Villegas Bockorny Shannahan Northern State University Business Faculty Publish Case Study Villegas Earns Outstanding Faculty Award Northern State University announces Dr. Sal Villegas, assistant professor of management, has received the NSU Outstanding Early Career Faculty Award. The award was announced at Northern’s spring commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 10. The award, which honors faculty members who have demonstrated a strong record of commitment to excellence in teaching, research and service early in their careers at NSU. Since joining the School of Business in 2020, Villegas has quickly become an invaluable asset. Villegas is lauded for his unparalleled enthusiasm and dedication to teaching and mentorship. He brings nearly two decades of banking and finance experience into his classrooms, providing students with practical, real-world insights. He is known for his personalized approach, including meeting individually with every student in his classes each term. This commitment yields remarkable results: his students have achieved global recognition, ranking as high as first in the world in the GLOBUS business strategy simulation, and have consistently earned top awards at the Governor's Giant Vision competition. In addition to his teaching prowess, Villegas has taken on significant leadership roles. He now leads NSU’s banking and financial services program, working to align curriculum with industry needs. He also is playing a key role in NSU’s upcoming HLC reaccreditation efforts and serves as chair of the School of Business assessment committee. Villegas maintains an active research agenda, with numerous publications including impactful work on "A Modern Framework for Leading Autistic Adults in the Workplace." As a nominator noted, "Northern State University is fortunate to have such a dynamic and engaged faculty member." Upon receiving the award, Villegas said, “Earning the Outstanding Early Career Faculty Award is both humbling and energizing. It affirms that student-centered teaching, experiential learning, and authentic engagement are critical in higher education. I’m proud to be part of a university that values innovation and impact from day one. Winning this award was only possible due to the constant support of my loving family, outstanding colleagues, and phenomenal students who motivate me to be a better educator. Thank you to the entire Northern community for your inspiration and constant support.” Three Northern State University School of Business faculty members have published a collaborative case study in the Journal of Case Studies. Drs. Kristi Bockorny, Salvador Villegas and Daniel Shannahan authored “Modes of Entry: The Best Choice for a Boutique Owner,” which appears in the Fall 2024 issue (Vol. 42, Issue 3). The decision-based case study focuses on evaluating different market entry strategies for small businesses. Students are challenged to assess local competition and opportunity as they learn to navigate the small business landscape. “We designed this case study to give undergraduate management and entrepreneurship students a realistic look at the critical decisions facing aspiring business owners,” said Dr. Dan Shannahan. “We think this case will really help students see what goes into choosing how to enter the small business world— whether that’s starting something from scratch, buying an existing business, or going with a franchise. It’s all about understanding the pros and cons and making the best choice for the situation.” Dr. Sal Villegas said the case study approach helps students engage with material in a practical and meaningful way. “Using case studies in business classes has been incredibly effective for helping students step into the shoes of real decision-makers,” Villegas said. “Instead of just reading about theories, they get to explore real-world situations, weigh different options, and learn through the power of storytelling, thus making the lessons feel more relevant and memorable.” 6
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