Kashef A. Majid
University of Mary Washington
“Professor Majid is one of the best professors in the College of Business at the University of Mary Washington. His classes are popular with everyone, even those who aren’t marketing majors, which speaks to how engaging his lectures and assignments are. He genuinely cares about his students’ learning and success, going above and beyond to make the material fun and relatable. He is truly the best undergraduate business school professor!” – Grace Corriveau
Kashef A. Majid, 46, Associate Professor of Marketing at University of Mary Washington. He received the Mary Pinschmidt Award given by the UMW Graduating Class of 2021 to the professor that has had the greatest impact on their academic career.
Majid is an expert in environmental marketing with a particular emphasis on the issue of food waste.
He examines the impact of date labels, retailer donations to food banks and campaigns designed to encourage pro-environmental behavior. He also explores how artificial intelligence can be used to reduce food waste.
Majid’s prior research focused on consumer valuation of hybrid and electric vehicles, whether their owners drive them to save money or appear “green” to their peers, and why some hybrid cars retain more value than others.
Majid previously has worked as a consultant in Ottawa and with the Canadian government.
BACKGROUND
At current institution since what year? 2013
Education:
- Ph.D. (Business Administration), George Washington University, 2008-2012
- M. Sc. (Business Administration), Concordia University, 2003-2005
- B. Commmerce. (Marketing), University of Ottawa, 1997-2001
List of Undergraduate courses you teach: Marketing Research, Digital Marketing, Alleviating Food Waste, Principles of Marketing, International Marketing
TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR
I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when …
I was pretty late into my PhD program at GWU when I realized I wanted to be a business school professor. I worked with wonderful faculty advisors who were great teachers but also doing impactful research. I saw becoming a professor as an opportunity to do work that contributed to those around me (similar to my advisors).
What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it?
I’m researching food waste, particularly misconceptions about date labeling, which often serves only to boost sales. Research with my colleague Laurel Cook (WVU) shows that people approach date labels on hedonic foods (sweets, snacks) and functional goods (like eggs, milk) differently. Retailers can reduce waste by discounting these items at different rates as they near their date labels, encouraging more purchases.
If I weren’t a business school professor, I’d be …
Likely in the public sector, as I’ve always aimed to benefit my community.
What do you think makes you stand out as a professor?
I lead by example and aim to create an engaging classroom experience. If I, as a hypothetical student, wouldn’t find my class interesting, I adjust my approach. For example, students in my classes often do projects with community partners to apply what they learned.
One word that describes my first time teaching:
Awkward! I was nervous and rushed through the material, trying to hide my inexperience by overloading information. The class, intended to last an hour, only took 20 minutes.
Professor I most admire and why:
I can’t choose just one. I’ve been fortunate to have been around some amazing professors and people. Professor Ken Machande who teaches accounting at UMW was also our Associate Dean and Interim Dean. He consistently acts selflessly to put others in a situation to succeed. For me this has meant giving me the freedom to teach courses on topics I’m most interested in (alleviating food waste) and finding research funding for me to pursue my interests. Dr. Bob Rycroft taught economics at UMW for 47 years and even in his fourth decade he was still finding ways to improve his teaching and keep students engaged, he motivated me to do the same. The late Gwen Hale (director of the Writing and Speaking Center at UMW) taught me to be a better person. During my research and PhD program I learned a lot about methods and my topic areas but nobody ever teaches you how to be empathetic and not be a jerk. Gwen would set the example and showed me how to do the same.
TEACHING BUSINESS SCHOOL STUDENTS
What do you enjoy most about teaching business students?
UMW is a liberal arts university, so students have diverse academic backgrounds. They bring these perspectives into the classroom, allowing us to tackle real-world issues like food waste or the role of AI in marketing.
What is most challenging?
Course content in my field changes constantly, requiring me to update each course with the latest developments.
In one word, describe your favorite type of student:
Humble—smart, hardworking, and always seeking improvement.
In one word, describe your least favorite type of student:
Entitled. Fortunately, I’ve encountered very few.
When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as …
Tough. If students put the work in they can earn a great grade in my class but it’s not easy.
LIFE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
What are your hobbies?
Supporting my kids in their activities, often playing the role of a personal (unpaid) Uber driver. I also enjoy running and have completed a few marathons.
How will you spend your summer?
Visiting family in Canada, as I do every year.
Favorite place(s) to vacation: Canada—particularly Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Banff, and Vancouver, where I’m lucky to have family and connections.
Favorite book(s): The Da Vinci Code (don’t judge me).
What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much? Shrek. It’s my all-time favorite; I relate to Shrek’s “layers” more than his smell.
What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why? Too many to name.
THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS
If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this
Technology. We need to integrate tech across the curriculum, from statistical software to AI applications, product creation, and simulations. School is the time to learn the tools we’ll use in the real world.
In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at …
Recognizing and nurturing talents that might not show up on a resume.
I’m grateful for …
Family, friends, colleagues. Most of the important people in my life fall into one or more of these categories. Years ago I made the decision to delete all of my social media accounts (except LinkedIn). I felt I wasn’t getting any value from it and it was taking away from the time I could be spending by people in these groups.
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