More Than Research

Building Programs

A Decade in the Making

There are moments when you step back and realize something is working, not because of a metric or a report, but because of the people. This year marks the 10th version of the Haile Research Lab. What people see today: the structure, the consistency, the students presenting their work, is not how it started. It’s the result of years of iteration. Trying things, adjusting, rebuilding. What looks polished now was built through trial and error. The entrepreneurial mindset, pivots, and adjustments that shaped this work are often missed.

If you’ve followed my journey or read my work, you know I’m a builder. Not just of programs, but of people. The Haile Research Lab sits at that intersection. It’s a reflection of what happens when you commit to both over time and allow the work and the community to evolve together.

10 years ago, we started with The Goldshirt. An initiative to learn about economics and business through designing a shirt “for the students, by the students”. Students wanted to improve school pride and raise funds. They learned about community development and engagement. Shoutout to Dr. Jeni Al Bahrani for all of her entrepreneurial advice on program development.

Why It Started

When I started the Haile Research Lab, I didn’t set out to build a traditional research program. What I wanted was a way to mentor students consistently, intentionally, and in a way that felt real. Research became the vehicle, but mentorship was always the goal. I wanted students to engage with ideas beyond the classroom and to build the confidence that comes from working through real economic and business problems in their community. I wanted my students to develop the curiosity needed to influence change. I wanted them to solve problems they were passionate about.

fall in love with the problem

First group of students to travel with me to an economics conference. We attended the Kentucky Economic Association Conference. It was hosted at Western Kentucky University

What It Has Become

Over time, the Lab has grown into something bigger than I expected. Every Friday, students show up not because they have to or because it’s required, but because they’ve chosen to be there on top of already heavy workloads. That choice, repeated week after week, is what makes this work. Alongside them are faculty who have stepped into this model in a meaningful way. This is not traditional teaching. It requires mentorship, patience, and a willingness to invest in students beyond the classroom. What we’ve built is a shared commitment.

The Real Differentiator

There are many programs that offer research opportunities, but that’s not what makes this different. Our differentiator is our community. Students support each other, faculty invest in students, and over time, that creates an environment where people grow. This is not about individual projects. It is about building something collective that lasts.

small steps lead to big outcomes

That support does not move in one direction. It is not just faculty supporting students or students supporting each other. It flows both ways.

This past Tuesday, HRL students showed up in the community to support me while I was on a panel for the NKY Chamber of Commerce in partnership with BE NKY. They did not have to be there, but they showed up. They felt empowered. They felt they belonged in that room because they had practiced showing up for each other many times before.

More Than Research

At some point, a phrase started to stick: “More Than Research.” It wasn’t planned, but it captures what this has become. The Lab is about exposure to real economic and business problems in our community. It’s about building confidence over time. It’s about learning how to think, communicate, and contribute. It’s about development. It is about people building and embracing a growth mindset.

Expanding the Model

The Fellows program is growing, and the model is beginning to take shape beyond our campus. Variations are emerging at other universities. The mentorship style may differ, and the structure may evolve, but the core principles remain the same: consistent engagement, real-world exposure, and intentional development.

That is how I measure impact, not just by what we build here, but by what others choose to build from it. That is influence.

A Moment to Appreciate

This week, our students are presenting their work. That’s what people will see. What they won’t see are the years behind it, the iterations, the adjustments, and the steady work to get here. More importantly, they won’t fully see the simple reality that makes this possible: students choosing to show up, faculty choosing to invest, and a community choosing to build something together.

That’s what I’m proud of. Not just what the Lab has become, but the people who have shaped it and the consistency it takes to build something that lasts.

You are part of this journey.

Many of the programs and initiatives I build start as ideas here. They are shaped through conversations, refined through writing, and tested through action. What you see in the Haile Research Lab is not just the result of work on campus. It is part of a broader process of building, sharing, and improving over time.

And we are just getting started.

— Dr. A

P.S I have one opening in the spring of 2027 for a speaker. Do you want to visit NKU and talk with our students and faculty at the Haile College of Business? Send me an email.

Join us on May 1

If you are in the Cincinnati area, join us on May 1 for the senior send-off. Eight of our students graduate, and we will welcome 12 new members to the Haile Research Lab.