Introducing Fisher's new 2025 faculty

Yuheng Hu is the Fisher College of Business Distinguished Associate Professor in the Department of Accounting and Management Information Systems. Prior to joining Fisher, he spent a decade as a faculty member at the University of Illinois Chicago and worked as a research staff member at IBM Research.

His research lies at the intersection of machine learning, digital media and human-AI interaction. His work has been published in leading journals such as Information Systems Research, Journal of Management Information Systems, MIS Quarterly, ACM Transactions on Management Information Systems, INFORMS Journal of Computing, IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering and the Journal of the Association for Information Systems, as well as top computer science conferences such as AAAI and IJCAI. His research and commentary have been featured in national and international media outlets, including the LSE Business Review, The Verge, ABC News, WIRED, HuffPost and PBS. He received his PhD in computer science from Arizona State University.

Hometown, State, Province, Country: Hangzhou, China

Previous Academic Institution or Company: University of Illinois Chicago

What area of business and business education most inspires you?
I’m excited by exploring how generative AI and human-AI interaction are transforming the way businesses operate, especially in the context of online platforms and markets.

What can Fisher students expect from you as an instructor?
They can expect me to be approachable, passionate about what I teach and (hopefully) bring a good sense of humor to the classroom.

Please share some professional awards/accolades/recognition of which you are proud.
I have received 10 best paper awards and nominations at leading venues in my field, including the International Conference on Information Systems (2021); Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (2021); Workshop on Information Technologies and Systems (2018, 2020, 2024); Conference on Information Systems and Technology (2017, 2023); INFORMS Annual Conference (2017, 2022); and the ACM CHI Conference (2013). 

On the teaching side, I’m honored to have received the Teacher Recognition Program (TRP) Award, multiple dean’s teaching recognition letters and a nomination for the Graduate Mentoring Award at UIC.

At a high level, please share your area of research and expertise if applicable.
My work develops and applies tools such as machine learning, natural language processing and network analysis to understand and predict the behavior of consumers, firms and markets based on the rich, complex data they generate.

Tell us about some of your hobbies and interests.
I love exploring new cities and food. I am also a big sports fan.

Please share a fun fact about yourself.
Every city I’ve moved to has won a major sports championship within a year ― the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl in 2014, the Golden State Warriors took the NBA title in 2015, and the Chicago Cubs broke their curse with a World Series win in 2016. I’m not a magician, but the pattern speaks for itself.

Ryan J. Lamb, CPA, is an accomplished accounting and finance professional and educator with over a decade of experience spanning financial services, governmental accounting, and higher education. He brings deep expertise in complex financial reporting, audit practices, and technical accounting.

Most recently, Ryan served as director of State Reporting Solutions at Nationwide Insurance, leading a team responsible for regulatory reporting across all U.S. jurisdictions. Previously, he was accounting manager at Ohio DC, a $20 billion retirement plan, where he led financial reporting, budgeting, audits and business process modernization, while supporting strategic planning through cross-functional collaboration. Ryan began his career at KPMG in Columbus, where he advanced to audit manager in the Financial Services practice and served as an instructor of audit methodology for the KPMG Business School.

In addition to his corporate experience, Ryan is committed to education and mentorship. He has served as an adjunct faculty member at Capital University since 2024, teaching accounting and management courses. He also actively supports student and alumni engagement through leadership roles with The Ohio State University’s Sphinx Alumni Society.

Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and a minor in French, from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Capital University. He resides in Columbus, Ohio, with his husband, Dr. Neil Knight, and their two dogs, Archie and Oliver.

Hometown, State, Province, Country: Columbus, Ohio

Previous Academic Institution or Company: Nationwide Insurance; Capital University (adjunct faculty)

What area of business and business education most inspires you?
Governmental accounting and finance is an often overlooked yet critically important facet of the business world. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside dedicated public servants whose efforts, though frequently unrecognized, form the backbone of our society. I’m continually inspired by their commitment to making government operations more efficient, effective, and transparent. Their work reflects a quiet but powerful dedication to the public good that I deeply admire and strive to support.

What can Fisher students expect from you as an instructor?
Students can expect a dynamic and engaging classroom experience grounded in more than a decade of professional practice in financial services audits, technical accounting and governmental reporting. I return to the classroom at Ohio State excited to connect theory to real-world application, drawing on leadership roles at organizations like KPMG, Nationwide and Ohio DC. 

My approach blends rigorous academic instruction with insights from lived experience, helping students grasp complex concepts and apply them practically. I will challenge students to think critically and push beyond surface-level understanding, while supporting their growth as professionals and informed citizens. By the end of the course, students will leave with a stronger command of accounting principles and tools that will serve them well in both their careers and broader civic engagement.

