6 Jones School professors recognized with teaching honors

Six members of the Jones Graduate School of Business faculty were recognized for their excellence in teaching at the school’s May 15 investiture ceremony at Tudor Fieldhouse. Honorees were chosen by the Rice MBA alumni group as well as by students from the Jones School’s three MBA programs.

Brian Akins

Brian Akins, assistant professor of accounting, received the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business Full-time MBA Award for Teaching Excellence. Akins, who is a 2006 Jones School MBA graduate himself, joined the Rice faculty in 2012 and teaches financial accounting in the MBA for professionals program. His research focuses on financial reporting quality and the impact of accounting in debt and equity market settings.

Prashant Kale

The Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching was presented to Prashant Kale, associate professor of strategic management. A member of the faculty since 2007, Kale does research focused on corporate strategy, strategic alliances and mergers and acquisitions.

Brian Rountree

Brian Rountree, associate professor of accounting, received the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business MBA for Executives Award for Teaching Excellence. Rountree joined the Rice faculty in 2003. His research focuses on the influence of external forces on the financial reporting choices and characteristics of firms.

Vikas Mittal

The Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business MBA for Professionals Weekend Award for Teaching Excellence was presented to Vikas Mittal, the J. Hugh Liedtke Professor of Marketing. Mittal’s research on decision-making has been published in journals such as Organization Studies, Organization Science, Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Psychiatry, Organization Behavior and Human Decision Processes and Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

Sebastian Michenaud and Karen Nelson

Sebastian Michenaud, assistant professor of finance, and Karen Nelson, the Harmon Whittington Professor of Accounting, were honored with the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business MBA for Professionals Evening Award for Teaching Excellence. A member of the faculty since 2008, Michenaud conducts research on corporate finance, corporate governance and behavioral finance. Nelson joined the Jones School faculty in 2003 and specializes in research on financial reporting and disclosure issues, including the role of regulators, auditors and private securities litigation in monitoring financial reporting quality.