It’s one thing to know the material. It’s a whole different ball game when you have to teach it.
You can master every framework and rule. You can rattle off every precedent and application. And you can dissect a case down to every variable and option. In the end, the real test of knowledge is your ability to transmit it. Can you break through so a novice understands what you’re teaching? Can you get learners excited about your class – even when they have to slog through the biting cold for an 8:00 a.m. start? Are your students reaching epiphanies than enable them to connect the material with their everyday lives?
Most important: Can you instill a curiosity that leads students to learn more on the own – long after finals are graded?
Answer ‘Yes’ to three of these questions and you’re a great teacher. Check off four and you’re extraordinary.
WHAT MAKES A GREAT PROFESSOR
David C. Smith, University of Virginia (McIntire)
The top business schools are packed with gifted teachers. They engage and inspire, adapting to their students’ needs and pushing them beyond their limit. They are master communicators and motivators, always bringing something unexpected and unforgettable into the classroom. Most of all, they love what they do – and that enthusiasm trickles down to their pupils.
Professor David C. Smith is one such teacher says Manish Dahal, who graduated from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce. Smith taught Intermediate Corporate Finance to Dahal. The scouting report on Smith according to Dahal: “Extremely smart, charismatic, and never failed to make our class laugh. His passion and knowledge for finance, especially restructuring, is second-to-none.” Along with these virtues, it was Smith’s efforts outside the classroom that enabled him to make an impact.
“In class, he would explain complex concepts in a simple manner, provide thoughtful answers to our questions, and continuously encourage us to think critically,” Dahal explains. “Outside the classroom, Professor Smith always makes time for his students and plays a key role in his students’ lives. He is a mentor to many students, guiding us through the recruiting process and connecting us with alumni in the finance industry. It was truly a pleasure to take his class.”
Who are other standouts at the top undergraduate business schools? When surveying this year’s Best & Brightest Business Majors, Poets&Quants asked nominees to share what made their favorite professors so special. From Binghamton University to the University of Wisconsin, here are the professors you’ll want to sign up for again-and-again.
“I took audit with Professor Christopher Rossetti the first semester of my senior year and it was his first semester teaching at Binghamton. Professor Rossetti got to know his students and made sure his students knew him. I never had a professor send out a biography listing his favorite things to do, sports teams, and a picture of his kids. He wanted his students to know him and see him more than a professor. Professor Rossetti took a very difficult class – audit – and made the class very enjoyable. I enjoyed going to his class every day and learning about accounting, but also about real life. He explained and connected what we were learning in the classroom and how we would apply it in the workplace. Professor Rossetti also handed out poker chips to all the students that got a 100 on the test exam. I thought this was cool and he would also bring us bagels on the day of the exam. He truly cared about his students and wanted us to do well. I learned the importance of and what an audit truly is through Professor Rossetti.”
Emma Spotto, Binghamton University
Ralph Christy, Cornell University (S.C. Johnson)
“Professor Ralph Christy. I took his class, Emerging Markets, as a junior and had to petition my way into the course since it’s designed for seniors and graduate students. Nonetheless, Professor Christy took me under his wing, mentored me in my final paper, and helped me navigate complex topics related to emerging economies. He took the time to get to know me as a student and listen to my ideas while also guiding me to success in the course. The breadth and depth of his expertise, combined with his engaging teaching style, made for an excellent learning environment.”
Amber Lao, Cornell University (Dyson)
“My favorite professor is Kerry Mitchell. She cares about her students inside and outside of the classroom and really wants to see her students succeed. I always appreciated her diverse learning tools. During class, she incorporates icebreakers, simulations, presentations, guest speakers, and teamwork to introduce various concepts of HR while building off her experience and knowledge. Outside of class, she encourages students to join clubs, attend conferences, and engage in networking. One of the most impactful ways Kerry supports her students is by showing up to club events and conferences to show her support for DU students. She has answered calls with very little notice to provide advising help and feedback when my team is competing in a case competition, and she takes time out of her personal life to attend club events for SHRM at DU, including a two-day conference. Kerry also has mentored me for countless hours on own time, helping me to network, reviewing job applications, supporting my distinction project, and even spending time in between classes to hear about my upcoming projects, class assignments, and life.”
Alanna Jones, University of Denver (Daniels)
“Looking back on my college experience, Professor Celina Jozsi, head of the accounting department, has significantly impacted my college career. She has pushed and challenged me to dig deeper into questions in order to fully understand the meaning instead of going through the motions and formulas. Always encouraging and supportive, Professor Jozsi goes above and beyond to help every student achieve their career goals. With her connections, I obtained my first internship with BDO, and I am grateful for the opportunity she gave me to step into the accounting field. One of the most hardworking professors at Florida Southern College, I will always value her guidance throughout my college years.”
Allison Pascarella, Florida Southern College
“While I have had many incredible professors in the business school, my favorite has to be Professor Michael O’Leary. I had Professor O’Leary for my First Year Seminar, Differences in the Workplace, on Zoom in the Fall of 2020. In this class, I learned about the psychology behind the way people with different personalities and working styles interact. Professor O’Leary makes students want to learn and collaborate and has a wealth of knowledge about a variety of topics. He also made sure that our class actually got to know each other, something that was very challenging considering we were scattered across the globe. Professor O’Leary built a community and, as a result, I owe him for getting to know some of some of my best friends. On top of all this, he continued to make himself available as a resource to me and the students in class. He even recommended me for my job as a writing center tutor. I am lucky enough to be taking a second class with him, Globalization and the Wine Industry, where we will have the opportunity to visit Mendoza, Argentina, this spring.”
