Professor of Business Management
Contact Information:
West Penn 1101
412-392-3947
Education
D.Sc., Information Systems and Communications, Robert Morris University
MBA, Finance/Accounting, University of Pittsburgh
B.S., Psychology, University of Pittsburgh
Professional Certifications
Enrolled Agent:
Certified to Represent Clients before the IRS
PHR Certification:
From the Society of Human Resource Management
Research and Presentations
Field Project for Doctoral Program:
How Nonprofits Use Information Systems for Fundraising, A Comparative Case Study
Presentation and Panel Discussion:
Information Technology Security Issues from a Human Resources Perspective
Tech Town Hall for Bayer Center for Nonprofits at Robert Morris University Fall 2004
Membership
SHRM - Society of Human Resource Management
Courses Taught
Human Resources Management
Introduction to Business
Tax Accounting
Business Communications
Strategic Planning
Principles of Marketing
Also teach many special topics courses related to HR, business, IT and psychology at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Personal statement/biography from Elaine Luther, D.Sc., M.B.A., B.S., P.H.R., E.A.
My education, work experience, and professional affiliations provide the knowledge, skills and abilities required to teach in multiple disciplines across the School of Business and the University curriculum. My regular course load extends from using my corporate and entrepreneurial experience when teaching freshmen in the Introduction to Business Class, to using my Enrolled Agent status (admitted to practice before the Internal Revenue Service) when helping advanced accounting majors master tax accounting. I draw on my professional experience as well as my P.H.R. certification from the Society of Human Resource Managers when teaching human resource classes, including the capstone class for human resource majors.
My recent doctoral work in information systems and communications explored how non-profits used information systems for fundraising. The research results pointed to the importance of social networking and knowledge management, concepts that are emphasized when teaching the Business Communications class and when developing and delivering online classes.
I earned a B.S. in psychology (now called cognitive science) and an M.B.A. in accounting and finance from the University of Pittsburgh. Then I had 14 years of work experience at three Fortune 500 Corporations - PepsiCo., Allied-Signal (now part of Honeywell), and Schering-Plough. I started out as a budget analyst at the Pepsi-Cola bottling plant, in McKees Rocks, PA, and advanced to a director of finance working on mergers and acquisitions at Schering-Plough, in Kenilworth, NJ.
While working at Schering, my contacts with college placement offices led me to my first classroom experience teaching Advanced Corporate Finance at Montclair State College (now University), in NJ. When I returned to Pittsburgh to start my own business providing accounting, computer, and tax services, I continued to teach several courses including accounting and information systems in the M.B.A. program, at the Katz School of the University of Pittsburgh.
After joining the faculty of the School of Business at Point Park, I obtained a professional certification in human resources from the Society of Human Resource Managers. I also passed the enrolled agent exam given by the IRS. I maintain my professional status in HR and Tax by earning 20-25 continuing education credits each year.
In 2005, I earned a doctorate in Information Systems and Communications from Robert Morris University. In addition to publishing my field project on "How Nonprofits Use Information Systems for Fundraising," I gave a presentation on how information systems and human resources are critical in emergency preparedness and disaster recovery planning. I extended this research into a special topics course offered to HR majors.
I continue to expand my professional and academic experience by developing online courses, by organizing a business plan contest for students in the Introduction to Business Courses, and by working with F.O.R., a nonprofit organization that recently designed and opened the Father Ryan Cultural Arts Center, in McKees Rocks, PA.
I enjoy teaching and learning and I hope to instill this in all my students as I continue my career at Point Park University.