Seth Levine
University of Miami, Miami Herbert Business School
“Professor Levine is a hallmark of the Miami Herbert Business School experience. What truly sets him apart is his personality and dedication to teaching. He comes to work every single day with a genuine zest for teaching, which engages the classroom and makes what is for some a somewhat mundane subject quite interesting. Professor Levine brings professional experience from his time working at Price Waterhouse and Arthur Anderson as well, which has helped him support students interested in careers in accounting. Though I myself am not pursuing further study in accounting, Professor Levine facilitated my mom’s (BBA ’93, MST ’94) love for the accounting profession both in her time as an undergrad at UM and during the Becker CPA course. He also helped her land her first job at Deloitte. About 30 years later, he has now taught me, and has since reconnected with my mom, who he remembered on day one when he recognized my resemblance to her after all these years before I even shared the connection. This just shows how personally connected to his students Professor Levine is in that he never forgets any of them.” – Hannah Kuker
Seth Levine, 62, is Senior Lecturer at University of Miami, Miami Herbert Business School.
He became a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Florida, and he began his professional career as an auditor and consultant with Price Waterhouse. He also served in several capacities with a family owned import and export agribusiness.
Levine has been on faculty at the University of Miami since 1990 where he has taught many undergraduate and graduate accounting courses. Since 1989, he has also taught and served as a Senior Academic Support Specialist for the Becker CPA Review Course.
He created the University of Miami Herbert Business School’s Florida 50 Stock Index in collaboration with Dow Jones Standard & Poors Custom Indices Team.
Levine serves as a Faculty Fellow with the University’s Residential Colleges as well as the Treasurer for Zeta Beta Tau’s Supreme Council. He has previously served in various capacities with the Florida Institute of CPAs.
BACKGROUND
At current institution since what year? 1981 as a student, 1990 as a faculty
Education: BBA (1983), MAcc (1985), MBA (1989), (Ed.D.) 2021
List of Undergraduate courses you teach: Principles of Financial and Managerial Accounting
TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR
I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when …
I am not sure I ever thought about becoming a business school professor, but it was a chance encounter with Toastmasters, a group devoted to promoting public speaking, that was the impetus for me to seek out opportunities for teaching.
What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you have made from it?
My doctoral dissertation topic was on the viability of teaching using the Harkness model in an online environment, and the results showed a positive effect on the levels of student engagement, which is encouraging for the future of education.
If I were not a business school professor, I would be …
A professional poker player. At least it would be fun to see what happens. I have several former students who have had great success making a living at this.
What do you think makes you stand out as a professor?
I teach accounting from the standpoint of investing. We discuss publicly traded companies all the time, and my focus is on students being able to decipher and draw conclusions by analyzing their financial statements to make better investment decisions. We will discuss earnings season and earnings calls, and we have developed a Case Competition for students to further hone these skills.
One word that describes my first time teaching: Trepidation
I had stage fright and almost froze. I still get butterflies each semester on the first day of classes before I get to know some of my students.
Here is what I wish someone would have told me about being a business school professor:
Listen to the students. Get to know them, where they come from, and where they want to go. Encourage them, motivate them, and teach them how to think critically. Foster creativity especially in terms of potential entrepreneurship.
Professor I most admire and why:
Mark Friedman, Shirley Dennis, Kay Tatum, Howard Gitlow, and Bradford McGuinn – I admire their passion, knowledge, teaching styles, professionalism, demeanor, and the respect that they show their students every single day.
TEACHING BUSINESS SCHOOL STUDENTS
What do you enjoy most about teaching business students?
Making a difference in their lives and career trajectory. My favorite part of teaching is visiting with them during my office hours so what we can discuss their courses, their majors, and their plans for internships and careers.
What is most challenging?
Keeping them focused in and out of class due to the constant distractions of technology. This is why I enforce the rather draconian policy of no phones and laptops during class time so that they can unplug and focus and discuss.
In one word, describe your favorite type of student: Enthusiastic, Inquisitive
In one word, describe your least favorite type of student: Absent, Inattentive
When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as … Fair
LIFE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
What are your hobbies? Traveling, playing poker, attending sporting events
How will you spend your summer? Traveling with friends and family
Favorite place(s) to vacation: Marco Island, New York, San Diego, Spain
Favorite book(s): Atlas Shrugged, The House in the Cerulean Sea
What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much?
Only Murders in the Building because of Steve Martin and Martin Short, and it’s set in NYC, but also because we’ve been watching it together as a family.
What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why? Classic Rock, but also Country. I love David Gilmour, Billy Joel, Elton John, Foreigner, Journey, Styx, Casey Musgraves, Maren Morris, etc.
THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS
If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this … Incorporating the positive attributes of online learning and education into the live classroom environment to provide students with the best of both worlds.
In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at …
Encouraging students how to think critically and solve problems in the face of the oncoming impact of Artificial Intelligence. AI may eliminate some jobs, but it will also create even more careers and opportunities that do not yet exist.
I am grateful for … working with students who keep me young and invigorated and for the support of my Deans and colleagues who make teaching a pleasure!
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