Leadership

Dr. Kirk Jackson is an experienced professor of finance and accounting. His previous positions include serving on the faculty at Oklahoma Wesleyan University where he was also a dean and chairing an academic department at Southwestern Christian University. His research interests focus on corporate finance, central banking policy, agency theory, managerial accounting, capital markets, and faith integration. He has a Doctor of Business Administration in finance from Anderson University, an M.B.A. from the University of Oklahoma, and a M.A.C.C. from Emporia State University.

Dr. Ryan Ladner moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2015 to teach at JBU and lead the undergraduate department in the College of Business. In 2017, he transitioned from the department head for undergraduate studies to the department head for the Graduate Business Programs.  He has a B.S.B.A., in Personal Financial Planning from The University of Southern Mississippi, an M.B.A., from Mississippi College, an M.A., in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and a D.B.A., in Marketing from George Fox University.

Before his role at JBU, Dr. Ladner was a District Sales Leader in the Frito-Lay division of PepsiCo North America. After leaving PepsiCo, he served in various roles in higher education including Director of Enrollment and Assistant Professor of Business at Bryan College and Assistant Professor of Marketing at Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Dr. Ladner teaches courses in strategy and marketing at the undergraduate and graduate levels and he conducts research as well as presents in the areas of active learning, college choice theory, team-based learning, and digital marketing. He also earned the online marketing certified associate designation and serves as the Director of Marketing for the Christian Business Faculty Association.

Dr. Ladner enjoys working out, playing sports and competing in intramurals. He is married and has two children – one boy and one girl. He and his family reside in Siloam Springs.

After teaching at the University of South Dakota for 18 years, Dr. Randall Waldron moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2012 to teach at JBU.  He has a B.A. degree with majors in Economics and Political Science from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. in Economics from Vanderbilt University.  Prior to attending graduate school, he worked as an analyst for the market research firm, Market Facts, Inc., in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Dr. Waldron’s teaching interests include a variety of fields within Economics and International Business.  Specializing in applied microeconomics, he has published papers on game theory, experimental economics, business competition, and economic impact analysis.  He brings extensive experience in these fields as well as in managerial economics.

Dr. Waldron is a Fulbright Scholar and has lived and taught in China, first at Beijing Jiaotong University and more recently at Yunnan Province at Honghe University.  His work has also taken him to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Thailand, as well as to Europe.  With his experience in the Asian culture, he was co-founder of the East Asian Institute at the University of South Dakota.

Dr. Joe Walenciak holds a Ph.D. in Strategic Management from the University of Arkansas and has been a member of the business faculty at John Brown University since 1982.  During that time, he has taught business classes in the undergraduate, online and graduate programs.  He has also chaired the undergraduate, graduate and online business programs and is currently serving as the Dean of the College of Business.

While at JBU, Dr. Walenciak has developed and led mission trips and studies programs in Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Jordan, China, Brazil, and several other countries.  He has received recognitions as SIFE USA Sam Walton Fellow of the Year, SIFE USA Hall of Fame, CBFA Richard C. Chewing Award, Teacher of the Year, and Outstanding Alumnus.  He has also been named Ambassador of the Peace of Guatemala by the Guatemalan Government on two separate occasions.

With interests in community development and business accreditation, Dr. Walenciak has held national leadership roles with the Christian Business Faculty Association and with the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Mrs. DeNisha McCollum teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses for the College of Business.  Prior to her current faculty role, she served as the Director of Graduate Business Programs for three  years.  As an instructional designer, she also worked on the development and implementation of online course and program offerings for graduate business students.  She has a B.A., in Criminal Justice from the University of Arkansas, an M.S. in Leadership and Ethics from JBU, and an M.Ed. in Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University.

Prior to coming to JBU, Mrs. McCollum worked for 12 years with Walmart Stores, Inc. in the areas of Corporate Risk Management and Associate Health Benefits.  She has also provided consulting and facilitation services for Walmart and Milestone Leadership.

