As an assistant lecturer at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business, it is my desire for students to obtain the most out of their university learning experience and be able to say, with excitement and conviction, that they are proud to be University of Utah alumni.  I achieve this by helping students realize their potential and motivate them to reach their end goal.  If their goal is to become the next Bill Gates then I will help them gather the information necessary and discover the path they need to take to reach that end result.  If their objective is simply to finish my course with a passing grade, I am also happy to oblige, but not without trying everything I can to help them understand the absolute criticality of Information Systems that will play a part in their future role as a business leader.

The same commitment to keeping information systems operational and secure for small businesses, non-profit organization, and home users that propels my research also inspires my teaching.  By keeping current on recent information system and IT security literature, I am better able to help students understand what solutions the industry has to offer.  By taking what I have learned and conveying that information to students in a simplistic, memorable, and sometimes humorous manner, will help them retain and be excited to use their new found knowledge.

No student will care how much I know, until they know how much I care.  I let all my students know, from the very beginning of class, throughout the semester, and afterwards that I am at their disposal and that I will do anything I can to help them succeed with their endeavors.  I make it a priority to call each student by name. This helps them know that they are not just another student in my class, but an individual that I have taken a real interest in, and that I truly care for their success in and outside the classroom.

Finally, I try to help students understand that a college degree may help them obtain a job, but won’t help them keep it.  Paying attention in my class and all of their other courses will help them obtain a good baseline to help propel them forward, but teaching them that constant learning and continuing education is an absolute necessity.  Their constant thirst for more knowledge will help them have a strategic advantage over all other individuals in their field and thus help them reach their full potential as future business leaders.