CAMPUS NEWS
Eli Phillips is new vice president for finance, CFO Eli H. Phillips, a certified public accountant with more than 20 years of experience in financial management operations and accounting for large profit and nonprofit organizations, including higher education, is the college’s new vice president for finance and chief financial officer. Phillips spent 14 years, from 1995 to 2009, as vice president of finance and chief financial Phillips officer for the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, where he spearheaded a turnaround in the financial management operations and provided fiscal leadership during expansion and growth. While at Morehouse, he was responsible for accounting operations in budgets and planning, treasury, investments, grants accounting, procurement, property accounting, payroll administration, and faculty practice plans. “His reputation as a person who provides strong financial leadership and has a commitment to higher education makes him the ideal person to serve in this important capacity,” said BSC President Gen. Charles C. Krulak. “Of critical importance is the fact that Eli is a good man and has strength of character that is vital in the position he is undertaking.” In addition to his experience in higher education, Phillips has served as director of ARRA Projects for the Division of Family and Children Services of the Georgia Department of Human Services in Atlanta; as controller for The Perseco Co. in Oakbrook, Ill; as special project manager, assistant controller, and senior auditor for The Coca-Cola Co. in Atlanta; as business manager for Air Travel Transportation Inc.; and as senior auditor for the Big Four accounting firm Price Waterhouse Coopers in Atlanta. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Howard University.
Robicheaux is new dean of business programs Dr. Sara Robicheaux, associate professor of finance, is the new dean Robicheaux of business programs at the college. Robicheaux joined the BSC faculty in 2002 as an assistant professor of finance, rising to associate professor in 2007. Prior to joining the BirminghamSouthern faculty, she was a visiting professor of finance in the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina from 2000-02. The Tuscaloosa native received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Birmingham-Southern in 1997. She received her master’s degree in economics in 1997 and her doctorate in finance in 2000, both from the University of Alabama. While at Alabama, Robicheaux was named the Beta Gamma Sigma Outstanding Doctoral Student and received the Robert L. Hatcher III Award for Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant. Robicheaux’s research interests include corporate governance, capital structure, and banking. She has published journal articles in internationally recognized finance journals including Financial Review and Quarterly Journal of Business and Economics. She received the Best Paper Award in Financial Intermediation sponsored by Wharton Research Data Services in 2004 and a Distinguished Research Award from Allied Academics in both 2005 and 2006.
Recent graduate earns prestigious Fulbright Scholarship
Sack
12 / ’southern
Lexi Sack, Class of 2011 Harrison Honors Scholar and a summa cum laude graduate of Birmingham-Southern, was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study abroad for a year, beginning in August. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright program is the nation’s largest international exchange fellowship program, providing approximately 1,500 study grants and English teaching assistantships each year to college seniors, recent graduates, and graduate students. Some 8,000 applicants competed for these awards for the 2011-12 year. Scholars are chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential. Sack was selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Indonesia, where she is teaching at the high school level. She spends at least 20 hours per week in the classroom teaching, and the rest of the time preparing her lessons and exploring the region. Armed with a biology degree from BSC, Sack is working at SMAN 2 Sumbawa Besar, which is a public high school in the city of Besar on the island of Sumbawa. She will attend the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine the following year.