Dr. James Kirby Easterling
- Assistant Professor Supply Chain Management
Contact Information
- Office: BTC 075
- Mailing Address: BTC 108
- Email: james.kirby.easterling@eku.edu
- Phone: 859-622-7893
Bio
Dr. James Kirby Easterling
EDUCATION:
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)-Global Supply Chain Management, University of Florida
Masters in Supply Chain Management, Penn State
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Eastern Kentucky University
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)-Accounting, Eastern Kentucky University
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)-Economics, Eastern Kentucky University
SUMMARY:
Dr. James Kirby Easterling— a proud eastern Kentuckian (Pike Co.) with deep Appalachian roots—worked in progressive supply chain leadership and executive roles with multi-national companies for over 20 years, including long-term international assignments in both Japan and Singapore with Corning Incorporated. Easterling served as General Manager & Entity Director of Corning’s Supply Chain Management Services hub in Singapore before transitioning into academia in 2014 where he led the establishment of the Global Supply Chain Management program at Eastern Kentucky University.
Dr. Easterling has a great passion for not only teaching but working with students outside the classroom in securing internships, working with companies in developing strategic alliances, serving on university committees, and hosting special signature events such as the Supply Chain Executive Speaker Series and the Business Analytics Symposium.
Dr. Easterling is very active in the community with organizations such as Ashland Baptist Church, Pregnancy Help Center, Salvation Army, God’s Pantry Food Bank, Richmond Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC), Rotary International, Kiwanis, military and veteran affairs, and supporting children and families in need throughout the community. Dr. Easterling’s wife (Teresa Adkins Easterling) and daughters (Kourtney, Kassidy, and Kennedy) are all proud EKU graduates. Dr. Easterling’s mother (Myrtle Marie Bentley Easterling) taught in the Pike County (KY) school system for 38 years, and his father (James Franklin Easterling) worked in coal mines throughout eastern Kentucky for over 40 years.
COURSES TAUGHT
BUS306-Supply Chain Essentials
MKT431-Strategic Procurement
MKT315-Logistics
MGT375-Supply Chain Planning
BUS 402-Integrated Strategic Management
BUS 303-Essentials of Organizational Behavior and Human Resources
MBA833-Supply Chain (MBA program)
RECENT PUBLICATIONS/RESEARCH:
Doctoral dissertation: “A study on alignment between overall firm business strategy and supply chain functional strategy as an enabler of higher firm value appropriation”. (publication pending)
Easterling, J.K., & Fatzinger, J.B. (2021). The Progressive Effects of a Robust Supply Chain Ecosystem in Driving Economic Development and Entrepreneurship. Refereed Proceedings of the Appalachian Research in Business Symposium.38-43.
Fatzinger, J.B., & Easterling, J.K. (2020). Community Characteristics as Predictors of Disaster Recovery. Refereed Proceedings of the Appalachian Research in Business Symposium.27-29.
AWARDS:
Eastern Kentucky University Hall of Distinguished Alumni (2016 inductee)
Best Paper Award—2015 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition (Seattle). Angolia, M., Pagliari, L., & Easterling, J. K. (2015). The path from industry professional to assistant professor. Proceedings of the 122nd American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference and Exposition
Beta Gamma Sigma recipient (faculty) April 2021
2018 Finalist for Dr. Jack L. Dyer Excellence in Teaching Award
Eastern Kentucky UniversityGolden Apple Teaching Award (2015-2016)
Eastern Kentucky UniversityCritical Thinking Professor of the Year finalist (2014-2017)
ASSOCIATIONS/AFFILIATIONS:
Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM-APICS/ASCM)
Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.), Institute of Supply Management (ISM)
Graduate-Goldratt Institute “Theory of Constraints”
Board of Directors, APICS/Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) Bluegrass Chapter
Board of Directors, Bluegrass Community & Technology College (BCTC) Supply Chain Advisory
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:
Richmond Industrial Development Corporation (Board of Directors)
Kiwanis International (child advocacy)
Highway cleanup (trash) throughout Madison County
Various recognition events for law enforcement and first responders
Special Olympics volunteer
Vice Chairman-Madison County Pregnancy Help Center
Richmond Rotary (community advocacy)
Salvation Army
Judge, FBLA Statewide Competition
