Meaningful research often starts as a question that won't quite go away, a challenge in search of an solution.
For Patrick Fan the question came as a plea from his teenage son.
For Pat Johanns, it grew out of a lifelong understanding that caution should be used around powerful tools.
Emily Campion wanted to know why some people hate their jobs.
And Erik Lie’s curiosity about executive pay led him down a rabbit hole of deceit.
Different motivations. Different disciplines. But all four faculty members share a common belief: Research should be in service to society and make a tangible difference.
Their research “missions” solve problems in the real world—in tech, the workplace, counseling centers, boardrooms, and homes—and exemplify how Tippie and the academic environment makes it possible.
Read about their world-improving research here:
This article appeared in the Spring 2026 edition of Tippie Magazine.
