Each academic year brings with it not only hundreds of new students to replace those who have graduated, but also new faculty. This year is no different, with three new and one returning faculty members arriving to fill our needs as well as provide depth and breadth across our curriculum.

Dr. Jimmy Kim is Assistant Professor Management in the MMGB Department. Prior to coming to WT, he was a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at the Center for Family Business and Entrepreneurship at North Dakota State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Stategic management in 2022 at the University of Pittsburgh. He also holds an M.S. in Strategic Management from Seoul National University in South Korea.
He is currently teaching courses in Small Business Management and Principles of Management. His research interests are in strategic management and entrepreneurship. Specifically, his research focuses on managing creativity and commercialization within the creative industry, as well as optimizing the allocation of human capital across business units. He is also engaged with the NSF i-Corps program and its innovations.
Outside the office and classroom, Dr. Kim’s personal interests are diverse. He has a passion for cooking and exploring new restaurants. His current favorites include Los Braceros, Thai Menu, and Fun Noodle Bar, and he enjoys a meticulously crafted pour-over coffee from 1330 Coffee Shop. He also has a keen interest in the video game industry, particularly in understanding the dynamics between large publishers like EA and smaller creative studios, which was a significant factor in his pursuit of a Ph.D.
Lastly, Dr. Kim has enjoyed the support he has received from other faculty and the College, and loves his students, whom he describes as “bright students with diverse ideas.”
Dr. Abe Carr, Assistant Professor of Accounting in the Amarillo National Bank School of Accounting, Economics, and Finance, comes to us from Creighton University, where he was on the faculty. He earned his Ph.D. in Business with an emphasis in Accounting in 2018 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to that he earned his Master in Accounting (2009) and BA in Accounting from Brigham Young University.

He is currently teaching the Graduate Seminar in Auditing, Procurement Accounting & Finance, and Accounting Ethics. In Spring 2025 he is scheduled to teach Intermediate Accounting and Governmental & Nonprofit Accounting. His research interests are in Auditing, Financial Accounting, Professional Ethics
Carr has an active personal life,. “I grew up in New England, about one hour north of Boston, as the 2nd of 10 children. I enjoy running and singing karaoke. I ran the Baltimore Marathon and I am training for another marathon soon. I once won a singing talent competition at a county fair singing Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect.” The grand prize was a check for $100. The timing was perfect, as I was able to dedicate the song to my wife for our anniversary.”
He has also immersed himself quickly into the community. “My wife and I moved here with our two boys who joined our family through the miracle of adoption. I actively serve in my church and very much enjoy the culture of the Texas Panhandle. Being from the East Coast, I also appreciate the dry climate. And of course, Palo Duro Canyon is like a piece of Heaven on Earth.
It also did not take him long to appreciate the students and faculty of the COB. “The students here are bright, hardworking, and have a great attitude. Faculty colleagues are approachable and willing to mentor and support junior faculty.”
Ms. Nga Nguyen, Part-time Instructor of Computer Information Systems, is homegrown in the truest sense of the word. She earned both her undergrad (CIS) and graduate (MSCISBA) degrees from WT. She is currently teaching CIDM 1315 Programming Fundamentals and CIDM 3330 Management Info Systems. Although she has yet to start her academic research, she is excited to be starting it soon.

Nga is an active outdoorswoman, and takes advantage of having Palo Duro Canyon State Park nearby. She loves to hike and mountain bike there, and like many who go there for recreation, she also finds it to be the perfect escape.
She has many fond memories from her years spent at WT as a student. “I like WT because of my experiences as a student. My professors were motivating, encouraging and helped me see things from a different perspective. My hope is to instill as much knowledge and motivation to my students as my professors instilled in me.
Returning to the College of Business after a several year hiatus is Mr. Steven Hayward. A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University (MBA, 1979; BBA in Economics, 1977) and Oklahoma Panhandle State University (BBA in Computer Information Systems, 1991). He is Part-time Instructor of Economics.

Steve originally started teaching at WT in 2004, and has now returned to the Principles of Macroeconomics and Principles of Microeconomics courses he has taught many times before. He has co-authored numerous academic papers with other College of Business professors. He currently owns and operates a farming operation in southwest Kansas, and was the Executive Vice President, Internal Auditor and Director of The First State Bank of Elkhart, Kansas for over 20 years.
In his spare time he enjoys international travel, scuba diving, bicycling, kayaking, sailing, restoring vintage folding kayaks and flying his personal airplane.