Nehemiah Scott
Gies College of Business
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
“Professor Scott’s impact on me began before I was even a student of the university. During an admitted students day on the UIUC campus, I stumbled into a lecture on the Supply Chain Management program. As a high school senior, I had only a vague idea that SCM existed. Professor Scott was so eloquent, and spoke so highly of the SCM program, that it planted a seed in my mind, which eventually bloomed into a full-blown career path. Now, I am a Supply Chain resource at PepsiCo. I am not sure that this would have happened without Professor Scott’s quiet guidance.
“Scott’s instruction in his required SCM course, Supply Chain Management Basics, created a solid foundation on which I relied throughout my degree. While I was used to cruising through some of my classes, SCM Basics was not this way. It required critical thinking, serious commitments to group work, and continuous, deep reviews of lecture material. This was one of the courses in my undergrad that truly pushed and developed my capabilities.
“Professor Scott helped to develop a novel SCM study abroad opportunity in Panama my senior year. I cannot properly describe what a deeply impactful experience this was. I became much closer to my fellow cohort members, forging relationships that I still cherish. I also got to know Professor Scott and the other faculty member much better, and gained terrific advice from them. Above all, the lectures and tours we were exposed to in Panama, the supply chain hub of the world, were deeply developmental for my capabilities and understandings. We connected with the most important and impactful groups and businesses in the region, such as Maersk, Copa Airlines, and the Panama Canal, and we went on more tours than I thought would be possible. It has absolutely shaped me as a supply chain professional.
“Professor Scott made a large impact on me, my education, and ultimately my career. He is a talented educator, a responsible dean, and a great leader.” – Mary Therese Thavis
Nehemiah Scott, 40, is a Teaching Associate Professor of Business Administration and the Josef and Margot Lakonishok Faculty Fellow at Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he has worked since 2015.
As a former Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs at Gies, Scott worked to ensure a transformative and unified educational experience for all undergraduates and was instrumental to the college enrolling its largest first-year cohort ever in Fall 2025. As a former Director of the Supply Chain Management program and Corporate Affiliate Program, Scott led the program to its highest national ranking ever, and his impact led to his nomination for the 2020 IAspire Leadership Academy.
Scott has taught several undergraduate and graduate courses in supply chain and operations management in both in-person and online delivery modes. His thoughts on supply chain education have been included in Supply Chain Dive, Supply Chain Brain, and Inbound Logistics Magazine. In the classroom, his teaching style invokes students’ intuition to engage them in thought-provoking discussions and activity-based learning. In 2020 during the height of the pandemic, he created a massive open online course (MOOC) on Coursera titled Managing Supply Chain Disruption During COVID-19. Scott developed this course from inception to production to full release in just 3.5 weeks, and it has now enrolled close to 10,000 learners from across the world. In the study abroad space, Scott created and leads the Sustainable Supply Chains in Panama short-term program, providing a weeklong immersive educational experience for supply chain students. Prior to this, Scott was faculty lead for the Business of Food in Rome study abroad immersion.
Scott was awarded the Gies College of Business Dean’s Impact Award during the 2019-2020 academic year and has been named to the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students every academic year since 2015. In 2020, he was named an RC Evans Innovation Fellow and was 1 of 38 professors at the university recognized as a Positive Impact Professor by the Chancellor.
BACKGROUND
At current institution since what year? 2015
Education: Ph.D. in Manufacturing & Technology Management, The University of Toledo (2015); MBA in Information Systems, The University of Toledo (2009); B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering Technology and Minor in Instrumental Music/Viola Performance, The University of Toledo (2007)
List of Undergraduate courses you teach: Supply Chain Management Basics, Purchasing and Supply Management, Sustainable Supply Chains in Panama
TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR
I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when … I knew I wanted to be a business school professor while I was completing my MBA degree, which was quite the change from my desire to work as a software engineer during my undergraduate journey. While I was pursuing my MBA, my mom was the first person to suggest that I should pursue a Ph.D. I also began to notice how my peers across classes would come to me with questions about the course content that we were all learning together. During these conversations, I realized the satisfaction I gained by seeing others understand things because of my explanations. At the same time, I thoroughly enjoyed learning new things and being informed by others’ experiences. I also received encouragement from a former company executive, who was also my professor at the time and who expressed confidence that I would make a great professor.
What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? My primary research is about how firms manage the ambidexterity paradox across their supply chains, especially in complex business environments. I strive to bridge the gap between theoretical development of the constructs and real-world implementation of them through empirical validation. I find that supply chain ambidexterity (such as the ability for a supply chain to simultaneously support current and new products and processes) is achieved through proactive strategic choices of supply chain leaders. I also find that a positive relationship between the supply chain capabilities supporting ambidexterity and innovation outcomes leads to an even stronger relationship between innovation and the company’s market and financial performance.
If I weren’t a business school professor, I’d be … a music score composer and/or professional musician. To some extent, and given my love for sports, I also think it would be interesting to be a live sports commentator for basketball, football, and the Olympics.
What do you think makes you stand out as a professor? I believe there are a couple of things that make me stand out. First, I bring a discussion-oriented teaching style to the classroom and I’m comfortable taking pedagogical risks if it means students can better learn the “what,” “how,” and “why” of what I am teaching them. Second, students have expressed to me that my passion as a professor is matched by my kindness, generosity, and genuine care. I deeply care for my students and their success as learners, future leaders, and people. For me, this also means that my work as a professor must transcend the actual classroom environment to create meaningful and enduring impact. I am grateful for both professorial and academic leadership roles I have held that have allowed me the opportunity to engage with and impact students in a variety of ways. Lastly, I take great care to lead by example in and outside of the classroom.
