During the year-end annual scholarships and awards ceremony, Samford's Brock School of Business announced its 2008 Outstanding Faculty Awards as well as the Award for the Alumnus of the Year. In addition, 82 Brock School of Business freshmen, sophomores and juniors were awarded scholarships.
Dr. Steven Jones, Associate Professor of Finance, received the award for Excellence in Teaching. The award recognizes a full-time business school faculty member for outstanding achievements, innovation and performance in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Candidates are nominated by their peers and winners are chosen by the school's administration. Jones excels in the classroom and is an active scholar. "He also is a wonderful servant to the Brock School of Business and the Birmingham community as a whole," said Dr. Beck A. Taylor, dean of the Brock School of Business.
Dr. Franz Lohrke, Chair of the Department of Management and Marketing and Associate Professor of Management, received the award for Outstanding Scholarship. The award recognizes a full-time business school faculty member for outstanding achievements in research and scholarship. Candidates are nominated by their peers and winners are chosen by the school's administration. "Dr. Lohrke has led the development of our new program in entrepreneurship, and his scholarship primarily supports this area. Dr. Lohrke's research is not only prolific, but it is influential, particularly as one considers the journals and outlets through which his papers are disseminated," Taylor noted. In addition to receiving the award, Lohrke has been named the Brock School of Business Advisory Board Research Fellow, and will receive $10,000 to support his research.
Dr. Cynthia Lohrke, Associate Professor of Management Information Systems, received the award for Distinguished Service. The award recognizes a full-time faculty business member for outstanding service rendered to the school, the university, the academic community and the public. Candidates are nominated by their peers and winners are chosen by the school's administration. "Dr. Lohrke has served the Brock School of Business in many leadership positions on campus. In addition, she worked tirelessly on revising the school's bylaws, and served on the Promotion and Tenure Committee, and Strategic Development Council," Taylor said. Lohrke also played a role in reviewing the university's retirement plan as chair of the Business Affairs and Faculty Welfare Committee.
Lynn Boggs, Chief Executive Officer of Goldleaf Financial Solutions, Inc., (Atlanta, Ga.) was named 2008 Alumnus of the Year. The award is given to an outstanding graduate of the Brock School who excels in business, has been a faithful supporter of the Brock School of Business, and has demonstrated a commitment to remain active in the life of Samford. Boggs became Chief Executive of Goldleaf in 2005 when Captiva, a company Boggs founded, merged with Goldleaf Financial Solutions. Goldleaf Financial Solutions offers technology-based services to community financial institutions. Prior to the founding of Captiva, Boggs served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Towne Services, a provider of technology products and services for financial institutions. Boggs also is a member of the Brock School of Business Advisory Board. "On behalf of the student, faculty, staff and alumni of the Brock School, I thank Lynn for his years of service, and for representing Samford University so well in the corporate community," Taylor added.
"Every year we come together to recognize students and faculty for their outstanding achievements during the academic year," said Beck A. Taylor, dean of the Brock School of Business. "We have a wonderful group of awardees this year. They are leaders and champions of the Brock School of Business."