Gies College of Business Professor Melissa Graebner has been selected as a Fellow of the Strategic Management Society – a distinction recognizing and honoring members of the Strategic Management Society who have made significant contributions to the theory and practice of strategic management. Graebner is the director of the Initiative for Qualitative Research in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (INQUIRE) at Gies and is a world-renowned scholar in entrepreneurship and strategy.

“I’m honored to be selected as a Fellow of the Strategic Management Society and join this group of incredible scholars,” said Graebner. “The culture and resources of the Gies College have been a tremendous source of support for my research.  My colleagues inspire me to think creatively and to connect my research to the classroom and the community.”

Graebner joined Gies College of Business in 2019 as part of the inaugural class of the President’s Distinguished Recruitment Program, an initiative launched by the University of Illinois System to add more world-class faculty and build its global standing as a leader in education and innovation. Her research interests include entrepreneurship, angel investing, mergers and acquisitions, and trust within and between organizations. Her work has been recognized by the Academy of Management and has been featured in The Economist, The New York Times, and Forbes. She is also co-editor of the Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, a major outlet for entrepreneurship research. She believes in using fieldwork and case studies to help answer questions that have scholarly importance and also matter to professionals in the business world.

“Melissa Graebner’s achievements and impactful research have been recognized by her designation as a Fellow of the Strategic Management Society, which connects more than 3,000 members with backgrounds and perspectives from more than 80 countries,” said Joseph Mahoney, Professor of Business Administration and Caterpillar Chair of Business at Gies and a Fellow of the Strategic Management Society. “Her research has contributed to academics, business practitioners, and consultants, and it provides insights on strategic entrepreneurship, corporate strategy, and management processes.”

“We are fortunate to have a colleague as distinguished and well thought of as Melissa Graebner at Gies College of Business,” added Gies Professor Deepak Somaya. “Her election as a Fellow of the Strategic Management Society underscores her stature in our field. It is a richly deserved designation that recognizes her many scholarly contributions and leadership in the field.”