Faculty
Meet our School of Business faculty and staff
The School of Business faculty members seek to make a difference professionally, academically, and spiritually in the lives of their students. Over a dozen national and institutional awards have been earned by business faculty in teaching, advising, research, and community service. Our professors have a broad range of experience and backgrounds, including business executives, entrepreneurs, attorneys, CPAs, insurance brokers, marketers, information systems specialists, and economists. In addition, a majority of our faculty run their own businesses, so they know about the real world and can bring it right into the classroom. Their primary motivation is to be in the classroom with their students or in a lab working on real-world projects. With an open-door policy, students are encouraged to visit professors in their offices or even contact them at home. Faculty members are ready to be friends and mentors and to build relationships that students will value for a lifetime.
See what degrees you can earn when you learn from these professors >
Bruce Toews, DBA, MBA, CPA
Dean and Professor of Accounting & Finance
(509) 527-2376
Bruce.Toews@wallawalla.edu
Current Teaching Areas: Managerial Finance, Investments, Financial Markets & Institutions, Intermediate Accounting, Auditing, Accounting Information Systems, Government & Not-for-Profit Accounting, Real Estate
Education
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) – Specialization in Finance; Walden University
- Masters of Business Administration (MBA) – Finance Emphasis; California State University, San Bernardino
Awards
- WWU School of Business Teaching Excellence Award
- WWU Community Service Award
- C. Michael and Delona Lang Bell Outstanding Teacher Award, WWU
- ACBSP Teaching Excellence Award (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs)
- NACADA Outstanding Faculty Academic Advising Award (National Academic Advising Association)
- WWU Excellence in Academic Advisement Award
- WWU School of Business Teaching Excellence Award
- WWU Presidential Excellence in Teaching Award
- WWU School of Business Teaching Excellence Award
Professional Experience and Certifications
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Own and operate a professional services firm providing part-time services in accounting, tax, auditing, personal financial planning, financial software, and wealth/investment/property management.
Interests: Bird-watching, hiking, singing, playing keyboard/guitar, motorcycle riding
Johanna Attoh, PhD, MS
Professor of Economics and Finance
(509) 527-2645
Johanna.Attoh@wallawalla.edu
Current Teaching Areas: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Development Economics, Comparative Economics, International Trade & Finance, and Business Statistics.
Education
- Ph.D. Economics. Western Michigan University (2016).
- M.S. Economics. East Carolina University (2009).
- B.S. Economics. Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica (2007).
Current Research Interest
- The analysis of Global Value Chain Fragmentation on International Trade.
- The effect of NAFTA on the U.S. economy.
Interests: Family, travel, backpacking, baking.
Andrew Dressler, M.Acct, CPA
Professor of Accounting and Finance
(509) 527-2953
Andrew.Dressler@wallawalla.edu
Current Teaching Areas: Principles of Accounting, Managerial Cost Accounting, Advanced Accounting, Personal Income Tax, Business Taxation
Specialty: United States Taxation System
Current Special Interest: Solutions to the United States Health Care System
Interests: Family, SCUBA, Golf, Development of Small Businesses
Mihail Motzev, PhD, MS
Professor of Quantitative Methods and Information Systems
(509) 527-2096
Mihail.Motzev@wallawalla.edu
Current Teaching Areas: Business Statistics, Operations Management, Management Information Systems and Business Intelligence, Business Analytics with MS Excel and Access, Business Forecasting and Predictive Analytics.
Specialties: Quantitative Methods, Information Systems, Data Mining, Predictive Analytics.
Publications: Over 90 peer reviewed papers and presentations (incl. 5 textbooks) on Predictive analytics, Business Forecasting, Information Systems, Econometric models, Computer Simulation on Economic Systems, and Management Simulation Games.
Current Research: Business Analytics with Spreadsheets, Faculty Research Grant, Walla Walla University. Statistical Leaning Networks in Simulations for Business Training and Education ABSEL (Association for Business Simulation and Experiential Learning). A Framework for Developing Multi-Layered Networks of Active Neurons for Simulation Experiments and Model-Based Business Games Using Self-Organizing Data Mining with the Group Method of Data Handling, ISAGA (International Simulation and Gaming Association).
Awards: President’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship, Walla Walla University, 2016. Certificate of Merit, University of Arizona, 1993. “Best Research” (First Prize) in Individual Competition, National Scientific Session for Students in Economics Sponsored by Bulgarian Ministry of Education, 1980.
Nominations: International Advisory Council, ISAGA (International Simulation and Gaming Association), 2013-Present. Honored to be included as VIP in the 2012 Covington Who’s Who. BILTMORE Who’s Who, 2011.
Interests: Family, travel, strategic games, MMA.
Patience Taruwinga, DBL, MBA,MS
Professor of Quantitative Methods, Management, and Info Systems
(509) 527-2368
Patience.Taruwinga@wallawalla.edu
Current Teaching Areas: Quantitative Methods, Management, & Info Systems Classes
Education
- Doctor of Business Leadership, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa (2012)
- M.S.M.I.T- Judd Leighton School of Business and Economics, Indiana University South Bend (2008)
- M.B.A- Judd Leighton School of Business and Economics, Indiana University South Bend (2002)
Current Research
- Managing the Complexity of Human Resources in Family Owned Businesses.
- Recent publications in the International Journal of Sustainable Economies Management (IJSEM)
- Co-Authored a chapter in the book: Strategic Uses of Social Media for Improved Customer Retention
Faculty Awards
- Faculty Certificate of Recognition, Indiana University South Bend -2012
- Edwin G Kaiser Faculty Scholar Award, Saint Joseph’s College, 2017
Other Activities: Member Academy of Management since 2012, Founder and Owner Geek Investments LLC (An Equipment Export Company with clients in 7 countries)
Interests: Family, travel, fishing, hiking, prison ministry
Steven VanOrden, MPA
Professor of Management and Marketing
(509) 527-2952
Steven.VanOrden@wallawalla.edu
Current Teaching Areas: Project Management, Market Research Methods, Strategic Management, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, Principles of Management, Business Communications.
Education:
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) – In Progress
- Masters of Public Administration (MPA) – City University, Seattle (1997)
Awards:
- WWU School of Business Teaching Excellence Award, 2015
- WWU Excellence in Academic Advisement Award, 2017
Professional Experience and Certifications:
- Certified Senior Care Manager (CSCM)
- Certified Medical Staff Recruiter (CMSR)
- Certificate of Achievement, Leadership Walla Walla
- Over 25 years combined career experience in Government, Humanitarian Work, HealthCare, and Entrepreneurship.
- Own and operate a Medical Recruitment Company for the past 12 years, and also a Home Care Agency.
Interests: Fly fishing, diving, golfing, motorcycle riding, mountain and road biking, playing drums, world travel, and most outdoor activities.
As office manager, Lana "runs" the School of Business with proficiency and grace. In addition, she serves as "departmental mom" to our students, occasionally distributing Band-Aids and Tylenol and soothing emotional and relational distresses as well. In addition, Lana is a skillful card-maker, creating hundreds of beautiful birthday cards every year for our students and staff.
Adjunct Faculty
- Clarence Anderson, Ph.D.
- Duane Anderson, M.S.
- Conna Bond, J.D.
- James Bradley, M.B.A.
- Monty Buell, M.A.
- David Bullock, Ph.D.
- Time Burgoyne, M.B.A.
- Preston Carman, M.B.A., M.S.
- Jennifer Carpenter, J.D.
- Bruce Thorn, J.D., LL.M
- Robert Van Dorn, J.D.
- Scott Wagner, M.B.A.
