Business school names first teaching professors

The School of Business is the first academic unit on campus to use the working title of “teaching professor.”

UW System campuses were given the option this summer to use informal working titles for some instructional and research academic staff.

“We thought it was critical to adopt policies regarding support and rewards for individuals willing to take on these tasks that are so vital to the school,” says Andrew J. Policano, a business professor and former dean of the School of Business.

The use of teaching professor titles is increasing at universities nationwide, as colleges grapple with impending retirement of large numbers of professors.

Interim dean R.D. Nair says having the ability to use the teaching professor title will help recruit and retain individuals who are not on the traditional tenure track to fill key roles in the school.”These individuals will play a key role in helping the school achieve its mission and in providing a quality education to our students,” Nair says.

Nine individuals in the School of Business have the working title of teaching professor. Some are new to the School of Business, while others have long taught classes at the business school. Some have extensive industry experience, others have followed an academic career track. All have extensive teaching experience and have earned doctoral degrees.

The teaching professors are Marty Blalock, business communications; Maria Castaneda, management and human resources; Sandra Ihle, business communications; Loren Kuzuhara, management and human resources; Timothy McClurg, operations and information management; Belinda Mucklow, finance and accounting; Patricia Mullins, business statistics; Bulent Paker, finance; Jonathan Pellegrin, management and human resources; and Sandra Stark, business communications.