help. Build relationships that will last the rest of your life. You never know who will have the perfect opportunity for you in the future. Learn but also play. Complete an internship. Travel internationally if at all possible!
