Radford University
Jerry Kopf
Chair, Management/Professor
Management, Dept of
- Phone:
- (540) 831-5075
- Address:
-
Kyle Hall 366C
Box 6954 - Email:
- jkopf@radford.edu
Biography
Over the past 30 years, I have been privileged to serve in various leadership roles
at Radford University, including Economic Development Officer, Executive Director
of External Affairs, Executive Director of the Business Assistance Center, and President
of the Faculty Senate. My commitment to enhancing student learning, improving career
readiness, and advancing institutional excellence has been consistent throughout my
career. I have successfully secured significant support from legislators, federal
agencies, and donors, leading to the creation of new programs, facilities, a new college,
and faculty salary increases.
In collaboration with university leadership, I secured funding for Cook Hall, which later became an international and economic development center. I also co-chaired the implementation team for the College of Information Science and Technology (now CST). My leadership in acquiring and developing the RU West Campus was pivotal, as I secured a $13 million gift and an additional $2 million in support. I managed the facility profitably and founded multiple economic development initiatives, including five regional Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and the Virginia Economic Bridge.
As a department chair, I led initiatives resulting in the creation of a human resources management concentration, a data analytics minor, and a required freshman course (MGNT 101). I helped launch an entrepreneurship living/learning community and partnered with admissions to attract high school students to campus through programs like Junior Achievement. My active involvement in AACSB accreditation focused on curriculum development and strategic planning, which ultimately improved student recruitment, retention, and career outcomes.
Beyond academia, I am an entrepreneur and consultant, having founded ventures such as RJK Technologies LLC and Kopf Ventures LLC, as well as collaborating with my wife’s business, Magic in the Sun Travel. I have worked with over 300 businesses and organizations, fostering innovation and creating collaborative environments. As the father of five children, including triplet girls, I dedicate much of my free time to their activities. Still, I manage to sneak in a game of golf or indulge my passion for playing the guitar.
In collaboration with university leadership, I secured funding for Cook Hall, which later became an international and economic development center. I also co-chaired the implementation team for the College of Information Science and Technology (now CST). My leadership in acquiring and developing the RU West Campus was pivotal, as I secured a $13 million gift and an additional $2 million in support. I managed the facility profitably and founded multiple economic development initiatives, including five regional Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and the Virginia Economic Bridge.
As a department chair, I led initiatives resulting in the creation of a human resources management concentration, a data analytics minor, and a required freshman course (MGNT 101). I helped launch an entrepreneurship living/learning community and partnered with admissions to attract high school students to campus through programs like Junior Achievement. My active involvement in AACSB accreditation focused on curriculum development and strategic planning, which ultimately improved student recruitment, retention, and career outcomes.
Beyond academia, I am an entrepreneur and consultant, having founded ventures such as RJK Technologies LLC and Kopf Ventures LLC, as well as collaborating with my wife’s business, Magic in the Sun Travel. I have worked with over 300 businesses and organizations, fostering innovation and creating collaborative environments. As the father of five children, including triplet girls, I dedicate much of my free time to their activities. Still, I manage to sneak in a game of golf or indulge my passion for playing the guitar.
Education
Ph.D. in Strategic Management and Organizational Behavior, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
M.B.A., University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
B.S.B.A., University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Recent Research and Engagement
Research areas include innovation, strategic decision making, motivating language theory, goal setting, expectancy theory, and business education
- Published 17 peer-reviewed journal articles
- More than 50 conference presentations and proceeds.
- Several best paper awards.
Courses Taught
ENTR 250 – Entrepreneurship and Innovation
ENTR 350 – Managing New Venture Creation
ENTR 450 – Owning and Managing a Business
MGNT 322 – Organizational Behavior
MGNT 421 – Leadership and Organizational Development
MGNT 428 – Business Strategy
MGNT 452 – Business Consulting
MGNT 457 – Technology and Innovation Management
MGNT 460 – Business and Society
MGNT 621 – Organizational Behavior and Management Skills
MGNT 651 – Entrepreneurship
MGNT 685 – Strategic Management
MGNT 630 – High Performance Innovation: Innovative People, Processes, and Organizations
Publications - Journals
Collier, Z. A., Henderson, D. A., & Kopf, J. M. Protecting intellectual property in low trust environments: Game theoretic modeling of overproduction in contract manufacturing. International Journal of Intellectual Property Management, 14(5), 444–458.
