Olga Khessina

Associate Professor of Business Administration and Director of Graduate Studies

Contact

406 Wohlers Hall

1206 S Sixth St

Champaign, IL 61820

217-300-4190

khessina@illinois.edu

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Listings

Educational Background

Ph.D., Business Administration, University of California at Berkeley, 2003
M.A., Sociology, Columbia University, 1998
Specialist, Sociology, Moscow State University, 1995

Positions Held

Director of Graduate Studies, Business Administration, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2019 to present
Associate Professor of Business Administration, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2016 to present
Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior, Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, 2015-2016
Assistant Professor of Management and Organizations, Cornell University, Johnson School of Management, 2006-2014
Assistant Professor of Strategy, Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business, 2003-2006

Recent Publications

Li, Y., & Khessina, O. (2024). Before Birth: How Provisional Spaces Shape the Localized Emergence of New Organizational Forms. Academy of Management Journal, 67 (2), 494–525. link >
Khessina, O., Verhaal , J., & Dobrev, S. (2023). Bottled up or Poured out: How Product Name Emotions Affect Appeal and Authenticity in the Market for Craft Beer. Strategy Science, 8 (4), 464-483. link >

Other Publications

Articles

Khessina, O., Reis, S., & Verhaal, J. (2021). Stepping out of the Shadows: Identity Exposure as a Remedy for Stigma Transfer Concerns in the Medical Marijuana Market. Administrative Science Quarterly, 66 (3), 569-611. link >
Khessina, O., & Jaffee, J. (2019). All That Glitters is Not Gold: The Returns of Educational Credentials at Different Stages of Industrial and Organizational Evolution. Industrial and Corporate Change, 28 (6), 1449–1471. link >
Khessina, O., Goncalo, J., & Krause, V. (2018). It’s Time to Sober Up: The Direct Costs, Side Effects and Long-term Consequences of Creativity and Innovation. Research in Organizational Behavior, 38 107-135. link >
Khessina, O., & Reis, S. (2016). The Limits of Reflected Glory: The Beneficial and Harmful Effects of Product Name Similarity in the U.S. Network TV Program Industry, 1944-2003. Organization Science, 27 (2), 411-427. link >
Verhaal, J., Khessina, O., & Dobrev, S. (2015). Oppositional Product Names, Organizational Identities, and Product Appeal. Organization Science, 26 (5), 1466-1484. link >
Carroll, G., Khessina, O., & McKendrick, D. (2010). The Social Lives of Products: Analyzing Product Demography for Management Theory and Practice. Academy of Management Annals, 4 (1), 157-203. link >
Khessina, O., & Carroll, G. (2008). Product Demography of De Novo and De Alio Firms in the Optical Disk Drive Industry, 1983-1999. Organization Science, 19 (1), 25-38. link >
Khessina, O. (2006). Direct and Indirect Effects of Product Portfolio on Firm Survival in the Worldwide Optical Disk Drive Industry, 1983-1999. Advances in Strategic Management, 23 591-630. link >
Romanelli, E., & Khessina, O. (2005). Regional Industrial Identity: Cluster Configurations and Economic Development. Organization Science, 16 (4), 344-358. link >
McKendrick, D., Jaffee, J., Carroll, G., & Khessina, O. (2003). In the Bud? Analysis of Disk Array Producers as a (Possibly) Emergent Organizational Form. Administrative Science Quarterly, 48 (1), 60-93. link >

Book Chapters

Carroll, G., & Khessina, O., Dudley L. Poston Jr. (Ed.) (2019). Organizational, Product and Corporate Demography. Handbook of Population. Second Edition ( pp. 521-553). Springer, Cham. link >
Carroll, G., & Khessina, O., Dudley l. Poston Jr. and Michael Micklin (Ed.) (2005). Organizational and Corporate Demography. Handbook of Population ( pp. 451-477). Plenum/Kluwer. link >
Carroll, G., & Khessina, O., S.A. Alvarez, R. Agarwal, & O. Sorenson (Ed.) (2005). The Ecology of Entrepreneurship. Handbook of Entrepreneurship Research: Disciplinary Perspectives ( pp. 167-200). New York: Springer Publications. link >

