Sources: Yar Ebadi, 785-532-7227, yebadi@k-state.edu;
and Melanie Horton, 785-532-7227, mhorton@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Emily Vietti, 785-532-2535, evietti@k-state.edu

Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010

SMITH, CAI EARN HONORS FROM COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

MANHATTAN -- Two College of Business Administration faculty members at Kansas State University received teaching and research awards at the college's Dec. 11 commencement ceremony.

Fred Smith, instructor in accounting, is the fall 2010 recipient of the Kansas State Bank Teaching Excellence Award. Gangshu "George" Cai, assistant professor of management, received the 2010 College of Business Administration Outstanding Contributions in Research Award.

Smith, an Ernst and Young Teaching Fellow, consistently ranks at the top of student evaluations for amount learned and teaching effectiveness. He uses his accounting and teaching experiences to augment and enhance student learning. Smith received his bachelor's degree and master's in accounting from K-State.

"As dean it is very gratifying to know that we have faculty members who are committed to excellence," said Yar M. Ebadi, dean of the College of Business Administration. "Mr. Smith has a long history of producing excellence in the classroom. He engages his students in the learning process, and helps them understand how to take theoretical concepts and make practical application."

Cai has compiled a research record of both quality and quantity. In the past year he had eight scholarly articles published or accepted for publication in refereed journals. He also was awarded six research grants and currently is working on 25 various research projects. His work has sponsored one visiting scholar and two postdoctoral research scholars at K-State in 2010. Cai received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Peking University and doctorate from North Carolina State University.

"Dr. Cai is relatively new to the College of Business Administration faculty, but he is already making a tremendous impact through his excellent research activity," Ebadi said. "His hard work, positive attitude and enthusiasm for his discipline enhance the national and international reputation of the college. We are fortunate to have scholars of his caliber serving on our faculty."