Meet our Leaders
As AIB US West’s main governing body, our leadership team is responsible for member outreach, facilitating professional development opportunities, and organizing our annual Chapter Conference.
Below, you’ll find background details on each of our team members, our roles and responsibilities, and contact information to help you connect with us online.
Nila Wiese
Chapter Chair
Chapter Chair
- Assist in the coordination of the chapter’s annual conference and other professional activities sponsored by the chapter.
- Communicate and collaborate with AIB, and other AIB chapters and SIGs.
- Establish and maintain relationships with valuable partners (non-profits, CIBERs, etc.)
- Maintain our chapter’s website (in collaboration with our Communications Chair).
- Represent the chapter as needed.
Nila M. Wiese
Nila Wiese is Professor of International Business and Marketing in the School of Business and Leadership at the University of Puget Sound, in Tacoma, Washington. At the University of Puget Sound, she has been Director of the Business Leadership Program, the Nat S. and Marian W. Rogers Professor in 2007-2009 and 2017-2019, and is the current Director of the Latin American Studies Program. She has professional experience in banking, consulting, and small business development in the United States and Central America.
Dr. Wiese’s teaching and research are in the areas of International Business Strategy, Business in Latin America, Cultural Values and Leadership, and Gender and Diversity Issues in International Business. Dr. Wiese has taught undergraduate, graduate and executive courses in the United States, Latin America, and Asia.
A native of Honduras, she received a dual B.S. degree in Marketing and Management from Oklahoma State University, a master in International Management from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in Marketing from University of Oregon.
Tanvi Kothari
Treasurer & Program Co-Chair
Treasurer & Conference Program Co-Chair
Treasurer: Maintain the accounts of the Chapter; collect funds, donations, and registration fees; make payments for the necessary activities of the Chapter such as annual luncheon, printing, and other necessary administrative expenses as determined by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Chapter. The Treasurer shall also prepare all financial reports for the membership, and if necessary, for auditors. He or she is responsible for maintaining a bank account in the name of the Chapter (wherever he/she resides) and being in regular communication with the officers of the Chapter about financial conditions of the Chapter.
Conference Program Chair: Organize the annual conference of the AIB-US West; create and disseminate the conference Call for Papers; supervise the receipt and review of conference papers; accept or reject papers submitted to the conference; create the conference program; assist in the scheduling of session rooms and making local arrangements for the program; publish the conference proceedings; and generally chair the conference.
Tanvi H. Kothari
Tanvi Kothari (Temple University, Ph.D.) is a Professor of International Business and Strategic Management in the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business at San Jose State University (SJSU). Dr. Kothari’s area of research interests includes – innovations originating in emerging markets, migrant diversity, and the strategic impact of the adoption of various technologies on different types of organizations, including educational institutions, hotels, and destination marketing organizations. Currently, Dr. Kothari is involved in multiple research projects involving the study of Women Entrepreneurs from India, the Philippines, and the U.S. She is actively involved in the dialogue on topics at the intersection of Migration and Diversity. Extensively published in leading International Business journals – Journal of World Business, Journal of International Management, Management International Review, Journal of Management Education, etc. Dr. Kothari serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of International Management, International Journal of Emerging Markets, and Journal of Asia Business Studies. Dr. Kothari contributes substantially as a scholar and influencer. Her Op-Eds on ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ and those on ‘Migration’ have been published by leading media outlets and outlets like AIB Insights. Currently, she serves on the Women of Academy of International Business Board and is the executive for the Academy of International Business – US West Chapter. In her role as a faculty member, Dr. Kothari has led many initiatives to globalize the campuses. She has founded and organized the annual Global Career Day, has led study abroad programs, and has been the Public Voices Fellow and also the Salzburg Fellow.
Before joining SJSU in 2012, Dr. Kothari was a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and an Instructor at the Fox School of Business, Temple University. Dr. Kothari has held management and research positions with international companies and research organizations like Thomas Cook, Philadelphia Marriott, Melrose Hotel Co., and the National Laboratory of Tourism & eCommerce.
