Michigan Tech College of Business Newsblog

Category: Faculty and Staff

Buche wins Props for Profs

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Mari Buche was selected as this week's winner of Props for Profs.

The Props for Profs program through the Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning asks students to nominate an instructor who has gone over and above the typical in their teaching or mentoring duties for students. This is the third teaching recognition that Buche has received (this semester alone) after being nominated for the 2014 Greek Life Outstanding Faculty Award and winning the Teacher of the Year Award in the School of Business and Economics earlier this semester.

Props for Profs winner Mari Buche is an Associate Professor of Management Information Systems in the School of Business and Economics. Buche was nominated by two students, both of whom commented on her willingness to listen and her concern for her students. The nominators called her a “kind soul” who is both “passionate and knowledgeable about everything she teaches.” Her willingness to listen to students and consider their perspectives, the fact that she occasionally “brings cookies and other treats” and her ability to make learning fun were also emphasized.

Both Buche and her nominators will receive a $5 gift certificate to purchase a snack or drink at the Library Café or several other locations on campus.

If you know a prof who has gone over and above, send some props today and maybe you’ll be next week’s winner.

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Mari Buche voted 2014 Teacher of the Year

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SBE Undergrads voted Mari Buche 2014 Teacher of the Year.

Each year the student body within the School of Business and Economics elects one faculty member as Teacher of the Year. Mari Buche has been selected as the 2013 recipient of the coveted award.  When asked what this award means, Associate Professor of Management Information Systems said, “I am deeply humbled by this award. It is terrific to know that the students appreciate my dedication and commitment to teaching and learning. This recognition is validation that the time I invest in my courses is well spent!”

During her time at Michigan Tech, Buche has proven to be a great asset to the School of Business and Economics.  This is the third teaching award that she has received since joining the faculty at Michigan Tech in Fall 2003. “It never gets old” Buche said playfully before adding “each award is sincerely appreciated.” It is obvious that Buche enjoys sharing her passion for continuous learning, especially in the areas of technology and innovation.

Spearheaded by Buche, the Management Information Systems faculty have purposefully integrated experiential learning projects into the curriculum to ensure that graduates have a taste of the entire “soup to nuts” process of IT project development. Recruiters are routinely impressed by graduates of Michigan Tech, citing their ability to add value to projects from Day One! It’s all about the skills and talent our students bring to the workplace from their time working on real world systems projects as undergraduates.

The School of Business and Economics continues to innovate- through our curriculum and industry partnerships, we align our degree programs with the ever-changing business environment. “In particular, I try to be a role model for women considering STEM fields. MIS combines the fascination of computing and information systems with business acumen and interpersonal communication,” Buche said. The powerful combination of technical and soft skills cannot be overstated.

Michigan Tech has recently announced the roll out of new graduate programs including a Masters in Accountancy and a Master of Data Sciences. These degree programs will create additional opportunities for our students while making them highly marketable and cutting edge. Successful graduates will realize lucrative careers, and many will achieve their dream jobs.  The School of Business and Economics perpetually strives for excellence and superior quality, ensuring both rigor and relevance as we incorporate new technologies enriching academia.

Thanks Mari for all you do for our School of Business and Economics and your students!

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Breffle Earns Props for Profs Award

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Associate Professor of Economics William Breffle recognized for going above and beyond for a student.

The Props for Profs program through the Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning asks students to nominate an instructor who has gone over and above the typical in their teaching or mentoring duties for students.

This week’s Props for Profs winner is William Breffle, an associate professor of economics in the School of Business and Economics. The anonymous nominator started by explaining Breffle’s excellence as a professor, but when the student faced the death of a close family member, Breffle not only accommodated missed work and gave condolences, but contacted the Dean of Students Office and provided information about counseling services available to the student. This student felt Breffle provided a great deal of help and guidance at a very difficult and uncertain time, going well above and beyond the role of a professor–and for that he deserves some mad props.

