On Friday, April 11, Íò²©¹ÙÍø’s Brock School of Business announced its faculty award recipients during its 61st annual Scholarship and Awards Ceremony. Each year, the school recognizes faculty members for excellence in the areas of teaching, research and scholarship and service to the school. The awardees are selected by their faculty colleagues.
"At Brock School of Business, we are truly blessed with professors who not only bring outstanding professional and academic expertise, but who also embrace the calling to lead through the lens of Christian education and Íò²©¹ÙÍø’s mission," said dean Chad Carson.
The 2025 faculty award recipients are:
Anna-Leigh Stone: A. Gerow Hodges Research Award
Anna-Leigh Stone, associate professor of finance and Hackney Family Research Fellow, was awarded the A. Gerow Hodges Research Award for her noteworthy scholarship.
Stone’s research primarily focuses on depository institutions, including both banks and credit unions. Stone is a research fellow with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and holds the Hackney Family Research Fellowship at the Brock School of Business. Over the past three years, she has published nine scholarly articles in journals such as the Journal of Banking and Finance, Finance Research Letters, Journal of Macroeconomics, Empirical Economics, The Banking and Finance Review and the Academy of Economics and Finance Journal. Her research has also been presented at six academic conferences, such as the Credit Union Research Workshop, FDIC Center for Research Bank Research Conference, and the Financial Management Association and Southern Finance Association annual meetings. In addition, her research has been presented for the American Bankers Association, International Association of Deposit Insurers, Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). In June, she will moderate a session at the one-day workshop, “The Future of Banking: Navigating Change”, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
Courtney Peters: Dr. Jennings B. Marshall Undergraduate Teaching Award
Undergraduate teaching is at the heart of everything we do. Each year, Brock School of Business faculty select one member they feel has excelled in providing an exceptional classroom experience for our undergraduate students. This year, the faculty chose to recognize Courtney Peters, assistant professor of marketing, with this award.
Since joining Brock School of Business in 2022, Peters has developed and taught two innovative marketing courses: Digital Marketing & Analytics and Customer Journey & Content Marketing. She also teaches Principles of Marketing, a foundational course taken by all business students, where she played a pivotal role in crafting a personal branding assignment that assists all business students in developing their personal brands. Peters is dedicated to curriculum design, ensuring that marketing students acquire the skills necessary to excel in top-tier marketing careers. Students consistently praise her enthusiasm for the subject matter, her deep commitment to their personal and professional growth, and the supportive and engaging learning environment she fosters. Many note that her classes have not only enhanced their understanding of marketing but have also provided them with the tools and confidence to pursue careers in the field.
Kate McCombs: Professor Larron C. (Larry) Harper Service Award
Service is an expectation of all full-time faculty members, but some go beyond normal requirements to make a tremendous difference for the school. Each year, Brock School of Business faculty recognize one of their colleagues whose service to the school, university and community, and their academic discipline, greatly exceeds expectations.
The 2024 recipient of the Larron C. Harper Service Award is associate professor Kate McCombs. Over the past year, McCombs has remained actively engaged with Momentum through the Upward Alumni Council, mentor connections and leadership board initiatives that continue to shape her both personally and professionally. Her work with the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA) provided an opportunity to support public research efforts aimed at strengthening communities across Alabama. The most transformative experience for McCombs was a summer trip to Rwanda—traveling alongside students, deepening partnerships with Bridge2Rwanda and learning from leaders and communities who embody servant leadership with humility and vision. Whether abroad, on campus or within local communities, these experiences have offered a meaningful reminder that service is not an extracurricular commitment—it is a way of life. It is demonstrated through consistent presence, intentional engagement and a genuine investment of time and care.
Cam Pearce: Dr. Robert W. (Bill) Service Graduate Teaching Award
The Robert W. (Bill) Service Graduate Teaching Award recognizes a Brock School of Business faculty member for excellence in teaching at the graduate level. This year, the faculty chose to recognize Cam Pearce, instructor of accounting, with this award.
Pearce’s positive experience as a graduate student inspires her teaching of MBA Accounting for Managers and Tax Research for the Master of Accounting (MAcc) program at the Brock School of Business. She consistently earns strong student evaluations, with students praising her innovative use of AI, the rigor of her coursework, and her genuine love and care for their personal and professional growth. Beyond the classroom, Pearce has enhanced the MAcc program by incorporating global travel to London and integrating faith-based applications of tax research, as featured in Christian Scholars Review. In addition, out of love for her students, Pearce and her husband, Andrew, have sponsored a graduate study lounge, the “CAP Lab”, in Cooney Hall in honor of Andrew’s mother, Carrie Anna Pearce.