Please share some professional awards/accolades/recognition of which you are proud.
As a member of the leadership team at Ohio DC, a supplemental retirement plan serving public employees in Ohio, I led the organization's request for proposal (RFP) process and oversaw the successful implementation of a financial wellness platform accessible to all plan participants. Advancing participants’ financial literacy and overall financial well-being is a core component of Ohio DC’s mission. The initiative I led not only aligned with that mission but also garnered national recognition: Ohio DC received first place in the Financial Wellness category for public plans with over 5,000 participants at the 2021 Eddy Awards, sponsored by Pensions & Investments.

Tell us about some of your hobbies and interests.
In my free time I love to travel, most recently to New Zealand where, together with my husband, we explored the “Lord of the Rings” shire set, went spelunking, horseback riding and Zorbing. To date I have traveled to 25 countries with plans to visit the Netherlands, Norway and Egypt before the end of 2025.

When I am at home I enjoy reading and target around 40 books a year ― memoirs are my favorite. I also love walking and can often be found striding through my neighborhood listening to a podcast (“Acquired,” “Planet Money,” “The Watch”) or an audiobook. I also took up crochet in 2024, inspired by Olympian Tom Daley.

Please share a fun fact about yourself.
My love of travel was born as a student at Ohio State: my first time travelling overseas (and first time ever on a plane) was for a summer-long study abroad program in Nantes, France.

Carter Davis is an assistant professor of finance at The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business. He earned his PhD in finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and previously served on the finance faculty at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

Carter’s research sits at the intersection of machine learning, artificial intelligence and demand-system asset pricing. Recent projects quantify the demand elasticity of quantitative investment strategies, probe why classical portfolio models overstate that elasticity and explore the limits of factor-model spanning in high-dimensional settings. This agenda has produced articles in leading journals, including the Review of Financial Studies and the Journal of Financial Economics and underpins a growing pipeline of papers on household demand, capital flows and equilibrium mispricing.

Across these studies, Carter combines large-scale ownership data with structural and reduced-form techniques to deliver policy-relevant insights for academics, practitioners and regulators seeking to understand how demand and supply shape capital markets.

Hometown, State, Province, Country: Idaho Falls, ID

Previous Academic Institution or Company: Indiana University

What area of business and business education most inspires you?
Finance, of course!

What can Fisher students expect from you as an instructor?
Students can expect lots of rigorous debate in my classroom.

Please share some professional awards/accolades/recognition of which you are proud.
I won the Trustees Teaching Award at Indiana University.

At a high level, please share your area of research and expertise if applicable.
My work sits at the intersection of machine learning, artificial intelligence and demand-system asset pricing. Recent projects quantify the demand elasticity of quantitative investment strategies, probe why classical portfolio models overstate that elasticity and explore the limits of factor-model spanning in high-dimensional settings. This agenda has produced articles in leading journals, including the Review of Financial Studies and the Journal of Financial Economics and underpins a growing pipeline of papers on household demand, capital flows and equilibrium mispricing.

Tell us about some of your hobbies and interests.
I love skiing, mountain biking, and spending time with my wife and four kids.

Please share a fun fact about yourself.
I love Korean food!

Emma L. Frank is an assistant professor of management and human resources at The Max M. Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. She received her PhD in organizational behavior from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. Prior to joining Ohio State, she served as an assistant professor at the University of New Hampshire’s Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics.

Emma’s research examines the implicit beliefs people hold about work, relationships and success — and how those beliefs shape emotion regulation, social exchange and workplace dynamics. Her work focuses on the emotional and relational consequences of employees’ lay theories, particularly in contexts where individuals navigate expectations, social norms and interpersonal challenges.

Her research has been published in leading journals including Administrative Science Quarterly, Journal of Applied Psychology, Organization Science, Personnel Psychology and Academy of Management Journal, and has received media coverage from outlets such as Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, CBS News, The Guardian and Yahoo. She currently serves on the editorial board of Academy of Management Journal.

Hometown, State, Province, Country: Buffalo, New York

Previous Academic Institution or Company: University of New Hampshire

What area of business and business education most inspires you?
I am most inspired and motivated by the people I’m able to engage with through my teaching and research.

What can Fisher students expect from you as an instructor?
Students can expect to participate in tons of activities and classroom discussions.

Please share some professional awards/accolades/recognition of which you are proud.
I have recently received the following awards: the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics Full Time MBA Teaching Excellence Award, 2025; the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics Outstanding Researcher Award, 2024; and the University of Georgia’s Excellence in Research by Graduate Students Award, 2023.

