Who We Are
The center coordinates applied research-related activities in the College of Business at APSU, circulating research updates, creating research opportunities, and promoting the CoB research community.
Mission
We team up with faculty experts who want to tackle real-world challenges and transform business research to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Vision
Through a collaborative approach, the CABR strives to become a business research network linking scholars, industry leaders, business owners, and students to positively impact business and society.
Clarksville’s Economic Climate and Social Entrepreneurship - Vikkie McCarthy, Ph.D
This case study examines social entrepreneurship through Outpatch, which creates eco-friendly souvenir patches from recycled plastic and donates to local nonprofits. The research explores how Outpatch balances social impact with profitability while navigating supply chain challenges in the souvenir industry. It provides insights for entrepreneurs and partners on embedding social impact into viable business operations.
Check out the latest edition of the CABR newsletter! In this issue, you’ll find updates from our director, learn more about our faculty fellows and their research, and stay informed with the latest news from the Center for Applied Business Research (CABR).
Meet the Director
 |
Dr. Vikkie McCarthy |
Dr. Vikkie McCarthy is a Professor of Management and studies how business impacts
society and business sustainability. She is the author of peer-reviewed research journal
articles, case studies, and books. Her research has been published in academic and
business journals to include the Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change, the Journal of Business Leadership,
Journal of Business Pedagogy, and the International Journal of Business Education.
 |
Dr. Matt Farrell (2024 CABR Fellow) |
Matthew Farrell is an Assistant Professor of Management at Austin Peay State University. His research
focuses on the intersection of governance, strategy, and innovation. Working with
teams of talented coauthors, he aims to produce rigorous research that both advances
theory and yields practical applications. Dr. Farrell’s expertise in set-theoretic
methodologies such as qualitative comparative analysis or analytical induction facilitate
the unique insights produced by his research efforts. He holds a master’s degree in
education as well as a bachelor’s degree in history and economics from Virginia Commonwealth
University. His work has appeared in outlets such as Technological Forecasting & Social Change and the International Journal of Emerging Markets.
Faculty Fellows
 |
Dr. Asit Bandyopadhayay (2024 CABR Fellow) |
Asit Bandyopadhayay, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Business Analytics and MIS. His research interests include
blockchain applications in ensuring data privacy; blockchain applications in supply
chain management; information literacy and cybersecurity challenges among Gen Z; cybersecurity
breaches and privacy policy, Generative AI, big data analysis, and sustainable supply
chain management. His work has been published in academic journals such as International Journal of Social and Humanistic Computing, International Journal of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management Journal.
He loves to work with local businesses to solve their data, supply chain, information
systems and cybersecurity related problems.
 |
Dr. Stephanie Bilderback (2025, 2026 CABR Fellow) |
Dr. Stephanie Bilderback recently earned her Ph.D. in Management and is currently
a faculty member at Austin Peay State University, where she teaches a variety of business
courses. Dr. Bilderback has contributed significantly to the academic field through
multiple publications exploring innovative training methodologies, workforce development
strategies, and the impact of digital tools on learning outcomes. Her work provides
valuable insights into how organizations can implement effective, scalable, and long-lasting
training programs. Dr. Bilderback brings extensive real-world experience as both a
business consultant and a small business owner. Her expertise in business operations,
leadership development, and organizational strategy allows her to bridge the gap between
theory and practice, equipping students and professionals with the knowledge needed
to thrive in today’s dynamic business environment.
 |
Dr. Eren Cifci (2025, 2026 CABR Fellow) |
Eren Cifci, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Finance at Austin Peay State University.
He earned his Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Alabama in 2022, with research
focusing on pivotal topics in finance and real estate, blending theoretical depth
with practical relevance. Dr. Cifci has produced multiple high-impact publications
in leading real estate journals, earning several prestigious awards and attracting
significant attention from prominent national and international media outlets. His
work has been featured on platforms such as Realtor.com, Fox Business, Yahoo Finance,
Daily Mail, Fortune Magazine, USA Today, New York Post, and Futurity.org, underscoring
its broad implications for both industry professionals and the academic community.
 |
Melynda Conner, (2026 CABR Fellow) |
Melynda Conner, Ph.D. is the Instructor of Business Communication. Having taught corporate communication courses for nearly 20 years, she has delivered more than 200 presentations and workshops to organizations and businesses supporting effective internal communication and external company relations. Dr. Conner holds an M.A. in Communication (2006) and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration (2019). Her research focuses on the employee experience of organizational communication during times of system-wide change, as well as on the student and faculty experience of classroom communication. As an experienced small business owner and organizational trainer, Dr. Conner enjoys working with local professionals to identify and mitigate their employee relations and customer service challenges.