Sarika Pruthi
Membership Director
Membership Director
Membership Director: Duties of the Membership Director include the following: manage the recruitment of new members of the Chapter; manage the annual membership Chapter renewal drive; process new and renewing member applications; and maintain accurate member records.
Tanvi H. Kothari
Tanvi Kothari (Temple University, Ph.D.) is a Professor of International Business and Strategic Management in the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business at San Jose State University (SJSU). Dr. Kothari’s area of research interests includes - innovations originating in emerging markets, migrant diversity, and the strategic impact of the adoption of various technologies on different types of organizations, including educational institutions, hotels, and destination marketing organizations. Currently, Dr. Kothari is involved in multiple research projects involving the study of Women Entrepreneurs from India, the Philippines, and the U.S. She is actively involved in the dialogue on topics at the intersection of Migration and Diversity. Extensively published in leading International Business journals – Journal of World Business, Journal of International Management, Management International Review, Journal of Management Education, etc. Dr. Kothari serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of International Management, International Journal of Emerging Markets, and Journal of Asia Business Studies. Dr. Kothari contributes substantially as a scholar and influencer. Her Op-Eds on ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ and those on ‘Migration’ have been published by leading media outlets and outlets like AIB Insights. Currently, she serves on the Women of Academy of International Business Board and is the executive for the Academy of International Business – US West Chapter. In her role as a faculty member, Dr. Kothari has led many initiatives to globalize the campuses. She has founded and organized the annual Global Career Day, has led study abroad programs, and has been the Public Voices Fellow and also the Salzburg Fellow.
Before joining SJSU in 2012, Dr. Kothari was a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and an Instructor at the Fox School of Business, Temple University. Dr. Kothari has held management and research positions with international companies and research organizations like Thomas Cook, Philadelphia Marriott, Melrose Hotel Co., and the National Laboratory of Tourism & eCommerce.
Dawn Keig
Communications Director
Affiliation: Whitworth University
Communications Director
Communications Director: Manage communication with chapter members through various means (website, email, social media). Identify ways to maintain active two-way communication with the chapter's members. Liaise with other AIB components (i.e., Chapters and Special Interest Groups). Support the Conference Program Chair with all communications related to the chapter's annual conference and other chapter events.
Tanvi H. Kothari
Tanvi Kothari (Temple University, Ph.D.) is a Professor of International Business and Strategic Management in the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business at San Jose State University (SJSU). Dr. Kothari’s area of research interests includes - innovations originating in emerging markets, migrant diversity, and the strategic impact of the adoption of various technologies on different types of organizations, including educational institutions, hotels, and destination marketing organizations. Currently, Dr. Kothari is involved in multiple research projects involving the study of Women Entrepreneurs from India, the Philippines, and the U.S. She is actively involved in the dialogue on topics at the intersection of Migration and Diversity. Extensively published in leading International Business journals – Journal of World Business, Journal of International Management, Management International Review, Journal of Management Education, etc. Dr. Kothari serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of International Management, International Journal of Emerging Markets, and Journal of Asia Business Studies. Dr. Kothari contributes substantially as a scholar and influencer. Her Op-Eds on ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ and those on ‘Migration’ have been published by leading media outlets and outlets like AIB Insights. Currently, she serves on the Women of Academy of International Business Board and is the executive for the Academy of International Business – US West Chapter. In her role as a faculty member, Dr. Kothari has led many initiatives to globalize the campuses. She has founded and organized the annual Global Career Day, has led study abroad programs, and has been the Public Voices Fellow and also the Salzburg Fellow.
Before joining SJSU in 2012, Dr. Kothari was a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and an Instructor at the Fox School of Business, Temple University. Dr. Kothari has held management and research positions with international companies and research organizations like Thomas Cook, Philadelphia Marriott, Melrose Hotel Co., and the National Laboratory of Tourism & eCommerce.