Bob Hirth

Dr. Robert Hirth may have the most diverse academic background of all the professors in the Earl N. Phillips School of Business (PBS). He arrived at HPU in August 2014 equipped with a Ph.D., a J.D., an MBA, and a B.S. as well as the knowledge of how to remove, install, maintain, inspect, and test jet engines! Attorney, small business owner with half a million in sales a year, Air National Guardsman, he eventually tied these all together to become an International Contracts Negotiator for Hawker Beechcraft Corporation. From there he pursued a Management Ph.D. and now bestows his wealth of knowledge on the HPU students fortunate enough to take his classes.

Dr. Hirth teaches Business Law and Strategic Management at HPU. He serves on the Assurance of Learning Committee and HPU Honor Court. Previously he taught Business Strategy and Planning as well as Entrepreneurship and New Venture Development at the University of Arkansas. He also taught intensive English at Dell English International in Beijing, China.

Dr. Hirth is currently doing research on 1) group lending among microfinance borrowers and 2) how corporate bylaws provide insight into CEO/Board power. Previous research topics include:

• Bricolage – making do with what is at hand
• Does microlending affect innovation and entrepreneurship? Evidence from Ethiopia.
• Exploring the roles of innovation in institutional entrepreneurship
• Board faultlines and firm performance
•促进合适的企业家，实现可持续的经济增长

Dr. Hirth earned his Ph.D. in business administration (management) from the University of Arkansas. His Juris Doctorate and MBA with a concentration in international business were earned at the University of Kansas. He obtained his B.S. in history with a minor in psychology from Truman State University.