 |
Dr. Terry Damron (2024, 2026 CABR Fellow) |
Terry Stringer Damron is an Associate Professor of Marketing at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville,
Tennessee, USA. Damron is published in the areas of preventive health care marketing,
social media marketing, consumer behavior, supply chain management, and marketing
education. A champion of undergraduate research and experiential learning, she was
the 2020 recipient of the AJ Taylor Distinguished Professorship Award for Excellence
in Teaching. Damron holds an M.A. in Communication Arts (2007), an Ed.D. in Leadership
and Professional Practice (2011), and an M.B.A. in Marketing (2022).
 |
Dr. Matt Hampton (2026 CABR Fellow) |
Dr. Matt Hampton is an Associate Professor of Economics at Austin Peay State University. Prior to joining APSU, Dr. Hampton was an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Northern Iowa. Dr. Hampton earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Alabama and his Bachelor's in Economics from Middle Tennessee State University. In 2022, Dr. Hampton was the recipient of the APSU College of Business A.J. Taylor Distinguished Professorship Award for Excellence in Research. Dr. Hampton enjoys spending time with his wife, Tara, and two-year-old son Mac.
 |
Dr. Towhid Mahmood (2025 CABR Fellow) |
Dr. Towhid Iqram Mahmood is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Austin Peay State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural and Applied Economics from Texas Tech University in 2024. His research interests span applied microeconomics, economic development, political economy, and labor economics. Dr. Mahmood’s work has been published in Kyklos, the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Independent Review, and Scientific Reports. He has previously held research positions at the Free Market Institute, the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), and the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD). His current projects explore the economic impacts of institutional change, the dynamics of labor markets in developing countries, and the role of regulation and governance in shaping development outcomes.
Originally from Bangladesh, Dr. Mahmood holds an M.A. in Applied Economics from Western Kentucky University and a B.S.S. in Economics from the University of Dhaka.
 |
Dr. Amye Melton (2025 CABR Fellow) |
Dr. Amye Melton is an Associate Professor of Management and the MBA Coordinator for
the College of Business. With over 20 years of executive-level experience in operations
and marketing, she brings industry knowledge to her teaching and research. Dr. Melton's
research focuses on corporate citizenship, lowering barriers to entry, strategic intent,
and location strategy. She has delivered presentations to organizations such as the
Better Business Bureau, where she spoke on strategic planning, and The Honor Foundation,
where she addressed organizational research in military-to-civilian transitions.
 |
Dr. Dennis Pearson (2025 CABR Fellow) |
Dennis Pearson earned the Ph.D. in Economics from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
He is a Professor of Economics and Statistics at Austin Peay State University, board
member for Clarksville Sunrise Rotary International and American Classical Education-Tennessee
and has authored numerous academic and medical articles published in the United States
and Canada. Additionally, Dr. Pearson is a 2010 graduate of Leadership Clarksville.
Prior to coming to APSU, Dr. Pearson was a Sam Walton Fellow with Students in Free
Enterprise, served as Assistant Director for the Probasco Chair of Free Enterprise Center of Economic Education at the University of Tennessee
Chattanooga, Associate Professor of Economics with Troy University, served as an Ambassador
for the Chamber of Commerce, and was a board member for the American Red Cross. His
consulting experience includes Fortune 500 companies, city governments, chambers of
commerce, medical companies, and hospitals.
 |
Dr. Elizabeth Rankin (2024 CABR Fellow) |
Elizabeth Rankin is an Instructor of Business Law at Austin Peay State University. She has been a
practicing attorney in Clarksville, TN, for over thirty years. Dr. Rankin has served
as a former Trust Officer for First Federal Savings Bank of Clarksville, a General
Sessions Judge for Montgomery County, and an attorney in the Law Offices of Cunningham,
Mitchell, and Rocconi. She has taught business law classes at APSU since 1995.
 |
Dr. Tim Self (2024 CABR Fellow) |
Dr. Tim Self serves as an Associate Professor of Hospitality Management at Austin
Peay State University. Dr. Self has a Ph.D. in Hospitality and Tourism Management
from Purdue University, a master's degree from the University of Alabama, and a bachelor's
degree from California State University, Chico. He also has extensive industry experience
in recruitment in Atlanta, GA, collaborating with Fortune 500 companies, and gained
hands-on experience in the hospitality sector. Dr. Self specializes in research focused
on employee attraction and retention within the hospitality industry.