Mrs. McCollum brings her professional experience and passion for the promotion of ethical leadership into the classroom and online courses and works diligently to engage learners and fulfill the mission of JBU to provide Christ-centered education that prepares people to honor God and serve others by developing their intellectual, spiritual, and professional lives.

As a JBU alum, Dr. Sam Heinrich returned to JBU in 2014 to accept a position as Associate Professor of Business and Department Head for Online Undergraduate business programs.  He now focuses solely on teaching traditional and graduate courses in the areas of Finance, Economics and Marketing.  Along with a B.S. from JBU, Dr. Heinrich has an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and a D.B.A. in Marketing from George Fox University.

Prior to coming to JBU, Dr. Heinrich spent 20 years in management and the financial services industry.  He worked in commercial lending, as a banker, during the first half of his industry related career and then transitioned into the role of President for a medium-sized electric utility contracting firm.  His industry experiences include leading and supporting small, mid and large business enterprises in private and public forums both as a banker/lender/consultant and in a management role.

In 2001, Dr. Heinrich left industry to pursue his passion for teaching.  Initially, he taught in a private Christian high school and then moved into Christian higher education in 2007 where he’s able to bring his real-life experience in the business world into the classroom.

Dr. Traci Pierce teaches graduate marketing, research, and ethics courses, and appreciates the opportunity to integrate the Christian faith within each discipline. She holds a DBA in Marketing from George Fox University, and an MBA and BA in Religion from Campbell University.

Dr. Pierce has served as an administrator or professor in higher education for over 20 years. Prior to joining the JBU faculty, Dr. Pierce taught at Campbell University, Regent University, and Milligan College.

In addition to teaching graduate courses, Dr. Pierce also feels a calling to homeschool her twins. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and children and teaches graduate online courses remotely. She enjoys her annual visits to the Siloam Springs, AR campus as well as connecting with her colleagues at professional conferences.

Dr. Greg Robinson is currently the Associate Professor of Outdoor Leadership Ministries at John Brown University. Previously, he was the Program Director for HoneyRock, the Outdoor Center for Leadership Development of Wheaton College, as well as President of Challenge Quest, LLC in Pryor, Oklahoma, the Managing Member of Adventure Quest Recreation, LLC.  

Dr. Robinson has a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He also has a M.S. in Counseling from John Brown University.     

Dr. Robinson's professional career has concentrated in the areas of experiential learning, team development, leadership development, facilitation and consulting with organizational change efforts.  He is the author of A Leadership Paradox: Influencing Others by Defining Yourself; Teams for a New Generation: A Facilitator’s Field Guide;  Adventure and the Way of Jesus, Lessons of the Way: Using experiential activities to explore the way of Jesus; and Leading from Where You Are: How Every Person Can Help or Hinder a Collaborative Culture.

His family includes his wife of 28 years Jeannie, his daughter Keely and her fiancée Nick LaTurner, his sons Kobe and Kyle, as well as two grandsons Lucas and Max.

Mr. Kai Togami is the Sam Walton Fellow for the JBU Enactus Program, Professor of International Business in the University’s Soderquist College of Business and an organizational effectiveness consultant. Previously, he served as the Department Head for Graduate Business Programs at JBU and brought the Global Leadership Summit Simulcast to JBU to impact leaders across NWA.  He has a B.S. from Wheaton College and an M.S. from Illinois State University. 

Prior to JBU Mr. Togami worked in retail with Walmart Stores Inc. as Senior Director of Global Organizational Effectiveness, served as VP of Learning and Organizational Development in the construction industry for Neumann Homes, and worked in the service industry as Senior Director for Organizational Development and Change with The ServiceMaster Company.

Before entering the business world he was a coach, educator and then assistant professor at Wheaton College in Illinois.

Mr. Togami consults with executive leadership teams in areas of organizational effectiveness and counts it a privilege to be able to interact with students, leaders and organizations around the world. He currently serves as a Faculty Advisor Committee member for Enactus USA, a Board member for Ezekiel Rain and Lake Geneva Foundations and co-Director and VP of the Stenkirke Family Foundation.