This fall, the Judd Leighton School of Business and Economics welcomed three new faculty: Dr. Klajdi Bregu, assistant professor of economics; Andrew Swain, J.D., LL.M., assistant professor of business law and ethics; and, Dr. Samaneh Torkzadeh, assistant professor of marketing.
Dr. Bregu earned his doctorate at the University of Arkansas. He is very excited to grow as a teacher and researcher at the Leighton School. “As an economics professor, I have the opportunity to go beyond economics and help students improve their critical thinking and problem solving skills, which are in high demand in all job markets,” said Assistant Professor Bregu. “I want to play a transformational role in my students’ lives in the classroom and by working with them on research.”
His research focuses on the effects overconfidence has on economic decision making, more specifically Dr. Bregu has explored the role of overconfidence on asset markets and insurance markets. “I am looking forward to helping my students design and implement experiments, which is my area of expertise,” Bregu explained.
Andrew Swain received his J.D. from the I.U. Maurer School of Law in Bloomington, Indiana, and his LL.M. in taxation from the University of Denver in Colorado. Prior to joining the Leighton School, he served as chief counsel for the Revenue Division for the Indiana Attorney General, where he oversaw all tax litigation for the State of Indiana. He’s feels honored to be a part of the Leighton School faculty. “Every day that I walk around the campus, I can’t help but to think to myself how lucky I am to be here.”
As a teacher of ethics and law, Swain said, “I want my students to learn the important role that ethics and law play and will continue to play in their future professional pursuits.” He added, ”Students’ ethical careers began the first day they sat in an IU South Bend classroom. How they are perceived today by their fellow classmates, who will someday be their professional colleagues, will affect their future business relationships.”
Dr. Torkzadeh earned her doctorate from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. During Ph.D. program, she worked on research projects in services marketing, customer value co-creation behavior, higher education, and digital marketing. In addition to her academic background, Torkzadeh has extensive industry experience in sales and marketing. “My years working in the industry taught me that students need experiential opportunities to be successful in marketing and advertising professions,” she said. “I want my students to get involved in real-world projects to provide innovative and effective integrated advertising campaigns which help businesses improve their sales and foster their growth.”
“With the start of the 2017-18 academic year, the Leighton School is pleased to welcome these three new faculty,” said Judd Leighton School of Business and Economics Dean Rick Kolbe. “With their diverse backgrounds and experience, these new faculty bring unique perspectives to the classroom, creating a vibrant learning environment for our students and preparing them to succeed in their careers in business.”