SAMI DAKHLIA, FORMER ASSOCIATE
PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS
(December 22, 2008) Top Stories of 2008 by Duane Cobb 5. New Journal Rankings -- Within the first few months of
2008, the CoB's 2007-08 Journal Ranking Committee, which was chaired by untenured assistant professor of
economics Sami Dakhlia, presented its new (2008) journal classifications to the CoB. These classifications were then
passed by a vote of CoB faculty, and have since become the official list for evaluating the research efforts of CoB
faculty.
(March 22, 2009) Our Most Talented Colleagues Unique A-Level Hits of Current & Former CoB Faculty – Economics
In May of 2007, untenured assistant professor of economics Sami Dakhlia, a first-year CoB faculty who, to use EFIB
chairman George Carter's term, had just been "canned" by the University of Alabama, took the floor at the end of the
CoB's spring 2007 convocation. He then proceeded to blast the USMNEWS.net editor and various CoB faculty for
speaking out against the CoB's administration in a way Dakhlia felt encouraged his (Dakhlia's) most talented
colleagues to leave USM. Of course, Dakhlia wasn't speaking out in support of those CoB faculty who had been
abused by CoB administrators, as management professor Sharon Topping had spoken for only minutes before
Dakhlia was handed the rostrum by then-interim CoB dean Alvin Williams. The faculty Topping referred to were
beginning to leave the CoB as well by spring of 2007. Dakhlia, however, was, according to sources, speaking on
behalf of CoBers (and Dakhlia's friends) like Zaher Hallab (tourism management) and Akbar Marvasti (economics),
CoB administrators' favorites who were either leaving the CoB at that time or expressing a desire to do so.
(April 6, 2009) Cheaper by This Dozen Twelve Current CoB Faculty USM Dean Lance Nail Could Stand to Lose by
Duane CobbPicking up where my recent ranking of CoB faculty that CoB dean Lance Nail can’t afford to lose (Behind
the 8) left off, this report ranks the top 12 current CoB faculty that dean Lance Nail can’t afford to have hang on for an
extended period. That is, without these 12 CoB faculty, the CoB’s ranking amongst Gulf South business schools
would certainly rise higher. Since this list is 50% longer than the last, let’s get right to it:
(May 19, 2009) GH Chatter So much of the above chatter entry is about FIN. Speaking of FIN (again), chatter has it that
the new department of finance, real estate and legal studies (FINRELS) is facing a dire budget situation, thanks
largely to some serious mismanagement by soon-to-be-former EFIB chairman, George Carter. It seems that Carter was
funding Sami Dakhlia's "EFIB Fridays" seminar series out of general (E & G) funds, not from monies coming from the
USM Foundation, as expected. Now, budgets for things like phones are bone dry, and as a result, new FINRELS
chairman Francis Laatsch will soon be terminating phone service (and perhaps other essentials) from that quarter.
CoBers should thank Carter and Dakhlia when (more like if) they are encountered in the JAG hallways over the
coming days.