Sarah Ackels, Georgetown University (McDonough)
Anne Fuller, Georgia Tech (Scheller)
“My favorite business professor is Dr. Anne Fuller! My concentration was in Strategy & Innovation, and I have had the privilege of having Dr. Fuller for two semesters. Above all things, Dr. Fuller understands the value of experiential learning and strives to incorporate a hands-on experience into every one of her classes. The aspects of teamwork, discussion, and even failure that I have been exposed to in her class have helped me grow as a student and professional in many more ways than a test ever will. Dr. Fuller’s teaching style is a perfect blend of challenging and encouraging that pushes me to use my critical thinking skills and apply what we learned in class to real world problems. Currently, we are learning to run our own multi-million-dollar business through a simulation. While I can say running a fake company is much more stressful than I originally expected, Dr. Fuller has encouraged me through all the challenges, and I know I will be walking away with not just improved technical skills but knowledge on how to approach problems with a growth mindset. Dr. Fuller’s caring heart and desire for her students to implement lessons beyond the classroom is something I will never forget as I enter the business world!”
Kalieann Wetherington, Georgia Tech (Scheller)
“Mark Wolters is my favorite business professor because, early in my college career, he helped me realize that marketing was the right career path for me. His bright, energetic presence and vibrant passion for marketing expressed in his class and to his one million “Wolter’s World” followers constantly inspires me. His class makes even non-marketing majors love marketing! During my freshman year, I went into an office hour session after our BADM 320: Principles of Marketing class, and I left with a 4-year plan he helped me make based on what area of marketing I wanted to pursue. I have been forever grateful for the genuine time he took to coach me through what I wanted to pursue because it has stuck with me since.”
Caren Morris, University of Illinois (Gies)
“Professor Stephanie Moore’s dedication to cultivating ethics among business students is truly inspiring. In her ethics class, she incorporated current events for discussion, supplemented our learning with relevant videos, and assigned projects that challenged us to navigate ethical dilemmas. She fostered a non-judgmental space where we could openly discuss pertinent topics like sustainability, equity, identity, and fairness, and bring in our own experiences. As a business student, I found the class immensely valuable. Additionally, I really admire Professor Moore’s care for her students and how present she is in and out of the classroom. She is an incredible educator and role model, and I am very grateful to have been able to learn so much from her.”
Emily Ren, Indiana University (Kelley)
“Professor William Bolton cares immensely about the success of his students and created a class designed to inspire us to dream big while equipping us with the tools to accomplish them. Every lesson was taught through the lens of real-world examples and had opportunities to put theory into practice. On our last day of class, Professor Bolton left us with a 23-point plan for finding success in a digital world, my personal favorite being “Work for why, not for what and how”. This concept of the Golden Circle urges business leaders to ask themselves why you do what you do first, then focus on the how to accomplish and what to accomplish. For me, this resonated while in my own career search and I began critically asking myself “why”. He also encouraged me to live outside of my comfort zone and maximize every opportunity. These mantras were not only echoed in most of his lectures, but also mirrored in his own real-life experiences.”
Claire Kim, University of Miami (Herbert)
“Professor James DeSimpelare. If asked, Professor DeSimpelare would describe himself as “dull, sickly, and conservative”, but I found him to be one of the most interesting, caring, and intelligent professors I have encountered. He was incredibly devoted to his students and their learning progress. He somehow made the dullest sections of tax law interesting. It is one thing to have a teacher know the material (which he most definitely did); it is another to find and execute a successful method of imparting that material to your students, all while keeping them from falling asleep. Professor DeSimplare was successful on all accounts and ignited a passion in me I did not even know I had.”
Ruben Garcia, University of Michigan (Ross)
Shimul Melwani, University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
“Shimul Melwani – I was in Shimul’s Leadership and Management class, and she quickly became my favorite business professor because of how engaging she made our class. She would always plan fun activities to bring course concepts to life, ensuring that we not only understood the material but also connected with it. She prioritized knowing every student in the class by name (there were about 40-50 students in the class). She had a genuine interest in our lives and academic interests, which was evident through her taking the time to get to know us personally outside of the classroom in office hours. At the end of the semester, she even wrote each of us a personalized note. Shimul’s impact went beyond just teaching the course material; she inspired us to connect with new peers, encouraged active participation, and made us feel valued and respected when we contributed in class. Her teaching served as a powerful example of how to lead with authenticity and compassion, leaving a profound impact on me and my classmates.”
Zainab Maniya, North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
“Professor Michael O’Malley is my favorite business professor because he has an aura about him that inspires his students. I feel like everyone who took his real estate private equity class would run through a wall for him. He is the true epitome of a leader of men and women and I hope to someday be as good of a leader as him. He is like that one professor you’re afraid to let down because inherently you’d be letting yourself down.”
Billy Micard, Notre Dame (Mendoza)
“Andrew Fournaridis has been my favorite business professor at Pitt! I truly have never enjoyed a class as much as his brand management course. He dove into the psychology behind branding decisions with real-world examples, while giving us the opportunity to work on semester-long branding projects with a group. I am extremely grateful for his willingness to always be a resource inside and outside the classroom to provide insight on marketing careers.”
Melissa Atanasio, University of Pittsburgh