Book Reviews

Khessina, O. (2023). Giacomo Negro and Michael T. Hannan with Susan Olzak. Wine Markets: Genres and Identities. New York: Columbia University Press, 2022 ( vol. 68, pp. NP24–NP27). Administrative Science Quarterly. link >
Khessina, O. (2016). Mikolaj Piskorski: A Social Strategy: How We Profit from Social Media. Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press, 2014 ( vol. 61, pp. NP1–NP4). Administrative Science Quarterly. link >

Conference Proceedings

Verhaal, J., Reis, S., & Khessina, O. (2022). The Role of Political Polarization in Destigmatization of the U.S. Medical Marijuana Market. ( 1 ed vol. 2022,). Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings. link >
Khessina, O., Reis, S., & Verhaal , J. (2019). Identity Exposure as a Remedy for Stigma Transfer Concerns in the Medical Marijuana Market. ( 1 ed vol. 2019,). Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings. link >
Reis, S., Khessina, O., & Proença, A. (2016). Engagement and Mutual Influence Of Multiple Audiences and the Performance of Boundary Spanners ( 1 ed vol. 2016,). Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings. link >

Other Publications

Khessina, O. (2001). The Worldwide Optical Disk Drive Industry: 1983-1999; Technical Report.

Presentations

Prokopenko , A., Reis, S., & Khessina, O. (2023). Escaping from Stigma: Strategic Responses of Foreign Companies in a Recently Stigmatized Market. Institutions and Innovation Conference.
Choi, B., Khessina, O., & Reis, S. (2023). Decomposing Optimal Distinctiveness: The Aesthetic versus Functional Dimensions of Product Categories. Academy of Management Meeting.
Khessina, O. (2023). Expanding the Tainted Tent: Bringing New Perspectives and Theory to Organizational Stigma Research. Academy of Management Meeting.
Matthew, B., Khessina, O., Li, Y., Reis, S., & Verhaal, J. (2023). Organization Response to Crises and Customer Reaction in the Board Game Industry. Academy of Management Meeting.
Prokopenko , A., Reis, S., & Khessina, O. (2023). Escaping from Stigma: Strategic Responses of Foreign Companies in a Recently Stigmatized Market. Academy of Management Meeting.
Prokopenko , A., Reis, S., & Khessina, O. (2023). Escaping from Stigma: Strategic Responses of Foreign Companies in a Recently Stigmatized Market. Nagymaros Conference.
Verhaal , J., Reis, S., & Khessina, O. (2022). Conquering the Divide: The Role of Political Polarization in Destigmatization of the U.S. Medical Marijuana Market. Institutions and Innovation Conference, Harvard Business School.
Verhaal , J., Reis, S., & Khessina, O. (2022). The Role of Political Polarization in Destigmatization of the U.S. Medical Marijuana Market. SMS Meeting, Strategic Management Society.
Khessina, O. (2022). Cultural and Cognitive Perspectives on Evolution of Industrial Clusters. Academy of Management Meeting, Academy of Management.
Verhaal , J., Reis, S., & Khessina, O. (2022). The Role of Political Polarization in Destigmatization of the U.S. Medical Marijuana Market. Academy of Management Meeting, Academy of Management.
Matthew, B., Khessina, O., Li, Y., Reis, S., & Verhaal, J. (2022). Organization Response to Crises and Customer Reaction in the Board Game Industry. Nagymaros Conference.
Li, Y., Reis, S., & Khessina, O. (2022). The Role of an Emerging Industry’s Cultural Embeddedness and Social Salience in the Decline of an Incumbent Market. Wharton Technology & Innovation Conference, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Verhaal , J., Reis, S., & Khessina, O. (2022). Conquering the Divide: The Role of Political Polarization in Destigmatization of the U.S. Medical Marijuana Market. Berkeley Haas Culture Conference, University of California at Berkeley, Haas School of Business.
Li, Y., Reis, S., & Khessina, O. (2021). The Role of Cultural Embeddedness and Social Salience in the Coevolution of American Movie Theater Market and the TV Programming Industry, 1944-1962. Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Yang, S., Goncalo, J., Khessina, O., & Emich, K. (2021). Authentically Creative? Identifying and Reconciling the Tension between Authenticity and Creativity. Academy of Management Meeting , Academy of Management.
