From the Dean

Dr. Sanjay Ramchander
Dean, McCoy College of Business

Welcome to the Fall+Winter 2024 issue of TXSTMcCoy Magazine.

This new issue focuses on legacies, from those long established to those just beginning. McCoy College faculty, students, and alumni have built a reputation for excellence that moves forward from one generation to the next, and the stories in this issue demonstrate the impact of that forward momentum.

We open with a story about Vicki West, whose legacy spans over three decades at McCoy College. As a professor of instruction and the founding director of the Center for Professional Sales, she has profoundly impacted the lives of countless students. And earlier this year, the center was named Best Sales Program worldwide by the University Sales Center Alliance. Vicki is retiring from her impressive career at Texas State University, and we are proud to feature her legacy.

Our second feature story introduces Dr. Jake Waddingham, assistant professor of management, who joined us in 2021 and has quickly become one of McCoy College's most prolific researchers and authors, winning the Robert J. Olney Early Career Research Award in August. An Iowa native and a runner, he shares the impact of legacies on his own journey as he begins leaving a legacy of his own.

We're also excited to highlight Dr. Masoud Moradi, assistant professor of marketing and director of our new doctor of business administration (DBA) program. Dr. Moradi is on track to building a lasting legacy, combining his computer science and data analytics background to develop innovative marketing approaches, and he was awarded the college's prestigious Gary V. Woods Research Award in August.

Our fourth feature is the story of recent alumnus Mason Espedal, a young man who has already built a legacy in the business world with his first company. Just a few weeks ago, he received the Alan and Barbara Dreeben Future Texas Business Legend Award from the Texas Business Hall of Fame.

We also offer a new section called "The Company We Keep," a list of the speakers and distinguished guests we've hosted at the McCoy College of Business this semester.

Have a look around the webpages of the magazine. Share the stories with your friends and colleagues. And add your achievements and life updates to our Class Notes via the online form linked on the magazine’s homepage.

I hope you get a strong pulse of the excitement at McCoy College as we transform the lives of students and define the future of business in Texas and beyond.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Sanjay Ramchander 
Darren Casey Professor of Business 
Dean, McCoy College of Business 
Texas State University 
Sanjay.Ramchander@txstate.edu