Faculty Experts
Our distinguished faculty across multiple departments are at the forefront of shaping the next generation of business leaders. Through innovative teaching, hands-on learning, and cutting-edge research, they prepare students to navigate and lead in an AI-driven future.
Faculty integrate AI tools across disciplines, from finance and economics to marketing and operations, ensuring students gain practical experience with real-world applications. Whether using AI for investment analysis, economic modeling, or data-driven decision-making, our faculty act as thought leaders and mentors, guiding students to apply AI ethically, strategically, and creatively across industries.
Kuntal Banerjee, Ph.D.
Professor
Dr. Kuntal Banerjee is a mathematical economist whose research focuses on dynamic resource allocation models and decision theory. He actively integrates artificial intelligence (AI) into his academic workflow, using it to support ideation, explore alternative problem-solving approaches, and surface insights that traditional methods may overlook. Banerjee is conversant with how AI models operate in the space of synthesis and exploration, and in the mathematical foundations of machine learning. He views AI as a powerful tool for enhancing research precision and creativity. He regularly engages with AI systems to refine his thinking and expand the scope of economic modeling. Dr. Banerjee’s approach reflects a pragmatic and evolving relationship with AI: not as a research subject, but as a tool that enhances the rigor and creativity of his academic work.
Mehran Basiratmand, Ph.D.
Director of Instructional Technology, Instructor
Mehran Basiratmand teaches FAU’s executive and professional certificate courses in artificial intelligence, designed for professionals across industries. His three-day program, offered twice annually, is continuously updated to reflect the fast pace of AI innovation. The course covers foundational concepts, organizational readiness, and top tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and Anthropic’s Claude. Students learn how to align AI adoption with business goals, mitigate risks, and foster cultural change. His approach emphasizes practical, “just-in-time” learning to help organizations leverage AI effectively and responsibly.
Anil Bilgihan, Ph.D.
Professor
Anil Bilgihan integrates generative AI into hospitality education and industry practice, offering seminars and talks that connect emerging technologies with real-world applications. He has collaborated with leading organizations like The Breakers and led faculty workshops on AI in data analysis. His research explores AI’s role in marketing, employee retention, and customer experience, helping shape the future of service industries. Bilgihan’s work empowers students and professionals to understand and apply AI responsibly and effectively.
Kevin Cox, Ph.D.
Senior instructor, Director of the Adams Center for Entrepreneurship
Kevin Cox brings artificial intelligence into the heart of entrepreneurship education, helping students and aspiring founders apply AI to real-world business challenges. Across his courses, students use AI for ideation, strategy, and consulting projects that mirror professional work—preparing them for careers in innovation and venture creation. His mentorship has supported successful student ventures like FireCodes AI and custom AI-driven marketing platforms, both launched by FAU students and recognized in statewide competitions. Cox also serves as a Research Advisor for FAU’s Generative Intelligence Lab and contributes to AI-focused grant initiatives, reinforcing his commitment to bridging academic learning with emerging technologies. His teaching empowers students to leverage AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for entrepreneurial growth.
Abhijit Guha, Ph.D.
Professor
Abhijit Guha explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping marketing education and practice. His award-winning research on generative AI highlights its transformative role in areas like consumer insights, content creation, and predictive analytics. In the classroom, Guha equips students with hands-on experience using AI tools, including building custom GPTs for real-world marketing applications. He emphasizes ethical considerations and strategic integration, helping students understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI. His work bridges academic insight with industry relevance, preparing future marketers to lead in an AI-driven landscape.
Melanie Lorenz, Ph.D.
Professor
Dr. Melanie Lorenz is a marketing scholar who explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence in consumer behavior and marketplace dynamics. Her recent research includes a study on AI agents and customer loyalty, and a new project examines AI agents as customers rather than tools. She also mentors Executive PhD students on AI-related dissertations, examining trust in AI recommendations, and exploring AI’s influence in healthcare marketing. By combining academic research with practical AI expertise, Dr. Lorenz helps generate innovative insights into how AI reshapes marketing strategy, consumer trust, and decision-making. Her work positions her at the forefront of understanding AI’s growing impact on business and consumer interactions.
Michael Ryall, Ph.D.,
Professor, Policy Director of the Madden Center for Value Creation
Michael Ryall’s research explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, strategic decision-making, and organizational design. His recent research focused on how AI and data analytics can support managerial decision-making, and how reliance on some AI tools may limit strategic innovation. In the classroom, Ryall integrates AI to foster critical thinking and real-world application. Students are encouraged to use large language models (LLMs)for out-of-class assignments, promoting independent exploration and synthesis. He also utilizes the Breakout Learning platform to facilitate dynamic, AI-enhanced case discussions, allowing students to engage with complex strategic scenarios in a collaborative environment. Ryall’s work bridges theory and practice, preparing students to navigate and lead in an AI-driven business landscape.
Ye Zhang, Ph.D.
Professor
Dr. Ye Zhang is an interdisciplinary researcher whose work bridges artificial intelligence, behavioral science, and experience design. Her research explores how AI reshapes decision-making, customer loyalty, and well-being, with a focus on ethical and human-centered applications across the service economy. She leads projects on AI agents, generative chatbots, and AI-mediated well-being interventions, and serves as Assistant Director of Research Technology in FAU’s Business Insight Lab, where she uses immersive tools like VR/AR and psychophysiological sensors to study human–AI interactions. Dr. Zhang also mentors cross-disciplinary AI scholarship through editorial roles and special issues, advancing a vision of AI that promotes ethical persuasion, emotional engagement, and sustainable service experiences.