Li, Y., Reis, S., & Khessina, O. (2021). The Role of Cultural Embeddedness and Social Salience in the Coevolution of American Movie Theater Market and the TV Programming Industry, 1944-1962. EGOS.
Verhaal , J., Reis, S., & Khessina, O. (2021). Conquering the Divide: The Role of Political Polarization in Destigmatization of the U.S. Medical Marijuana Market. Organizational Ecology Conference.
Li, Y., Reis, S., & Khessina, O. (2020). The Role of Cultural Embeddedness and Social Salience in the Co-evolution of the American TV Industry and Movie Theater Market, 1944-1962. Institutions and Innovation Conference, Harvard Business School.
Khessina, O., Verhaal , J., & Dobrev , S. (2020). Bottled Up or Poured Out: How Product Name Emotions Affect Appeal and Authenticity. Academy of Management Meeting, Academy of Management.
Li, Y., & Khessina, O. (2020). Before the birth of an organizational form: The role of proto-forms in the emergence of historic movie theaters in Chicago communities, 1896-1962. Academy of Management Meeting, Academy of Management.
Li, Y., Reis, S., & Khessina, O. (2020). The role of cultural embeddedness in the co-evolution of American TV industry and movie theater industry, 1944-1962. Organizational Ecology Conference.
Li, Y., Reis, S., & Khessina, O. (2020). The role of cultural embeddedness in the co-evolution of American TV industry and movie theater industry, 1944-1962. Pro-seminar at University Carlos III of Madrid, University Carlos III of Madrid.
Cordero, A., Sine, W., Khessina, O., & Carlos, W. (2019). To Be, or to Appear to Be? Regional Violent Identity and Foreign Firm Market Entry. Academy of Management Meeting , Academy of Management.
Khessina, O., Reis, S., & Verhaal , J. (2019). Identity Exposure as a Remedy for Stigma Transfer Concerns in the Medical Marijuana Market. Academy of Management Meeting, Academy of Management.
Li, Y., & Khessina, O. (2019). The role of community in organizational form emergence and proliferation. Academy of Management Meeting, Academy of Management.
Yang, S., Goncalo, J., & Khessina, O. (2019). The Dark Side of Authenticity: Can Authenticity Stifle Creativity? Fifth Annual Authenticity Workshop, Emory University.
Khessina, O., Lim, Y., & Reis, S. (2019). Roadblock on the Highway to Heaven: The Suppressive Effect of Religion on Cluster Development in a Science-Based Industry. UCL Research Seminar , UCL (University College London) School of Management.
Khessina, O., Lim, Y., & Reis, S. (2019). Roadblock on the Highway to Heaven: The Suppressive Effect of Religion on Cluster Development in a Science-Based Industry. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid Research Seminar , Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
Khessina, O., Lim, Y., & Reis, S. (2019). Roadblock on the Highway to Heaven: The Suppressive Effect of Religion on Cluster Development in a Science-Based Industry. INSEAD Research Seminar , INSEAD Fontainebleau.
Khessina, O., Lim, Y., & Reis, S. (2018). Roadblock on the Highway to Heaven: The Suppressive Effect of Religion on Cluster Development in a Science-Based Industry. Institutions and Innovation Conference, Harvard Business School.
Khessina, O., Verhaal, J., & Dobrev, S. (2018). Emotional Names of Products in the U.S. Craft Beer Market. EGOS Colloquium, EGOS.
Khessina, O., Reis, S., & Verhaal, . (2018). Stepping out of the Shadows: Identity Exposure as a Remedy for Stigma Transfer Concerns in the Medical Marijuana Market. Organizational Ecology Conference, Cambridge University.
Khessina, O. (2017). Names as Conduits of Information and Building Blocks of Categorical Structures Academy of Management Meeting, Academy of Management.
Khessina, O., Verhaal, J., & Dobrev, S. (2016). Names, Emotions and Product Appeal and Growth in the U.S. Craft Beer Market, 1996-2012. Academy of Management Meeting, Academy of Management.
Reis, S., Khessina, O., & Proença, A. (2016). Engagement and Mutual Influence of Multiple Audiences and the Performance of Boundary Spanners. Academy of Management Meeting, Academy of Management.
Khessina, O., Reis, S., & Verhaal, J. (2016). Co-Legitimation of Producers and Customers in a Socially Stigmatized Online Industrial Community. Organizational Ecology Conference.