At a high level, please share your area of research and expertise if applicable.
My area of research interest centers on employee emotions and relationships.

Tell us about some of your hobbies and interests.
I enjoy reading, reality TV, going to restaurants and pilates.

Please share a fun fact about yourself.
I grew up across the street from actor, writer, director and producer Chad Michael Murray's parents.

Rachel Kehn is an experienced HR leader with over 14 years in the field, most recently serving as compensation leader for Eaton’s Global Mobility business. Her career at Eaton began in 2013 and spans HR roles across manufacturing, commercial and corporate functions. She has led enterprise-wide inclusion efforts, and division- and business-level initiatives in leadership engagement, organizational restructuring and problem-solving through data analytics — partnering closely with senior leaders and global teams.

Throughout her career, Rachel has relocated and traveled to support a variety of business units and HR functions, gaining firsthand experience with diverse teams and organizational cultures. She has led talent and organizational design strategies, coached leaders through change and worked cross-functionally to address complex workforce challenges. Her work has included designing and implementing programs that improve team effectiveness, elevate leadership capability and align workforce strategy with business priorities.

Before entering the HR profession, Rachel worked in various labor-intensive roles that shaped her practical understanding of workplace dynamics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sports leadership and humanities and a master’s in human resource management, both from The Ohio State University.

Rachel has served on the advisory board for Ohio State’s Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) program since its inception and has taught courses in HR analytics, compensation and benefits and HR in a market economy.

Hometown, State, Province, Country: Ohio

Previous Academic Institution or Company: Eaton Corporation

What area of business and business education most inspires you?
I’m most inspired by the intersection of HR strategy, economic theory and interpersonal dynamics — particularly how organizations make decisions in complex, global environments.

Communication is the connective tissue of every business function, and HR has the unique ability to influence it all — from leadership development to team effectiveness.

Business education becomes truly powerful when students can connect learnings to real-world challenges, especially those involving human behavior and organizational culture. I love designing immersive learning experiences that help students think like strategic partners, navigate interpersonal complexity and apply insights to dynamic workforce scenarios.

What can Fisher students expect from you as an instructor?
Students can expect a learning experience that bridges theory and practice. I bring a broad range of professional experience to the classroom, helping students translate course concepts into the real-world challenges they'll face after graduation. My goal is to make the material not just relevant, but actionable.

Equally important, I strive to foster an environment where every student feels valued and empowered to contribute.

Please share some professional awards/accolades/recognition of which you are proud.
I earned Fisher’s MHRM Program Teaching Award in 2024.

At a high level, please share your area of research and expertise if applicable.
My expertise lies in the real-world application of HR strategy, particularly through the HR business partner lens. Over the course of my career, I’ve worked with global workforces, navigating the complexities of cross-cultural leadership, international compensation structures and business-wide program implementation. I’ve held specialized roles in compensation, program development and workforce analytics, all of which have deepened my strategic perspective.

A key focus of my work has been leadership development — partnering with senior leaders across geographies to build talent pipelines, foster culture and drive organizational effectiveness. While my background is rooted in practice, I bring a strong analytical and strategic mindset that informs both my teaching and curriculum design.

Tell us about some of your hobbies and interests.
I love staying active — whether it’s CrossFit, volleyball, yoga or snowboarding. My wife and I also enjoy traveling internationally, exploring new cultures through food and coffee. I’m a big music fan and always have a playlist going, whether I’m working or unwinding. I also love to read and am constantly learning — whether it’s diving into a new book, listening to a podcast or exploring a topic that sparks curiosity.

Molly Tafrate is a strategic consultant, educator and social enterprise leader. As principal of MWT Consulting, LLC, she provided strategic consulting services to nonprofit organizations, specializing in organizational development, project management and operational efficiency.

Molly is excited to expand her role as a lecturer at The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, where she continues to teach strategic management and human resources courses. Her commitment to experiential learning bridges academic theory with real-world application, emphasizing student engagement through innovative assignments and collaborative environments.

With extensive experience in social entrepreneurship, Molly previously served as chief mission officer at SocialVentures, where she developed the nation’s first social impact validation program and generated over $1 million in annual support through strategic partnerships.

Molly holds an MBA from The Ohio State University and an MA in higher education administration from New York University. She currently lives in German Village with her family and lovable pit mix.

Hometown, State, Province, Country: Troy, Ohio

Previous Academic Institution or Company: SocialVentures

What area of business and business education most inspires you?
I enjoy seeing how things work together. From accounting to marketing to operations and everything in between ― all areas must be on the same page for success. Once students see business as a living thing, that changes over time and in different situations, it is inspiring to see the creativity and passion that grows.