Chatham, M. D., & Kopf, J. M. (2020). Resolving the mark-to-market accounting debate: Where do we go from here? Archives of Business Research, 8(7), 301–310. https://journals.scholarpublishing.org/index.php/ABR/issue/view/320
Kopf, J. M. (2019). Rexamining Christensen’s predictions on the disruptive effects of digital technology on higher education. International Journal of Management and Applied Science, 5(8), 143–145. http://iraj.in
Kopf, J. M., Vehorn, C. L., & Carnevale, J. (2013). Global industry concentration. Journal of Interdisciplinary Business Studies, 2, 1–14.
Kopf, J. M., Carnevale, J., & Chambers, D. (2013). Globalism, capitalism, and negative externalities: Anecdotes of bad behavior. The Journal of Global Business Issues, 7(2), 39–50. http://www.jgbi.org/
Kopf, J. M., Vehorn, C. L., & Carnevale, J. (2013). Emerging oligopolies in global markets: Was Marx ahead of his time? Journal of Management Policy and Practice, 14(3), 92–99.
Blaylock, B., & Kopf, J. M. (2012). The impact of arithmetic skills on mastery of quantitative analysis. Education Research International, 2012, Article ID 863286. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/863286
Vehorn, C. L., Kopf, J. M., & Carnevale, J. (2013). Global industry concentration. Journal of Interdisciplinary Business Studies, 2, 1–14.
Blaylock, B., & Kopf, J. M. (2009). Problem-based learning in quantitative classes. Academic Exchange Quarterly, 13(1), 6–12.
Blaylock, B., McDaniel, J., Falk, C., Hollandsworth, R., & Kopf, J. M. (2008). A borrowed approach for a more effective business education. Journal of Management Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/1052562908327889
Mayfield, J., Mayfield, M., & Kopf, J. M. (1998). The effects of leader motivating language on subordinate performance and satisfaction. Human Resource Management, 37(3–4), 235–248.
Green, S. G., & Kopf, J. M. (in press). An in-plant study of pay-for-skills. The Journal of Compensation and Benefits.
Mayfield, J., Mayfield, M., & Kopf, J. M. (1995). Motivating language: Exploring theory with scale development. Journal of Business Communication, 32(4), 329–344.
Karl, K. A., & Kopf, J. M. (1994). Will individuals who need to improve their performance the most volunteer to receive videotaped feedback? Journal of Business Communication, 31(3), 213–223.
Kopf, J. M., Kreuze, J. G., & Beam, H. H. (1993). Using a strategic planning matrix to improve your firm's competitive position. Journal of Accountancy, 176(1), 97–100.
Karl, K. A., & Kopf, J. M. (1993). Guidelines for using videotaped feedback effectively. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 4, 303–310.
Kopf, J. M., & Beam, H. H. (1992). The small business screen: A way to evaluate small business opportunities. Journal of Small Business Strategy, 3(2), 31–38.
DeConinck, J., & Kopf, J. M. (1992). Consumer attitudes toward proposed liability law changes. American Business Review, 10(2), 131–142.
Kopf, J. M. (1992). Force versus choice or force and choice? An integrative model of expectancy theory. Human Resource Management Review, 2(2), 131–142.
Kopf, J. M., & Kreuze, J. G. (1991). Achieving performance excellence: Training the trainer. Mid-American Journal of Business, 6(1), 91–98.
Publications - Chapters
Good, D., Hay, R., Roscyck, A., Walenciak, J., & Kopf, J. M. (1989). The Ford Pinto. In R. Hay, R. Gray, & J. Smith (Eds.), Business and society: Perspectives on ethical and social responsibilities (3rd ed., pp. 302–314). South-Western Publishing Company.
Good, D., Hay, R., Roscyck, A., Walenciak, J., & Kopf, J. M. (1989). Rely Tampons and Procter & Gamble. In R. Hay, R. Gray, & J. Smith (Eds.), Business and society: Perspectives on ethical and social responsibilities (3rd ed., pp. 314–318). South-Western Publishing Company.
Publications - Proceedings
Kopf, J. M., & Chatham, M. D. (2020). Mark to market vs historical cost or mark to market and historical cost? A proposal for moving beyond the debate to a more useful integrated approach. Proceedings of the Academy of Business Research.
Kopf, J. M., Blaylock, B. K., & Childers, J. S. (2020). Dedication, loyalty, and passion – Three overlooked constructs in the leadership literature. Proceedings of the Academy of Business Research. (Awarded Best Paper)
Clelland, I. J., Kopf, J. M., Thomas, B., Childers, J. S., & Henderson, D. A. (2020). The influence of gender and team membership on performance and learning outcomes within a strategic management-based industry competition simulation: An empirical study. Proceedings of the Academy of Business Research.
