When Professor Chad Miller talks about his career in technology, he often starts with a memory from when he was just 13 years old. “I remember teaching BASIC on a Timex Sinclair Z80 computer to a room full of eight- and nine-year-olds,” he says. “It was chaotic, fun, and challenging all at once. That experience…

After more than 35 years of shaping minds and inspiring future leaders, Dr. Larry Lad is preparing to retire this June – leaving behind a legacy defined by creativity, mindfulness, and deep human connection. Since joining the Lacy School of Business in 1991, Dr. Lad has brought a distinctive and powerful perspective to the classroom.…

For Professor Nick Smarrelli, entrepreneurship didn’t begin with a bold idea or a breakthrough moment. It started, ironically, with a club he created in college because it didn’t exist yet. As a finance and psychology major at St. Louis University, he was convinced his future was in corporate leadership. He imagined climbing the ladder of…

Dr. Ronia Hawash’s understanding of economics didn’t begin in a classroom; it began in the everyday rhythms of life in Egypt. Growing up, she was surrounded by visible contrasts. Families worked tirelessly, doing everything they could to get ahead, yet many still struggled. Access to healthcare was inconsistent. Educational opportunities were uneven. The systems meant…

A decade after graduating from the Lacy School of Business, Sara Omohundro ’16 walks back into the same classrooms where she once sat as a student – only this time, she’s the one at the front of the room. An accomplished investor, nonprofit leader, and mentor, Sara has returned to Butler University as an adjunct…

Marketing began long before Dr. Meredith Rhoads ever declared it as a major – it began in her father’s small furniture store in West Frankfort, Illinois. As a child, she watched her dad build relationships, serve his community, and make decisions that affected real families. “I had this front-row seat to what it means to…

The Lacy School of Business is pleased to kick off the Spring 2026 Research Speaker Series – an ongoing celebration of the scholarship, curiosity, and intellectual leadership that drive our community forward. This spring lineup brings together faculty researchers who are exploring some of the most relevant questions in business today, offering students and colleagues…

Dr. Chi Zhang didn’t set out to become a marketing professor. In fact, when she started college in central China, she wasn’t even sure what business was. As a first-generation college student trying to make pragmatic choices, she picked computer science because it felt safe. “I knew it would get me a job, but I…

Dr. Matthew Lanham, Assistant Professor of Business Technology & Analytics in Butler University’s Lacy School of Business, has been elected Vice President / President-Elect of the INFORMS Analytics Society, the largest society within INFORMS and a premier global community for analytics and decision-science professionals. The INFORMS Analytics Society brings together leaders in analytics, operations research,…

For Professor Hilary Buttrick, the path to teaching business law wasn’t a straight line – it was a slow realization that the things she loved most had been pointing her toward the classroom all along. As an English major at DePauw University, she gravitated toward analyzing arguments, challenging assumptions, and helping classmates think through tough…