Khessina, O., & Reis, S. (2015). Product Names and Technological Niches. Academy of Management Meeting, Academy of Management.
Khessina, O., & Carlos, W. (2015). Firm Name Selection and Resource Acquisition in Late Imperial Russia, 1861-1913. Organizational Ecology Conference.
Khessina, O., Verhaal, J., & Dobrev, S. (2015). Emotional Lives of Products in the U.S. Craft Beer Market. Organizational Ecology Conference.
Reis, S., Khessina, O., & Proenca, A. (2015). Engagement of Multiple Audiences and a Producer's Entry into a Different Market Organizational Ecology Conference.
Khessina, O., & Carlos, W. (2014). Firm Name Selection and Resource Acquisition in Late Imperial Russia 1861-1913 Darden Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research Conference.
Khessina, O., & Carlos, W. (2014). Firm Name Selection and Resource Acquisition in Late Imperial Russia, 1861-1913 American Sociological Association Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O., & Reis, S. (2014). The Limits of Reflected Glory: The Beneficial and Harmful Effects of Product Name Similarity in the U.S. Network TV Program Industry, 1944-2003 Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O., & Reis, S. (2014). The Role of Names in Product Demography of Technological Niches in the Worldwide Optical Disk Drive Industry. Organizational Ecology Conference.
Khessina, O., & Reis, S. (2014). The Role of Names in Product Demography of Technological Niches in the Worldwide Optical Disk Drive Industry Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O., Verhaal, J., & Dobrev, S. (2014). Emotional Lives of Products in the U.S. Craft Beer Market Institutions and Innovation Conference.
Khessina, O., Verhaal, J., & Dobrev, S. (2014). Emotional Lives of Products in the U.S. Craft Beer Market Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Verhaal, J., Khessina, O., & Dobrev, S. (2014). Oppositional Product Names and Product Appeal in the U.S. Craft Beer Market, 1996-2012 American Sociological Association Annual Meeting.
Verhaal, J., Khessina, O., Dobrev, S., & Grant, J. (2014). Oppositional Product Names and Product Appeal in the U.S. Craft Beer Market, 1996-2012 Organizational Ecology Conference.
Khessina, O., & Carlos, W. (2013). Organizational Names and Identity Claims in Late Imperial Russia, 1861-1913 Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Verhaal, J., Khessina, O., Grant, J., & Dobrev, S. (2013). Oppositional Product Names and Identity in the U.S. Microbrew Industry, 1998-2012 Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O., & Reis, S. (2013). Product Name Similarity and Product Longevity in the U.S. Network TV show industry, 1944-2003 Organizational Ecology Conference.
Khessina, O., & Reis, S. (2013). Product Name Similarity and Product Longevity in the U.S. Network TV Show Industry, 1944-2003 Strategy Research Forum.
Verhaal, J., Khessina, O., Dobrev, S., & Grant, J. (2013). Oppositional Product Names and Product Appeal in the U.S. Craft Beer Market, 1996-2012. Institutions and Innovation Conference.
Yu, G., & Khessina, O. (2013). The Role of Exploration in Firm Survival in the Wroldwide Optical Library market, 1990-1998 Wharton Technology and Innovation Conference.
Khessina, O. (2012). What's in a Name? Demography of Product Names in the Worldwide Optical Disk Drive Industry, 1983-1999 Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O. (2012). What's in a Name? Demography of Product Names in the Worldwide Optical Disk Drive Industry, 1983-1999 Darden Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research Conference.
Khessina, O. (2012). What's in a Name? Demography of Product Names in the Worldwide Optical Disk Drive Industry, 1983-1999 Strategy Research Forum.
Khessina, O., & Reis, S. (2012). Product Name Similarity and Product Longevity in the U.S. Network TV Show Industry, 1944-2003 Institutions and Innovation Conference.
Yu, G., & Khessina, O. (2012). The Role of Exploration in Firm Survival in the Worldwide Optical Library Market, 1990-1998 Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O. (2011). What's in a Name? Demography of Product Name in the Worldwide Optical Disk Drive Industry, 1983-1999 Organizational Ecology Conference.
