Thomas W. De Berry, B.S., M.S., Ph.D., C.P.A., C.F.E.
Director of Graduate Studies in Business
Professor of Accounting
B.S. Lubbock Christian University, 1978
M.S. Texas Tech University, 1979
C.P.A., 1980
Ph.D. Texas Tech University, 1994
C.F.E., 2007
tdeberry@fhu.edu
Dr. De Berry joined the FHU faculty fall 2006 following several years on the faculty of North Georgia College & State University and of Lubbock Christian University. Prior to these positions, he worked in accounting for regulated electric utility companies—Texas Power & Light Company (now Texas Utilities) and Central and South West Services, both in Dallas, Texas, and Southern California Edison Company in Rosemead, California. Dr. De Berry has numerous publications in accounting and economics, including articles in The CPA Journal, The Journal of Forensic Accounting, and Business Horizons.
Keith W. Smith, B.S., M.B.A., Ph.D., C.P.A.
Dean of the School of Business
Professor of Accounting
B. S. University of Tennessee Martin, 1972
M.B.A. University of Mississippi, 1974
B. S. University of Tennessee Martin, 1977
C.P.A., 1978
Ph.D., University of Mississippi, 1988
ksmith@fhu.edu
Dr. Smith, a member of the business faculty for a total of 14 years, is a CPA in both Tennessee and Arkansas. In Arkansas, he served as Secretary-Treasurer and as President of the Northeast Chapter of the Arkansas Society of CPAs and a two-year term as Treasurer of the Arkansas Society of CPAs. In addition to being a partner for three years in a local CPA firm, he continues to practice part time. He has co-authored articles that have been published in the Journal of Accountancy, The CPA Journal, and The Practical Accountant. His main teaching interests are in the areas of financial accounting and tax.
James Q. Edmonds II, B.S., M.B.A., B.A., M.Min., J.D.
Professor of Business Law
Freed-Hardeman College, 1973-75
B.S., Harding College, 1977
J.D., University of Tennessee, 1980
M.B.A., Murray State University, 1987
B.A., Freed-Hardeman University, 1992
M.Min., Freed-Hardeman University, 1998.
jedmonds@fhu.edu
A native west Tennessean, Dr. Edmonds began his career at Freed-Hardeman in 1981. A 1980 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, he teaches courses in Business Law and Business Ethics.
Lee E. Hibbett, B.S., M.B.A., C.P.M., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Marketing
B.S., Freed-Hardeman University, 1989
M.B.A., University of Mississippi, 1990
C.P.M., 2003
Ph.D, Touro University International, 2007
lhibbett@fhu.edu
Dr. Hibbett grew up in Henderson, where his father served on the faculty of Freed-Hardeman for over 30 years. He attended Freed-Hardeman and graduated in 1989 with a degree in Finance and immediately pursued his Masters in Business Administration at the University of Mississippi, which he completed in 1990. Dr. Hibbett then began his career in industry where he worked in Purchasing, New Product Development, and Inventory Control for 13 years with Martha White Foods, Quaker Oats, and Denso – a Toyota group company. He teaches courses in Marketing Management, Consumer Behavior, and Marketing Strategy.
April L. Brashier, B.B.A., M.A., M.ACC, A.B.D.
Assistant Professor of Accounting and Economics
B.B.A., University of North Alabama, 2000
M.A., University of Alabama, 2001
M.ACC., University of Alabama, 2003
A.B.D., University of Alabama, 2008
abrashier@fhu.edu
Professor Brashier joined the FHU faculty in 2005 and teaches courses in the fields of Economics and Accounting. She has a Master of Accountancy and is finishing her work on a Ph.D. in Economics. Prior to joining the faculty at FHU, she served as Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics at Birmingham-Southern College.
Mark Scott, B.S., M.S., A.B.D.
Director of Instructional Technology
Freed-Hardeman College
Baptist Memorial Hospital School of Medical Technology
Northwest Mississippi Junior College, 1975-1976
B.S., Memphis State University, 1982
M.S., Christian Brothers University, 1995
A.B.D., Capella University
mscott@fhu.edu
Prior to joining the FHU School of Business, Professor Scott managed his Internet/Network Security and Technology consulting practice from 1997 to the present. He has more than 20 years experience concentrating in the computer and network technologies, including special expertise in Internet Security and Digital Forensics. He has served as an adjunct faculty member for the FHU School of Mathematics and Computer Science from the Fall of 2003 through the Spring of 2005. Currently he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Administration and Information Management.
Mark H. Steiner, B.A., M.B.A.
Assistant Professor of Management
B.A., University of South Florida, 1982
M.B.A., Kennesaw State University, 2006
msteiner@fhu.edu
Professor Steiner joined the Freed-Hardeman faculty in 2006. He has 23 years of experience in the retail drug store industry working for Eckerd drug stores and most recently serving as the Vice-President for Purchasing & Merchandise Administration. Mr. Steiner’s responsibilities included procurement, pricing and inventory management, financial analysis, systems development, private label and merchandise administration.
Jason M. Brashier, B.B.A., M.A., A.B.D.
Instructor of Management
B.B.A., University of North Alabama, 2000
M.A., University of Alabama, 2005
A.B.D., North Central University
jbrashier@fhu.edu
Since joining the FHU School of business in 2005, Professor Brashier has taught courses in management and quantitative business analysis. He has research interests in the fields of organizational behavior and entrepreneurship and is currently pursuing a Ph.D in management. Professor Brashier is the faculty sponsor for the Freed-Hardeman chapter of the Society for Advancement of Management.
Steven F. Lucas, B.A., M.S.
Instructor of Management
B.A., Freed-Hardeman University, 1981
M.S., St. Mary College, 2000
D.B.A., Argosy University (in progress)
Shortly after graduation from Freed-Hardeman University, Professor Lucas was selected to work for the Procter & Gamble Company in their Foodservice and Lodging Products Division. During his career at P&G, he managed key accounts such as Disneyworld, Burger King, and Winn-Dixie and developed direct reports, conducted training classes and helped launch several innovative new products for the company. The balance of his business career has been spent mostly with the Coca-Cola North American Fountain Division. During his 16 years he worked with such clients as Sonic Drive-In, Golden Corral, Wendy's, and Arby's. He also worked in personnel management and project team management for marketing, operations, distribution, and sales.