What can Fisher students expect from you as an instructor?
I really enjoy getting to know students and meeting them where they are in their education. The more involved and interested the students are, the more engagement we have in the classroom. I love leading hands-on activities and watching the learning unfold organically.

Tell us about some of your hobbies and interests.
In my free time, I love to be active. I play squash, run and enjoy going for hikes. In my downtime, I like to read, mostly fiction and any good story.

Please share a fun fact about yourself.
When I was in college, I traveled around the world on a cruise ship. We hit some rough seas in the North Pacific and were stranded for over 8 hours!

Jiae Kim is an assistant professor in marketing and logistics at The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business, where she also earned her PhD in statistics. Her research centers on quantitative marketing, applying Bayesian statistical models to uncover consumer motivations and preference heterogeneity.

Before joining Fisher, Jiae taught at Indiana University and worked as a statistical consultant on diverse applied projects. She is passionate about equipping students with strong analytical foundations and confidence in applying data-driven insights.

Outside academia, she enjoys Pilates and running. A proud Buckeye alum, Jiae is thrilled to return to Ohio State as a member of its faculty.

Hometown, State, Province, Country: South Korea

Previous Academic Institution or Company: Indiana University

What area of business and business education most inspires you?
I’m most inspired by the intersection of data science and marketing — using statistical modeling to uncover insights into consumer behavior and support data-driven decision-making in business strategy.

What can Fisher students expect from you as an instructor?
Fisher students can expect a supportive and intellectually engaging environment where real-world problems are explored through data and models. I aim to make complex analytical tools approachable and relevant, while encouraging curiosity, critical thinking and confidence in applying quantitative methods to business decisions.

Please share some professional awards/accolades/recognition of which you are proud.
While pursuing my PhD here at Fisher, I was honored to receive a departmental teaching award in recognition of my commitment to student learning and effective instruction as a course instructor.

At a high level, please share your area of research and expertise if applicable.
My research focuses on applying statistical models to gain insights into consumer behavior and inform marketing strategy. I specialize in quantitative marketing and Bayesian methods.

Tell us about some of your hobbies and interests.
As someone with a mostly sedentary work life, Pilates and running have become an important part of my hobbies and interests.

Please share a fun fact about yourself.
I earned my PhD from Ohio State University and now have the pleasure of teaching here.

Alan Pritchard is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Marketing and Logistics, where he teaches core undergraduate and graduate courses in logistics, supply chain management and managerial economics. Prior to joining Fisher, Alan was at Texas Tech University, where he was a finalist for the Jerry S. Rawls Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching award.

Alan received his PhD in supply chain management from the University of Maryland. His research focuses on inventory management, retail operations and reverse logistics, and he has published articles in leading academic journals, including the Journal of Business Logistics, Transportation Research, Supply Chain Management Review and Decisions Sciences.

Hometown, State, Province, Country: Norfolk, Virginia

Previous Academic Institution or Company: Texas Tech University

What area of business and business education most inspires you?
I am inspired by the constantly evolving supply chain landscape and the introduction of new business strategies. I thoroughly enjoy introducing these strategies to younger generations and applying them to current events. I also enjoy sparking students’ interest in business analytics and applied economics and preparing them for their careers.

What can Fisher students expect from you as an instructor?
Students can expect a highly interactive classroom with open dialogue and relevant, real-world applications. Students will develop their ability to make decisions under uncertainty by analyzing case studies, assignments and in-class exercises. Problem solving, teamwork, negotiation and leadership are emphasized so that students can apply their knowledge outside of the classroom and throughout their careers.

Please share some professional awards/accolades/recognition of which you are proud.
I was named the recipient of the Jerry S. Rawls Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching award at Texas Tech University, and the Jack W. Nickson & Nathaniel Shechter Memorial Award in Economics at Old Dominion University.

At a high level, please share your area of research and expertise if applicable.
I use theory-driven empirical analysis to research questions at the supply chain-marketing interface, and I study the outcomes associated with firms’ strategic actions in the context of retail operations and e-commerce.

Tell us about some of your hobbies and interests.
I enjoy traveling, gardening and attending sporting events.

Please share a fun fact about yourself.
I was a three-sport athlete through high school.

David Widdifield is an accomplished senior supply chain professional with 30 years of demonstrated expertise in retail supply chain operations, executive leadership, project management, data analysis, supplier relationship management and technology development.