Khessina, O. (2011). What's in a Name? Demography of Product Names in the Worldwide Optical Disk Drive Industry, 1983-1999 Institutions and Innovation Conference.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2011). Cluster Configuration and the Development of Regional Industrial Identities Darden Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research Conference.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2010). Cluster Configuration and the Development of Regional Industrial Identities Institutions and Innovation Conference.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2010). Cluster Configuration and the Development of Retional Industrial Identities Organizational Ecology Conference.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2009). Cluster Configuration and the Development of Regional Industrial Identities Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2009). Regional Industrial Identity and Spatial Arrangements in the U.S. Biotherapeutics Industry Strategy Research Forum.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2008). Perceptually Focused Firms and Development of Regional Industrial Identities in the U.S. Biotherapeutics Industry American Sociological Association Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2008). Perceptually Focused Firms and Development of Regional Industrial Identities in the U.S. Biotherapeutics Industry Grief Research Symposium.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2007). Perceptually Focused Firms and Development of Regional Industrial Identities in the U.S. Biotherapeutics Industry University of Wisconsin-Madison Conference on Technology Entrepreneurship and Institutions.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2007). Perceptually Focused Firms and Development of Regional Industrial Identities in the U.S. Biotherapeutics Industry Cornell-McGill Conference on Institutions & Entrepreneurship.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2007). Perceptually Focused Firms and Development of Regional Industrial Identities in the U.S. Biotherapeutics Industry Institutions and Innovation Conference.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2007). Perceptually Focused Firms and Development of Regional Industrial Identities in the U.S. Biotherapeutics Industry Organizational Ecology Conference.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2007). Perceptually Focused Firms and Development of Regional Industrial Identities in the U.S. Biotherapeutics Industry Smith Entrepreneurship Research Conference.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2007). Regional Industrial Identity and Spatial Arrangements in the U.S. Biotherapeutics Industry Smith Entrepreneurship Research Conference.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2007). The Development of Regional Industrial Identities in the U.S. Biotherapeutics Industry Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2006). Regional Industrial Identity and Spatial Arrangements in the U.S. Biotherapeutics Industry American Sociological Association Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2006). Regional Industrial Identity and Spatial Arrangements in the U.S. Biotherapeutics Industry Institutions and Innovation Conference.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2006). Regional Industrial Identity and Spatial Arrangements in the U.S. Biotherapeutics Industry LBS Entrepreneurship Conference.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2006). Regional Industrial Identity and Spatial Arrangements in the U.S. Biotherapeutics Industry Organizational Ecology Conference.
Khessina, O., & Romanelli, E. (2006). Regional Industrial Identity and Spatial Arrangements in the U.S. Biotherapeutics Industry West Coast Research Symposium.
Khessina, O. (2005). Entry Mode and Incumbency Status in Firm Product Innovation in the Worldwide Optical Disk Drive Industry Smith Entrepreneurship Research Conference.
Khessina, O. (2005). Hidden Costs of Technological Innovation: Effects of Product Innovation on Firm Survival Strategic Research Forum.
Khessina, O. (2005). Hidden Costs of Technological Innovation: Effects of Product Innovation on Firm Survival Organizational Ecology Conference.
