New chairs leading departments at the college of business

Dr. Ola Smith

Smith has been a professor of accountancy at WMU since 2000. Her primary research interests focus on managerial accounting and government and nonprofit organizations, and she has published several articles in this area. As a CPA, Smith is a member of the Michigan State Board of Accountancy, the Board of Examiners for the American Institute of CPAs, the American Accounting Association, and the Michigan Association of CPAs. Previously, she worked for Ameritech, Deloitte and the Internal Revenue Service. Smith holds a Ph.D in accounting from Michigan State University, an MBA in finance from Mercy College and an undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Detroit.

Dr. Jim DeMello

DeMello’s teaching interests are in the areas of entrepreneurial finance, corporate finance, investments and security analysis. He has taught online and at various campuses, both in the U.S. and abroad. DeMello is the author of "Cases in Finance,” which includes 30 short, topic-based, corporate finance cases. He has presented seminars on finance for non-financial managers as well as research papers at regional and national conferences.

DeMello’s primary research interests include mergers and acquisitions, capital market efficiency and stock selection strategies. His publications have appeared in numerous academic and practitioner journals such as Financial Analysts Journal, Journal of Portfolio Management, Journal of Fixed Income and Financial Practice and Education.  Most recently, he developed a financial literacy bootcamp for high school students titled "Dollars and Sense."

Lieutenant Colonel Andrew (Jack) Morgan

Morgan’s military career began with enlisting in 1993 as a U.S. Army Reserve Combat Engineer, and his military career as a commissioned officer began in 1996 as the Battalion Chemical Officer of 3-8 CAV, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. Morgan then served as platoon leader and executive officer of 181st Chemical Company, 2d Chemical Battalion also at Fort Hood. He was then assigned to DIVARTY, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and subsequently commanded the 21st Chemical Company (Airborne) and deployed a majority of the company to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Following ILE at Fort Leavenworth, he served as Operations Officer and Executive Officer for 83d CBRN Battalion at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He then served as Brigade Executive Officer for the 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade also at Fort Polk and then Division Chemical Officer for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), where he deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom.  His most recent assignment was as battalion commander for the Blue Grass Chemical Activity in Richmond, Kentucky.

Morgan’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2nd award), Meritorious Service Medal (6th Award), Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), Army Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Superior Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal (2 stars), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, the Air Assault Badge, and the Senior Parachutist Badge.

Morgan has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Marshall University and a master’s degree in zoology from North Carolina State University. He has taught chemistry at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps as a Distinguished Military Graduate.