One word that describes my first time teaching: Confident
Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a business school professor: I wish someone would have told me that as a professor, you can – and you should – give yourself a bit of grace in the same way that you are extending it to others. The nature of academia can cause one to feel like things have to be perfect all the time, but this isn’t the case. Learning how to give yourself grace is invaluable!
Professor I most admire and why: I can’t just choose one, I must choose two! First, Dean Hassan HassabElnaby. Currently, he is Dean of the Haile College of Business at Northern Kentucky University. When I met him, he was Director of the Ph.D. Program and Professor of Accounting at The University of Toledo. The journey of a prospective doctoral student comes with many uncertainties, including the journey itself. Upon meeting Dean HassabElnaby, he immediately saw my potential, he believed in me when others did not, and he was willing to give me the opportunity to pursue my Ph.D. He opened the door, offered consistent encouragement and support, and remained confident that I was going to succeed. He is an inspiration, and it is partially because of what I observed in him years ago that I now pay it forward by expressing a similar belief in my students, actively searching for opportunities to help them reach their goals, and helping to remove barriers and open doors.
Another professor I admire is Dr. Paul Hong. He is currently the Department Chair and Distinguished University Professor of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management at The University of Toledo. When I was a doctoral student, Dr. Hong provided me with access to research opportunities and mentorship that uniquely enriched my entire experience. I watched as he consistently did this for many of my peers as well. As one of my dissertation chairs, he was deeply invested in my success, helped me set realistic research expectations, and taught me to develop rigorous frameworks. Both Dean HassabElnaby and Dr. Hong taught me that being an excellent professor is more than just what you do in the classroom and in research. It is also about how you impact the lives of students.
TEACHING BUSINESS SCHOOL STUDENTS
What do you enjoy most about teaching business students? I enjoy their hunger to explore new things and their passion to create. As much as I enjoy seeing the proverbial lightbulb go off during class, I also enjoy observing them as they make connections between class and the real-world in a setting outside of the classroom, whether that be a site visit or a short-term study abroad immersion. Lastly, certainly not least, I love seeing them articulate their overall purpose as connected to their decision to study business!
What is most challenging? I greatly value creating environments where students must work together in teams. In fact, I believe this is necessary in business education, and I see it as a qualifier in the marketplace. I always encourage my students to use group work as a dress rehearsal that prepares them for how they will perform as a full-time employee after graduating. Since it is challenging to get every student to fully buy in to the value of group work, it then also represents a continued opportunity for me to improve the group work experience.
In one word, describe your favorite type of student: Inquisitive
In one word, describe your least favorite type of student: I don’t think of students in this way, and so I don’t have a least favorite type of student.
When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as … Consistent, transparent, and fair.
LIFE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
What are your hobbies? I enjoy watching and playing sports, especially basketball, football, and track and field. I also enjoy listening to music, playing instruments, lifting weights, and trying new food. Lastly, I enjoy putting my hands to work for a large, complex DIY project. So, if it is painting a room, laying a new floor, caring for a lawn, or refinishing kitchen cabinets, I’m in!
How will you spend your summer? I’ll be spending quality time with my wife and kids. Part of my time will also be spent teaching summer courses, traveling back to my hometown of Akron, OH to see family, and taking a vacation.
Favorite place(s) to vacation: Any place that my wife and kids will enjoy. If they are happy, I am happy!
Favorite book(s): My favorite types of books include anything on supply chain management, business, and innovation.
What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much? Two of my all-time favorite shows/sitcoms to watch include The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Family Matters. I grew up watching these shows and they both still prove timeless! Regarding movies, I love superhero movies (anything produced by Marvel) and sports films (e.g., Remember the Titans) movies. I also like watching biographical music dramas like The Temptations. This movie has tons of quotable lines that I still repeat and laugh at with my brothers and sisters!
What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why? My favorite type of music is gospel music. This genre is by far the most important to me because of my relationship with Jesus Christ, who is the head of my life. He died for me, and so I live for Him. All that I do is for His glory, and gospel music is always a great reminder.
THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS
If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this … removal of barriers to a world-class business education. Removing barriers will help create the diverse communities a business school should reflect and will enrich the educational experience of everyone. In addition, I believe the business school of the future should seek to better align itself with the needs of the dynamic external environment and its various stakeholders including communities and society at large. Accomplishing this represents too large a task for a single institution and therefore must be an initiative in which institutions across higher education are collaborating.
In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at … developing and rewarding leaders who are principled. I believe this is requisite to ensure a healthy organizational culture in which all are welcome, all are respected and valued, people are unified around mission and goals, and organizational leaders exercise their authority responsibly. Under such leadership, work will get done, goals can be met, and neither will come at the expense of integrity. Younger generations are actively observing and listening, and therefore it is imperative for current company and organizational leaders to be consistent role models for them.
I’m grateful for … so much! First, I’m grateful to my family. My wife Sabrina and my kids – Janelle and Nehemiah Jr. – are the reasons I strive every day to be the best professor, dad, and husband I can be. My parents – Raymond and Diane Scott – deserve the credit for the man I am today. I simply would not be in this position without their constant guidance, love, support, and encouragement. I am also grateful to my siblings – Faye, Solomon, Gabriel, Rajenay, and Aungelique – for their love and support. Lastly, I am grateful for the opportunity to be a business professor and academic leader. There is no greater job in the world than this!
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