powlese, Academics | Earlham College - A national liberal arts college in the Midwest
Seth Powless
Assistant Professor of Global Management

Seth's areas of focus are in information technology, transportation and logistics, and supply chain management. His current research in information technology involves looking at how technology impacts business and society from a host of lenses including cybersecurity, technostress, and cultural shifts due to technology integration. His current research in transportation and supply chain examines the use of drone and unmanned aerial vehicles as transportation and supply chain mediums, focusing on environmental implications and logistics outcomes.

Contact Info

Campus Mail
Drawer 25

Phone
765-983-1443

E-mail

Office
216 Landrum Bolling Center

Office Hours
Open Door

Programs/Departments

  • Global Management
  • Sports Management Integrated Pathway

Degrees

  • Ph.D., University of Toledo
  • M.B.A., University of Toledo
  • M.Ed., University of Toledo
  • B.A., University of Toledo

Selected Courses:

Information Technology in the Modern Business World
Transportation and Logistics in Supply Chain Management

Seth has numerous scholarly interests that intersect at the technology paradigm shift. His research includes examining the broad implications of technology integration in business and society. His second area of research examines transportation as a sub-field within supply chain management, and this includes studying drone technology as a delivery vehicle for consumer goods. His third area of research looks at general cybersecurity as it relates to unique users optimization of online safety mechanisms. Finally, a sub-area of research that Seth regularly engages in is business communication as it relates to technology use.

Seth is currently working on a multi-university research project exploring IT-enabled systems and their impact on small motor-carrier companies in the United States. Seth has additional research projects examining the impact social media has on business communication skills.

Powless, S., Wang, Y., & Gordon Moore, T. (2015). Eroding business communication skills among B-students: causes, effects, and solutions to consider. Full paper (peer reviewed) submitted to Decision Sciences Institute Annual Meeting (Accepted July, 2015 for November, 2015 presentation).

Powless, S., Gordon Moore, T., & Wang, Y. (2014). Incorporating social media curricula in B-school courses (Full Paper). Published in conference proceedings and presented at the annual meeting of the national Decision Sciences Institute, Tampa. FL.

Powless, S., & Gordon Moore, T., (2014). B-student communication: bridging the curriculum between industry and academe. Published in conference proceedings and presented at the annual meeting of the national Academy of Management, Philadelphia, PA.

Opp, R., Cohen-Powless, S. J., & McMichael, C. (2004). Community college assessment policies and practices: A pilot study. Seminar published in conference proceedings and presented at the annual meeting of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges, Minneapolis, MN

Powless, S., Schafer, S. & Gordon Moore, T. (2015). The changing business model of B-schools: on-site v. off-site curricula. Submitted to Decision Sciences Institute Annual Meeting (Accepted July, 2015 for November, 2015 presentation).

Schafer, S. Powless, S., Insch, G., & Gordon Moore, T. (2015). The implications of drone technology within supply chain distribution. Submitted to Decision Sciences Institute Annual Meeting (Accepted July, 2015 for November, 2015 presentation).

Powless, S. Gordon Moore, T., & Wang, Y. (2014). Incorporating social media curricula in B-school courses. Submitted to the Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, Mar, 2015 (In 2nd review stage).

Powless, S., Gordon Moore, T., & Wang, Y. (2014). B-student communication: the impact of technology and curriculum changes (Research symposium). Presented at the annual meeting of the national Decision Sciences Institute, Tampa, FL.

Wang, Y., Powless, S., & Keefe, T. (2014). Onboarding and social media (Research abstract). Presented at the annual meeting of the national Decision Sciences Institute, Tampa, FL.

Powless, S. (2013). The impact of technology on college student development: using social and professional media for academic outreach. Presented at the annual meeting of the national Decision Sciences Institute, Baltimore, MD.

Powless, S. (2013). The convergence of business faculty and advisers to build a community of scholars. Presented at the annual meeting of the national Decision Sciences Institute, Baltimore, MD.

Powless, S., Gordon Moore, T., & O’Donnell, A. (2013). The erosion of business communication skills among business students: beginning the conversation. Presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Academy of Management, Milwaukee, WI.

Powless, S., & Keefe, T. (2013). Case competitions in information systems and operations management: A primer for information systems and operations management recruiting, retention, satisfaction, and research engagement. Presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Decision Sciences Institute, Kent State University.

Powless, S.J. (2012). Social media: A primer for faculty use in higher education. Presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Decision Sciences Institute, Grand Rapids, MI.

Cohen-Powless, S. J., & Cohen-Powless, M. A. (2005). A discussion on student retention and its relationship with extracurricular involvement. Roundtable discussion presented at the annual meeting of the Ohio Academic Advising Association, Columbus, OH.

Cohen-Powless, S. J., & McMichael, C. (2004). A discussion on retention and its relationship with extracurricular involvement. Roundtable discussion presented at the annual meeting of the Ohio Academic Advising Association, Columbus, OH.

Cohen-Powless, S. J., & Cohen-Powless, M. A. (2004). eListen: An introduction to web-based research and applications in education. Seminar presented at the annual conference of the University of Toledo Education Alumni College, Toledo, OH.

Academy of Management (AOM)
Association for Systems Management (ASM)
Decision Sciences Institute (DSI)
Production and Operations Management Society (POMS)
Transportation Research Board (TRB)
Association for Business Communication (ABC)

I teach at Earlham because of the opportunity to work closely with students not just in the classroom, but on research areas and co-curricular engagements as well. I teach at Earlham because I enjoy collaborating with my colleagues across all academic disciplines. Finally, I teach at Earlham for the close-knit, family atmosphere that to me encompasses exactly what college should be: osmosis-learning, supportive, engaging, community, center of the heart ….

Earlham students are engaging, active participants, present, and enthusiastic learners. They regularly seek out answers to challenging global questions and in doing so, maintain full presence in an ever-changing world. Earlham students are committed to social justice and by honoring this commitment, they represent the best of what global education has to offer. Their curricular and co-curricular engagement allows them not just to pursue careers, but create opportunities that will transform the world.

Time with my family, running, swimming, biking, teaching self-defense, reading, and just about anything athletic or active.

Triathlon training, marathon training, mountain biking, fitness coaching, swimming competitively, and tinkering with robots and drones.