Romanelli, E., & Khessina, O. (2005). Regional Industrial Identity: Effects on the Spatial Arrangements of US Biotechnology, 1976-2002 Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O. (2004). Direct and Indirect Effects of Product Portfolio on Firm Survival in WW Optical Disk Drive Industry Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O. (2004). Hidden Costs of Technological Innovation: Effects of Product Innovation on Firm Survival Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O., & Carroll, G. (2004). Product Dynamics of De Novo and De Alio firms in the Worldwide Optical Disk Drive Industry 1983-1999 Organizational Ecology Conference.
Khessina, O. (2003). Entry Mode and Incumbency Status in Firm Product Innovation in the Worldwide Optical Disk Drive Industry Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O. (2002). Effects of Entry Mode and Incumbency Status on Firm Product Innovation in the Worldwide Optical Disk Drive industry 25th Anniversary of Organizational Ecology.
Khessina, O. (2002). Innovation Outcomes of De Novo and De Alio Firms in the Worldwide Optical Disk Drive Industry, 1983-1999 CCC Doctoral Consortium.
Khessina, O. (2002). Where Corporate Entrepreneurs Come From: Implications from the Theory of Social Anomie and the Person-Organization Fit Model American Sociological Association Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O., & Carroll, G. (2002). Product Dynamics of Ne Novo and De Alio Firms in the Worldwide Optical Disk Drive Industry, 1983-1999. Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O., & Goncalo, J. (2002). Time Perception and Organization Theory: Thing or Process? American Sociological Association Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O., & Jaffee, J. (2002). All That Glitters is Not Gold: The Ecology of Educational Prestige in the Silicon Valley Corporate Legal Market, 1966-1998. Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O. (2001). Legitimation of a New Organizational Form as a Social Movement: The Case of the Disk Array Drive and Optical Disk Drive Industries American Sociological Association Annual Meeting.
McKendrick, D., Carroll, G., Jaffee, J., & Khessina, O. (2001). In the Bud? Analysis of Disk Array Producers as a (Possibly) Emergent Organizational Form Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O. (2000). The Ecological Dynamics of Transaction Costs: A Theoretical Framework American Sociological Association Annual Meeting.
Khessina, O. (1999). The Cognitive-Ecological Model of Organizational Survival: The Hungarian Post-Socialist Case American Sociological Association Annual Meeting.

Honors and Awards

Nominated for Campus Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring, Gies College of Business, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2023
Paper nominated for the Best Conference Paper Prize, SMS Annual Conference, 2022
Paper selected for Best Paper Proceedings, Academy of Management Meeting, 2019, 2022

Service

Editorial Review Board Member, Organization Science, 2012-2023

Teaching Interests

Designing and managing organizations

Research Interests

Evolution of organizations and industries, market emergence, organizational and product names, stigma, organizational and regional identities, craft markets, innovation and entrepreneurship

Current Courses

Designing and Managing Orgs (BADM 312) Understanding of complex organizations; particular attention to ways of dividing work, achieving coordination, and issues connected with change and adaptation.
Scholarship in Bus Admin (BADM 503) Graduate seminar. Presents foundational literature to introduce the theoretical origins of the different areas of Business Administration and explores the linkages among these areas. Outlines the impact of the foundational works on subsequent research.
Proseminar in Org Behavior (BADM 591) Lectures in topics of current interest not covered by regular course offerings. Subjects are announced in the Class Schedule.
Teaching & Enrichment Sessions (BADM 591) Lectures in topics of current interest not covered by regular course offerings. Subjects are announced in the Class Schedule.