Dr. Tolga Ulusemre
Assistant Professor
Teaching Specialty: Management

B.B.A., University of Marmara, Istanbul
M.S. University of Bath, England, Marketing
Ph.D., University of South Carolina, Business Administration, International Business

Office: Popplewell Hall 315-S
Office Phone: (816) 271-4338
Email: tulusemre@missouriwestern.edu

Dr. Tolga Ulusemre, My teaching philosophy is to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need for their careers. In that regard, I am a firm believer in applied learning, and I use role-playing, group discussions, computer simulations, games, group projects, case studies, and in-class assignments to achieve deeper learning in my courses. Such experiential activities help students to develop their analytical reasoning and problem-solving skills, by which they can apply knowledge to real-world business situations and construct creative solutions. 

I hold a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina and an MSc from the University of Bath, England. My research interests lie at the intersection of strategic management and international business. My Ph.D. dissertation, titled “Three Essays on Institutional Sensemaking of Political Connectedness”, investigated how institutions shape the way firms and their decision makers perceive and respond to political connections. The dissertation was based on a field research I conducted in China. I subsequently published this body of research in Journal of Business Ethics and in Asia Pacific Management Review.

My subsequent research focused on value capture and innovation and was published in Asia Pacific Viewpoint, Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, and International Journal of Innovation & Technology Management. My research on 3D printing won the “2020 Best Paper Award”, was featured in 3dprint.com, and included in the book “Emerging Trends in Innovation and Technology Management”. Prior to joining Missouri Western State University, I held faculty positions at Hawai’i Pacific University and Georgia Southern University.