Christopher F. Achua University of Virginia's College at Wise

Christopher F. Achua is a full professor in the Department of Business and Economics at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. In his more than 30 year teaching career, Dr. Achua has and continues to impact the lives of his students through his course offerings in strategic management, marketing, and organizational leadership. Dr. Achua has consistently adapted his teaching methodologies to student needs and adopted the latest classroom and virtual teaching technologies to enhance student learning. Dr. Achua’s interest in engaging his students in real-life learning opportunities led him to create and direct programs such as the Center for Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Service (CELS) and the Small Business Institute at his university. These programs focused on developing students’ leadership and entrepreneurial skills by applying theory to real-world situations. Dr. Achua’s scholarship has mostly centered on academic conference participation where he has presented his research on small and family business management issues, third-world economies, microenterprise developmental challenges, and more. His research has been published in many refereed proceedings, the Small Business Institute Journal, and the Journal of Small Business Strategy. When not involved in academic pursuits, he lends his expertise to community development programs and initiatives. He has served on the boards of organizations in his local community and also served as chair of the Mountain Empire Regional Business Incubator Board of Directors. Dr. Achua received his undergraduate degree in business administration and accounting from the University of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, his MBA from the University of South Dakota, and his DBA from Alliant International University in San Diego, California.