Both Breffle and his nominator will receive a $5 gift certificate to purchase a snack or drink at the Library Café or several other locations on campus. If you know a prof who has gone over and above, send some props today and maybe you’ll be next week’s winner.

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Roger Woods inducted into Puget Sound Hall of Fame

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Roger Woods inducted into Logger Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.

Five new members will be inducted into the University of Puget Sound Athletics Hall of Fame this fall, the Athletics Department proudly announced on Thursday. Craig Caskey (baseball), Dave Davis (cross country/track & field), Laura Grinstead (soccer), Erin Peterson (softball), and Roger Woods (swimming) will be enshrined as the Puget Sound Hall of Fame Class of 2013. Roger Woods is a Senior Lecturer in Operations Management in the School of Business and Economics at Michigan Tech.

The five new members will be inducted and celebrated the weekend of Sep. 13-14, 2013. An induction ceremony and dinner will take place on Sep. 13 and the class will be celebrated again during the Logger football game on Sep. 14. The Loggers are hosting Chapman University at 1 p.m. in their season-opener.

The Hall of Fame Class of 2013 is comprised entirely of former student-athletes. Caskey (’72) went on to pitch in the major leagues and still holds school records on the mound over 40 years after he threw his last pitch as a Logger. Peterson (’00) was an All-American catcher and still owns the home run record at Puget Sound. Grinstead (’01) was an All-American defender on the soccer pitch and led the Loggers to their first Northwest Conference title.

Davis (’00) and Woods (’94) both earned individual national titles for the Loggers in their respective sports. Woods was a three-time NAIA national champion in the pool while Davis won the NCAA Division III cross country title in 1999 and was a three-time All-American.

The five newest selections to the Hall of Fame span five different sports and represent all three eras of affiliation in Puget Sound Athletics history.

The University of Puget Sound Athletic Hall of Fame was founded in 1966 to honor extraordinary individuals in the rich history of Logger Athletics. From 1966-76, 25 members were inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame.

From 1977-87, the Hall of Fame was dormant until then-Athletics Director Dr. Richard Ulrich revived the tradition. Since 1988, the Hall of Fame has inducted 76 new members for a total 101 student-athletes, coaches, administrators and contributors.

More information about the Hall of Fame celebration will be available later this summer atwww.loggerathletics.com.

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Roger Woods Named Teacher of the Year

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Roger Woods accepted the 2013 Teacher of the Year Award from Dean Klippel.

Each year the student body within the School of Business and Economics elects one faculty member as Teacher of the Year. Roger Woods has been selected as the 2013 recipient of the coveted award.  When asked what this award means, the Lecturer in Operations Management said, “I am honored to be selected given the great faculty that we have in the School of Business and Economics. It has helped that I have had some great mentors and support of other faculty to improve my teaching.”

During his time at Michigan Tech, Woods has proven to be a great asset to the School of Business and Economics.  He first won the Teacher of the Year Award in 2011 and that same year was inducted into the Academy of Teaching Excellence as a finalist for the campus-wide teaching award.  He was nominated again the following year,  was selected as a finalist, and became the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award.

Roger Woods has been instrumental in the execution of the Business Development Experience over the past 3 years.  His duties included: developing the program structure, finding team projects, and teaching the second semester of the senior capstone experience.  Woods notes that “it has been rewarding to see how the students have matured and are able to apply the various School of Business and Economics classes to their projects.”

The task Woods is assigned to is not an easy one.  The student teams are all working on different projects which may pull them in different directions.  The Business Development Experience is intended to be a practical application of the skills they learn throughout their time at Michigan Tech.  We hope that the students can draw on these experiences during an interview for a job, but also that they look back on it as a rewarding hands-on experience.

Now that the Spring 2013 graduates have completed their time at Michigan Tech, Woods is looking forward to seeing a new class of students coming to campus this fall and hearing the success stories of all the recent graduates.

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