Ryan Teeter
Clinical Assistant Professor of Accounting
University of Pittsburgh, College of Business Administration
When students sign up to take a class with University of Pittsburgh’s Ryan Teeter, they can be assured that technology will be incorporated in one way or another. The accounting professor adheres to the mantra that future accounting professionals must be comfortable with the use of technology if they’re going to be successful. As such, he is a champion and advocate for the use of technology in course design and through online learning. Each course he teaches is set up with an online community and students use laptops, tablets, and other mobile devices to do everything from submitting assignments to participating in video conference office hours with the professor. Not surprisingly, Professor Teeter’s award-winning research focuses on using technology to improve accounting and auditing practices.
Age: 35
At current institution since: 2011
Education: PhD in Management, Accounting Information Systems, Rutgers University, 2014
List of courses currently teaching: Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Data Analytics, Auditing, Intermediate Accounting
“I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when…” I realized I could make complex ideas accessible to others
“If I weren’t a business school professor…” I’d be a dive master
“One word that describes my first time teaching…” Woot!
What do you enjoy most about teaching undergraduate business students? Seeing things click. Challenging them. Exposing them to new ideas.
What is the biggest challenge that comes with teaching undergraduate business students? Helping them see the value is doing difficult tasks
What is the most impressive thing one of your undergraduate students has done? Gone to work for the FBI
What is the least favorite thing one has done? Asking if there’s a chance to do extra work once final grades are posted
What does a student need to do to get an A in your class? Read the book, show up, work hard, and think analytically
“When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as…” Tough, but fair
“But I would describe myself as…” Accommodating
What are your hobbies? Scuba diving, bike riding, computers, and gadgets
How did you spend your summer? Writing a book, leading a study abroad to Costa Rica, traveling with family, working in my garden.
Favorite place to vacation: All of them 🙂 Costa Rica’s pretty nice, too.
Favorite book: The Wizard of Oz
Favorite movie and/or television show: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Favorite type of music and/or favorite artist: Depends on the activity I’m engaged in. Cooking: Duo Gadjo, Relaxing: Yo-Yo Ma, Driving: Musicals Hanging with Friends: Juanes
Bucket list item #1: Visit all seven continents
What professional achievement are you most proud of? Developing new Masters courses
What is your most memorable moment as a professor? Sitting on the dunk tank at the Fall Campus Block Party during class break
Professor you most admire and why: My colleague Bob Gilbert comes across as a loving curmudgeon
What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? Audit analytics. New techniques for data anomaly risk and fraud detection.
Twitter handle: No Twitter
“If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this…” Student-directed learning
“And much less of this…” Stand and deliver
Looking ahead 10 years from now, describe what “success” would like for you: My students in successful careers and contributors to society
