Dr. James Kirby Easterling, a proud Appalachian (Pike County) whose family has been in Kentucky for eight generations, worked in progressive supply chain leadership and executive roles with multi-national companies for over 20 years, including long-term international assignments in both Japan and Singapore with Corning Incorporated. Easterling served as General Manager and Entity Director of Corning’s Supply Chain Management Services hub in Singapore before transitioning into academia in 2014, where he led the establishment of the Global Supply Chain Management program at Eastern Kentucky University, the first comprehensive supply chain program in the state.
Dr. Easterling has a great passion for teaching and working with students outside the classroom in securing internships, working with companies in developing strategic alliances, networking with industry leaders, serving on university committees, and hosting special signature events such as the Supply Chain Executive Speaker Series. Dr. Easterling enjoys visiting companies throughout the region and developing symbiotic relationships that benefit employers, students, and the College of Business. Dr. Easterling is regularly interviewed by news media discussing a wide range of supply chain and general business topics.
An accomplished researcher, Dr. Easterling has had over 40 scholarly contributions across academic journals, proceedings, conference presentations, abstracts, trade journals, blogs, etc. Dr. Easterling is also the author of Supply Chain Simplified (2022), a best-selling book used by thousands of college students across the United States. Dr. Easterling is also the author of “The Amazing Adventures of Chester the Wiener Dog” (2023) kid’s book highlighting adoption.
Dr. Easterling is active in the community with organizations such as Ashland Baptist Church, Gideons International, Pregnancy Help Center, Salvation Army, God’s Pantry Food Bank, Kiwanis, Special Olympics, military and veteran affairs, disaster relief and cleanup, and supporting children and families in need throughout the community. Dr. Easterling’s wife (Teresa Adkins Easterling) and daughters (Kourtney, Kassidy, and Kennedy) are all proud EKU graduates. Dr. Easterling’s mother (Myrtle Marie Bentley Easterling) taught in the Pike County (KY) school system for 38 years (1951-1989), and his father (James Franklin Easterling) worked in coal mines throughout eastern Kentucky for over 40 years.
EDUCATION
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)-Information Systems & Operations Management (ISOM), University of Florida
Master of Supply Chain Management, Penn State
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Eastern Kentucky University
Bachelor of Business Administration-Accounting, Eastern Kentucky University
Bachelor of Business Administration-Economics, Eastern Kentucky University
