Michael Hogg
Tulane University, A.B. Freeman School of Business
“Despite his myriad of responsibilities, he always finds a way to speak with students. He was the first professor I had at Tulane who took a genuine interest in my career and offered to connect me to his contacts. As someone who came from an underprivileged background, I felt safe talking to him about my issues and how I wanted to create a much better life for myself and my family. Dean Hogg has been an invaluable resource for me at Tulane.” – Hunter Mathas, student
Michael Hogg, 63, is Senior Professor of Practice and Area Coordinator, Business and Legal Studies at the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University. He’s been at Tulane since 1990.
He currently teaches Legal, Ethical and Regulatory Environment of Business; Business Law; Insurance and Risk Management; Employment Law; and Law in Marketing. Hogg earned his JD from Tulane School of Law, his MBA from Tulane’s Freeman School of Business, and his BA in economics and history from Tulane University.
Professor Hogg is a devoted advocate for students, says Dale Klamfoth, a Freeman colleague. For example, he creates individualized final exams that include questions students previously missed to reinforce learning. He also sent dinner to an entire house of students when one of them had been injured in a shooting accident, Klamfoth writes in his nomination.
Throughout his career, he’s earned more than 25 teaching awards, including eight Howard W. Wissner Award for Excellence in Teaching awards and two Bloomberg Businessweek‘s Favorite Undergraduate Business Professors awards.
“He is absolutely an amazing and dedicated teacher, administrator and colleague. He has taught, mentored and extended help in times of need to countless students and his colleagues,” says Mita Suja in nominating Hogg. “Often his acts of generosity (e.g.,food, books, clothes for students who have financial difficulties) are extended as if they were from the school, not personally from him. He has led the undergraduate business program at the Freeman School, Tulane to being student-focused and worked tirelessly to create a rigorous and experiential curriculum.”
LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR
I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when… I was in graduate school and began to understand the relationship between law, ethics and business and to see how those disciplines help shape business decisions.
What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? The intersection of law, ethics, and business. While law helps promote acceptable behavior through state mandated rules, ethics serves to help us determine principles that guide behavior and help us distinguish between right and wrong. Managers must be able to understand and embrace both law and ethics in decision-making.
If I weren’t a business school professor, I’d be… A judge
What do you think makes you stand out as a professor? To be an effective professor, one must engage in student-centered activities such as learning each student’s name, learning each student’s strengths and weaknesses, answering each student’s questions, and making time for each student outside of class to address their questions and needs. When necessary, the faculty member’s role transcends just teaching and becomes transformed into being a mentor and a role model for students. When students do not understand course material, effective teachers change their teaching style to ensure that the content is understood. In sum, my role is not merely to impart knowledge to the students but to teach each student how to learn and what they need to know through building their critical thinking skills. In sum, my goal is to instill, in each student, a desire to engage in lifelong learning because it is enjoyable, and it is a trait that successful business leaders consistently possess.
One word that describes my first time teaching: Fun
Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a business school professor: It is an incredibly rewarding experience to interact with so many talented students, faculty and staff.
Professor I most admire and why: Frank Jaster for his patience in teaching me how to more effectively communicate. My colleagues Mita Sujan and Sheri Tice for being superb faculty role models in their research, teaching and service.
TEACHING BUSINESS SCHOOL STUDENTS
What do you enjoy most about teaching business students? I enjoy their inquisitive nature and sense of humor.
What is most challenging? Getting students to move out of their comfort zone.
In one word, describe your favorite type of student: Curious
In one word, describe your least favorite type of student: Entitled
When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as…Fair
LIFE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
What are your hobbies? I enjoy travel, horseback riding, and gardening.
How will you spend your summer? Teaching, research and travel.
Favorite place(s) to vacation: The beach or new places that I have not been to before.
Favorite book(s): I like non-fiction books and recently have read The Authority of the Court and the Peril of Politics, From Strength to Strength, The 1619 Project, and The Great Bridge.
What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much? “C’mon C’mon” I enjoyed the premise that life is not always what you expect.
What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why? Acoustic piano. I enjoy George Winston’s music because I find it relaxing and uplifting.
THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS
If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this… Using material from science, engineering, and humanities would help students learn more about the importance of leadership and helping others.
In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at…developing employees that see the value in social responsibility, due process and fairness.
I’m grateful for… for my family, friends and colleagues.
