Richard G. Grogan

Overview

As a core faculty member in the Management Department, I teach Introduction to Sustainability and Marketing & Communication Strategy. I enjoy both teaching and research, and I use each to inform the other; that is, a class discussion can spark the next great research idea, while it is also important to bring the latest research and findings into the classroom to keep students current as they explore career opportunities in the rapidly changing field of sustainability.

My research interests are an extension of my dissertation work, which examined three types of organizations (corporations, small businesses, and universities) and the changes they are making to meet sustainability objectives. I plan to continue this research for the foreseeable future, focusing on corporate sustainability reporting, and small business sustainability initiatives. Additionally, I worked in a decision science lab while at Michigan State, and I continue to be interested in how businesses, and the people within them, make decisions.

I also hold a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, and a BS in Business Administration from Wake Forest University. Before returning to graduate school, I worked in marketing and communications for two multinational corporations, Deutsche Bank and Kaba-Ilco. During graduate school I worked as a research analyst for Dun & Bradstreet Corporation. Where possible and relevant, I integrate these experiences into both classroom and research environments.

I believe that businesses have a primary role in driving sustainability innovations. Many of them are leading the way rather than waiting for instructions on how to pursue a more sustainable method of operation, which makes this an exciting time to study why businesses choose to pursue one path over another. For the sustainability-minded, there is no better time to learn and reflect on how new ideas can contribute to significant, long-lasting changes.