WSU Carson College of Business

08/20/2026

For Carson College graduates Hailey Klemo and Hadley Franklin, careers in senior living offer the opportunity to combine business knowledge with service to others. Their stories highlight how Carson graduates are pursuing meaningful work in a rapidly growing industry.

Read more about their journeys and how their time at Carson helped prepare them for the profession.

https://ow.ly/cmTU50ZBXUH

Two Carson College of Business graduates are turning a passion for service into impactful careers in the senior living industry. Through WSU’s Aging Business Management program and hands-on experience in senior living communities, they discovered rewarding opportunities to improve the lives of old...

08/14/2026

For the second consecutive year, students from CamEd Business School traveled to Pullman to present their entrepreneurial ventures, connect with Carson College faculty and students, and experience business education at Washington State University firsthand.

The visit highlighted a new partnership between the Carson College's International Business Institute and CamEd, creating opportunities for students to exchange ideas, explore entrepreneurship across cultures, and build global perspectives.

Read the full story: https://ow.ly/oMRn50ZzzNH

Students from Cambodia presented business ideas addressing local challenges during an international entrepreneurship exchange at WSU’s Carson College of Business.

08/13/2026

When Washington State University finance professor Mario Reyes asks his students how many use the Robinhood stock-trading app, nearly every hand goes up.

That popularity makes understanding how Robinhood users choose stocks increasingly important.

Carson College researchers analyzed Robinhood holdings from May 2018 to August 2020 and found users favored stocks from companies that were less complex and easier to analyze. During the study period, those stocks also outperformed stocks from more complex companies.

“These preferences have market effects,” Reyes said. If more investors gravitate toward simple stocks, demand for those stocks can rise. The findings also suggest companies should communicate clearly with newer, younger investors—not just large financial institutions.

Published in Finance Research Letters, the study was coauthored by Reyes, WSU finance professor George Jiang, and Ruixue “Rachel” Gao, a WSU PhD graduate who is now a faculty member at Central Connecticut State University.

Read the full story: https://ow.ly/uxUe50Zzwx9

Millions of young investors using popular app to invest tend to favor easy-to-analyze firms when buying stocks.

08/07/2026

Meet Kat Harris, Associate Professor of Accounting at WSU’s Carson College of Business. After a career in corporate accounting, she returned to academia to help future accountants find their path. She works to support students, especially those who may not have role models in the field, and she incorporates her research into the classroom to spark new ways of thinking. Harris values the strong sense of support and community at the Carson College and celebrates the milestones made possible through collaboration and mentorship.

Learn more about Kat Harris: https://youtu.be/uPw9FlUDnus

Bringing research into the classroom can inspire students’ curiosit...

07/27/2026

Four faculty members from WSU’s School of Hospitality Business Management have been named to the International Hospitality Institute’s list of the top 100 influential hospitality educators for 2026.

Jim Harbour, Dogan Gursoy, Dipra Jha, and Bob Harrington were honored for their contributions to hospitality and tourism research, teaching excellence, and industry innovation.

Their work strengthens SHBM’s global reputation and will be featured in the upcoming edition of Global Hospitality Magazine.



Read more about SHBM faculty’s leadership in hospitality education: https://ow.ly/abKH50Ztwua

07/16/2026

Washington's workforce is evolving, and the Carson College of Business is helping professionals stay ahead.

The Carson College of Business now offers nine online professional certificate programs, developed in partnership with Ziplines Education, designed to help working professionals build practical, in-demand skills in AI and other high-growth business disciplines, including analytics, project management, and digital marketing.

Programs include Project Management, Business Analytics, Digital Marketing, AI Prompting, AI Automation, AI for Marketing, AI for Sales, AI for Data Analysis, and AI for HR Professionals.

Each program is 100% online, led by industry practitioners, and focused on skills that can be applied immediately in the workplace. Participants earn a professional certificate from Washington State University's Carson College of Business.

Learn more and explore Carson Pro Upskilling Certificates: https://business.wsu.edu/upskilling-certificates/

07/09/2026

Hospitality and tourism expert Dipra Jha spent June 4–5 in Tbilisi, Georgia, mentoring students and professionals at the Digital Tourism Ideathon. He taught masterclasses on future tourism trends and design thinking, showing how technology and human centered innovation are transforming travel experiences. With tourism contributing significantly to Georgia’s economy, the event offered an ideal setting for fresh ideas and global collaboration.


Read more about Dr. Jha’s leadership role in the Ideathon https://news.wsu.edu/news/2026/07/08/hospitality-scholar-dipra-jha-advances-global-tourism-innovation-in-tbilisi-georgia/.

Jha mentored future tourism leaders in the country and shared insights on how AI, design thinking, and digital innovation are shaping the future of global travel.

07/01/2026

The Cougar Investment Fund is celebrating 25 years of giving WSU business students real-world investment experience. What started with a $1 million student-managed portfolio now stands at about $6.5 million. A generous estate gift from James Cronrath will support scholarships and expand students’ investment training. The newly upgraded Bloomberg Financial Laboratory is also opening, offering a modern space for students across WSU to build finance skills.

Read more about the impact of the Cougar Investment Fund and modernization efforts in the Carson College https://news.wsu.edu/news/2026/06/23/cougar-investment-fund-celebrates-25-years-of-growth-impact-and-expanded-learning/

Students act as portfolio managers and as sector analysts for the now $6.5 million fund supporting scholarships.

06/22/2026

Assistant Professor Pavan Munaganti’s International Sales course is helping Carson College students build the cultural awareness and communication skills needed for global sales roles. Guest speaker Jess Downs shared real world lessons from his work in surgical robotics across more than 25 countries, highlighting how cultural nuance, credibility, and balance shape long term success.


Read more about Jess Downs’s global sales strategies:

By Sue McMurray Just over a year ago, Carson College of Business Assistant Professor Pavan Munaganti launched International Sales, a new course that prepares students for global sales roles in …

06/11/2026

Carson College students recently stepped into a mock shopping mall to test their financial decision-making skills.

Through the "Surviving the Swipe" simulation, students explored credit card use, debt repayment, and the long-term consequences of everyday spending choices—turning classroom concepts into practical lessons they can apply long after graduation.

Read the full story about "Surviving the Swipe."
https://ow.ly/Ng0050Z9xof

An interactive financial literacy simulation taught Carson College students about the long-term costs of credit card debt by turning spending decisions into real-world lessons.