David offers a unique leadership background built upon a 17-year career in the United States Army, earning the rank of captain. He is an effective communicator with excellent planning, organizational and negotiation strengths as well as the ability to lead, reach consensus, establish goals and drive results. David has 20 years of educational experience in administration and teaching at the graduate and undergraduate level for college, department and MS programs, including serving as dean for college-university academic operations and graduate programs.

Hometown, State, Province, Country: Columbus, Ohio

Previous Academic Institution or Company: University of Texas at Dallas

What area of business and business education most inspires you?
I am most interested in a number of areas, including operations and supply chain management, supply chain technology and sustainable supply chain management.
 
What can Fisher students expect from you as an instructor?
As a practitioner scholar with over 30 years in supply chain management experience, I combine both concept and practice in an experiential format where students learning key supply chain concepts can quickly apply their classroom knowledge in the workplace and begin their value contribution to the firm.

Please share some professional awards/accolades/recognition of which you are proud.
I have received the following teaching awards and military accolades: UT at Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management Outstanding Executive Education Teacher for Online Programs; UT at Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management Outstanding Graduate Teacher; Fisher College of Business Distinguished Undergraduate Professor; Fisher College of Business Distinguished Masters in Business Logistics Engineering Professor; U.S. Air Force Patriot Award; U.S. Army Distinguished Military Graduate; and U.S. National Defense Medal.

At a high level, please share your area of research and expertise if applicable.
My research area and expertise is in the area of supply chain operations and technology exploring the factors which contribute to successful risk identification, mitigation and resiliency.

Tell us about some of your hobbies and interests.
I am interested in: fitness (jogging, walking, weightlifting); listening to music; reading thrillers (by authors such as David Baldacci, Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Gillian Flynn and James Patterson); target shooting; and watching horror movies with my kids (we’re certified horror junkies).

Please share a fun fact about yourself.
This past June my daughter, son and I went on the night tour of the Stanley Hotel ― one of the most haunted hotels in the U.S. We had a blast!

Nima Safaei is an assistant professor of operations and business analytics at Fisher. His research lies at the intersection of analytics and impact, applying machine learning, natural language processing and causal inference to examine how technology and information influence operational and strategic outcomes. His current projects explore environmental sustainability and greenwashing, spillovers across supply chain networks, the effects of media attention on firm performance and the role of AI and analytics workforce in enhancing supply chain productivity. 

Before joining Fisher, Nima earned his PhD in business administration from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and held industry positions at TikTok and Cargill, where he designed and evaluated machine learning systems for production forecasting and TikTok Shop seller growth. Nima also holds an MBA from the University of Iowa and a master’s in transportation engineering from Iowa State University. His work has been supported by prestigious awards and fellowships, including the Richard A. Erley Fellowship and National Science Foundation-funded initiatives such as LEAP HI, GOALI, and EAGER. 

In the classroom, Nima emphasizes welcoming, hands-on learning with real data, reproducibility and clear links between analytical methods and managerial decision-making. He was recognized on the University of Illinois’ “Teachers Ranked as Excellent” list in 2023. Outside of work, he enjoys road trips and creating simple data applications that make everyday choices a little smarter. 

Hometown, State, Province, Country: Tabriz, Azerbaijan, Iran 

Previous Academic Institution or Company: University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign 

What area of business and business education most inspires you? 
I’m most inspired by the intersection of analytics, technology and sustainability, where data-driven operations can improve organizational performance while creating positive societal impact. 

What can Fisher students expect from you as an instructor? 
Fisher students can expect a clear, welcoming learning environment with hands-on work using real datasets, reproducible analysis and practical links between analytical tools and managerial decisions. I will support their education with fast, actionable feedback. 

Please share some professional awards/accolades/recognition of which you are proud. 
I was awarded the Richard A. Erley Fellowship from the Gies College of Business for the Fall 2025 semester. I was also on the University of Illinois’ “Teachers Ranked as Excellent” list (December 2023). My research collaborations have included NSF-supported initiatives (LEAP HI, GOALI and EAGER) alongside industry-facing analytics work at TikTok and Cargill. 

At a high level, please share your area of research and expertise if applicable. 
My research and expertise lie in applying machine learning, natural language processing and causal inference to operations and business analytics. My current projects focus on environmental sustainability and greenwashing, AI applications in supply chain and network analysis and the impact of media attention on firm outcomes. 

Tell us about some of your hobbies and interests. 
Outside of work, I enjoy swimming, exploring diverse cuisines and spending quality time with my family and our dog, Pepper.

Please share a fun fact about yourself. 
I plan road trips like an operations problem. I optimize routes and enforce a strict daily driving cap.