Faculty

D.B.A. Director, The Professional MBA Program Department Chair for Professional Programs, Reeves School of Business Nimocks Professor of Business (2009) Assistant Professor of Marketing

M.B.A. - Marketing Associate Director of Professional Golf Management, PGM Education Professor Bruns has worked in both the banking and golf industries. He spent 10 years managing golf facilities in Texas, Illinois and Iowa. During this time he served as General Manager of the TPC at Deere Run hosting 3 PGA TOUR Events. Prior to this time he served as Associate Professor of Business at Central College in Iowa teaching Marketing and Management classes. He currently teaches classes in Golf Shop Operations, Business Planning & Facility Management and Golf Instruction.

Ph.D., CPA Professor of Accounting I honestly believe that every student can learn and use Accounting. I love to teach. Different styles of teaching are integrated into my courses to meet the needs of my students. If a student puts forth reasonable effort, I want that effort to pay off in spades. Learning Accounting is an individual accomplishment but requires a team effort.

Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Marketing J-D Knode is an Associate Professor of Marketing at Methodist University and teaches in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. J-D earned his B.S. and MBA degrees at Salisbury University and his doctorate at the University of Baltimore. His current research interests are in the areas of mobile and web enabled commerce, communication, and education. Topics include marketing technologies, mobile technologies, artificially intelligent technologies and agents, social media, e-commerce, and emerging technologies.

Ph.D. Director, Institute for Business and Marketing Research Dr. Lin is a Professor of Business Administration in the Reeves School of Business and Economics. Dr. Lin joined the Methodist University faculty in 1988 and is tenured. In addition to his teaching duties, he serves as the Director of the Institute for Marketing and Business Research. Dr. Lin holds a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University in Economics and Statistics. His undergraduate course load includes Managerial Economics, Business Statistics, Management Science, and Microcomputer Business Applications. He has taught similar courses at the graduate level as an adjunct professor for both regional universities and accredited online programs. Among Dr. Lin's recent research presentations is a paper entitled "Global Economy: The Trends and Issues" at the Chinese-American Academic and Professional Association Annual Conference in 2002.

Ph.D. Chair, Department of Health Care Administration Professor of Health Care Administration Dr. McDonald is an internationally recognized educator, consultant and practitioner. He is currently the Chair of the Department of Health Care Administration, Professor of Health Care Administration, School of Health Sciences, Methodist University, located in Fayetteville, NC, and the Chief Executive Officer of McDonald and Associates, LLC, a consulting firm dedicated to the optical industry and related professions. He is a Registered Optician in the State of North Carolina, and serves as a consultant to a number of ophthalmic and general health care organizations in the areas of staff development and training, practice management and specialty contact lenses. His academic background includes undergraduate degrees in Opticianry and Management. He holds graduate degrees in Health Care Management, Education and the Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences, as well as a number of professional certifications, including the prestigious Master of Ophthalmic Optics, and Advanced Certification in Contact Lenses from the National Contact Lens Examiners. He is a member of the Class of 2005 at the Institute for Management and Leadership in Higher Education at Harvard University.

J.D., CPA Chair, Accounting and Financial Economics Assistant Professor of Accounting Professor Pelham is a North Carolina CPA and a Florida attorney. She worked in public accounting after graduating from Texas Lutheran University in 1992 and then returned to school in 2000 for her law degree. After graduating from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 2003, she worked for a large Orlando law firm. She then started her own firm, where she focused on family law and special education law. Currently, Professor Pelham is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Methodist University, teaching accounting as well as business law, both at the undergraduate and MBA level.

Ed.D. Assistant Professor of Management My philosophy of teaching evolved from a combination of my years of professional and teaching experience. My mission as a teacher is to promote a positive cooperative learning environment. I strive to provide a strong foundation for lifelong learning that combines both theory and real world experiences.

D.B.A., CPA Associate Professor of Accounting My teaching philosophy: Teaching is active (just like learning is active). Teaching means asking questions and expecting answers. Can you do this? Do you understand? Or saying, I challenge you, I understand you, and I am available to help you, seven days a week, most hours of the day. Learning is not limited to a specific classroom or a time slot – and teaching is not limited to a specific classroom or a time slot. Teaching means conveying a passion for each student’s success, and then seeing it through, both in and out of the classroom.

M.H.A., M.S., FACHE Professor of Health Care Administration Professor Sullivan joined the Methodist University faculty and started the Health Care Administration Program as a concentration in the Reeves School of Business in 1994. He is a retired Army Officer (Medical Service Corps) and earned his M.S. Degree in Biology from Austin Peay State University (1977) and the M.H.A. degree from Baylor University (1992). Professor Sullivan has served as a consultant to a number of medical group practices in the region in the areas of practice management, strategic planning, and staff development. Currently, Professor Sullivan is teaching Financial Management of Healthcare Organizations at the graduate level, and Medical Terminology, Managed Care/Medical Group Practice Management, Financial Management of Healthcare Organizations, and Medical Coding at the undergraduate level. He has taught similar courses at the graduate level as an adjunct professor for Webster University.

J.D. Director of Legal Studies Associate Professor of Legal Studies Wendy Vonnegut received her BA from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and her Juris Doctrine from Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. She is President of the Southern Association of PreLaw Advisors and currently serves on the board of directors for the Child Advocacy Center of Cumberland County. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Small Business Center at Fayetteville Technical Community College.