Kopf, J. M., Blaylock, B. K., & Childers, J. S. (2020). Dedication, loyalty, and passion – Three overlooked constructs in the leadership literature. Proceedings of the Academy of Business Research.
Clelland, I. J., Kopf, J. M., Thomas, B., Childers, J. S., & Henderson, D. A. (2020). The influence of gender and team membership on performance and learning outcomes within a strategic management-based industry competition simulation: An empirical study. Proceedings of the Academy of Business Research.
Kopf, J. M., Carnevale, J., & Chambers, D. (2012). Emerging oligopolies in global markets: Was Marx ahead of his time? Proceedings of the Hawaii International Conference on Business, Honolulu, HI.
Kopf, J. M., Carnevale, J., & Chambers, D. (2012). Globalism, capitalism, and negative externalities: Anecdotes of bad behavior. Proceedings of the Society of Business Research Conference, Nashville, TN.
Kopf, J. M., Vehorn, C. L., & Carnevale, J. (2012). Society of Business Research Conference. Proceedings of the Society of Business Research Conference, Nashville, TN.
Vehorn, C., Kopf, J., & Carnevale, J. (2012). International industry concentration. Proceedings of the Society of Business Research Conference, Nashville, TN. (Best Paper – Economics Track)
Mayfield, J., Mayfield, M., & Kopf, J. M. (1994). The effects of leader motivating language on subordinate performance and satisfaction. Proceedings of the Institute for Behavioral and Applied Management. (Best Paper Award)
Kopf, J. M., & Beam, H. H. (1992). The small business matrix: A strategic planning tool for the small business. Proceedings of the Midwest Academy of Management, 227–233.
Kopf, J. M. (1990, November). Performance motivation: Tests of an integrated model. Proceedings of the Southern Management Association, Orlando, FL, 154–156.
Kopf, J. M., & DeConinck, J. (1990, October). Trait versus state uncertainties: An overlooked distinction in probabilistic models. Proceedings of the Southeastern Conference of the Institute of Management Sciences, Myrtle Beach, SC.
Kopf, J. M., & DeConinck, J. (1990, October). The experienced utility of self-report measures of utility. Proceedings of the Southeastern Conference of the Institute of Management Sciences, Myrtle Beach, SC.
DeConinck, J., & Kopf, J. M. (1990, October). The role of the FDA in the marketing of licensed medicine. Proceedings of the Southeastern Conference of the Institute of Management Sciences, Myrtle Beach, SC.
DeConinck, J., & Kopf, J. M. (1990, October). A comparison of students and sales managers' response to ethical sales dilemmas. Proceedings of the Southeastern Conference of the Institute of Management Sciences, Myrtle Beach, SC.
Kopf, J. M. (1990). The current status of motivation theory: A critical review. Proceedings of the Haworth College of Business Dean's Research Conference.
Kopf, J. M. (1989, April). Perceptual measures of corporate performance. Proceedings of the Midwest Division of the Academy of Management, Columbus, OH, 265–268.
Kopf, J. M., & DeConinck, J. (1989, April). Goal setting: The overlooked theory in sales force motivation. Proceedings of the National Conference in Sales Management, New Orleans, LA, 23–27.
DeConinck, J., & Kopf, J. M. (1989, April). The use of career stages as a sales force motivational tool. Proceedings of the National Conference in Sales Management, New Orleans, LA, 12–15.
Honors and Awards
Davis College of Business and Economics Faculty of the year 2024
Best Presentation Award, Academy of Business Research Conference, New Orleans, March
2020
University Service Award, 2016.
Resolution of Appreciation, RU Board of Visitors, 2016
Best Presentation Award, Academy of Business Research Conference, New Orleans, March
2018.
Best Presentation Award, International Conference on Learning and Administration in
Higher Education 2016 Nashville, Tennessee, May 25, 2016
Best Paper Award for Economics Track, Society of Business Research Conference, Nashville,
Tennessee, November, 2012.
Resolution of Appreciation, RU Foundation Board, 2005
Best Paper award, Institute of Behavioral and Applied Management Conference, Washington,
D.C., Oct., 1994.
Best Case award, Ford Pinto Case, Case Research Symposium, New Orleans, LA, 1984.
A member of Sigma Iota Epsilon (management honor society).
Elected by Alpha Kappa Psi as an honorary faculty member.