A Passion to Inspire Young Minds
I love the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). I want my students to get the most out of my classes and the time we have together. I have made small adjustments over the years to engage and connect with my students. I like to practice a mindfulness exercise at least once a week in my courses, in addition to showing my students how to study smarter, not harder. [Marketing is a field that gives students] the opportunity to showcase knowledge in a real-life situation, all while benefitting a real client. Therefore, we don't take final exams, instead, we learn and enhance our skills by applying them throughout the semester.
Why Teach Marketing?
I like to say that the profession chose me. I loved organic chemistry; I volunteered as a chem lab assistant instead of going to study hall. Only to end up changing majors from chemistry to a business major when registering for classes because of a dream to possibly follow in my late grandfather's footsteps. After earning my bachelor's and master's degrees in business, I started working in the retail food industry, applying my marketing/management degrees. A few years after graduation, my wife and I also opened our own photography business.
Small Campus, Endless Oppoortunities
After about 10 years, I had an opportunity to return to the classroom as an adjunct here at the University of Mount Union. This position spiraled into a full-time visiting professorship and I was eventually brought on as an Assistant Professor of Marketing. As a full-time faculty member here at UMU, we have the ability to advise students, assisting them outside the classroom in navigating their four years on campus and setting them up for a successful career upon graduation. Only after some deep reflection about my own path through college and into industry, did I remember my initial desire to teach. The path to education looks a lot different than others, but ultimately my career found me. Teaching at Mount Union, however, gives both the professor and student the opportunity to get to know each other beyond the classroom setting. I love that the small class sizes allows me to learn every one of my students' names as well as what motivates them to pursue their desired career.