New tenure-track faculty join campus

There are 24 new tenured or tenure-track faculty members who joined UCCS this fall.

In the next few editions of Communique, brief profiles of the new faculty will be published. This week’s introductions begin with seven new assistant professors.

Christopher Bell, assistant professor, Department of Communication, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Bell previously was director of the Oral Communication Center at UCCS. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Northern Colorado, a master’s degree from San Diego State University and a Ph.D. from CU-Boulder.

Dustin Bluhm, assistant professor, College of Business. Bluhm recently completed studies in organizational behavior and human resource management at the University of Washington. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, and both master’s and Ph.D. from UW.

Lauren Bacon Brengarth, assistant professor, Department of Communication, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Brengarth previously taught at Colorado State University-Pueblo and held positions in public relations, television production and fundraising. She earned bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Missouri, Columbia.

Joseph Craig, assistant professor, Department of Economics, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Craig previously taught at Sweet Briar (Va.) College. He earned two bachelor’s degrees from Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, and master’s and Ph.D. from CU-Boulder.

Willie Harrison, assistant professor, College of Engineering and Applied Science. Prior to joining UCCS, Harrison conducted independent research and taught at Georgia Institute of Technology. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Utah State University and Ph.D. from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Babak Hayati, assistant professor, College of Business. Hayati recently completed his Ph.D. studies at the University of Houston where he researched sales management, social networks in marketing strategy and relationship marketing. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, and Ph.D. from the University of Houston.

Edward Hoang, assistant professor, Department of Economics, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Hoang previously was a visiting assistant professor at the University of Memphis. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J., and Ph.D. from the University of Houston.