Ph.D. students excel in the classroom to win teaching awards
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Warrington College of Business Administration has recognized Mishari Alnahedh and Brent Kitchens for their teaching excellence with the Fall 2014 Ph.D. Teaching Award.
The award recognizes outstanding Ph.D. student teaching and instructional innovation. The selection process gauges the effectiveness of teaching practices, measures engagement, and evaluates student learning experiences. The process provides all nominees with detailed feedback and consultation to prepare for future teaching activities and upcoming job searches.
Alnahedh is a 4th year Ph.D. student in the Department of Management. He holds an MBA in Strategy, Finance and Economics from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Kansas. Alnahedh teaches courses in strategic management and believes that courses are best taught through a Socratic teaching style. He uses real world case studies that encourage critical thinking and collaboration among classmates. He said he’s grateful to be able to have such great interactions with students and Warrington staff. “I am thrilled to win this award,” he said. “I was honored to have the opportunity to teach these outstanding Heavener School of Business students.”
Kitchens is a 5th year Ph.D. student in the Department of Information Systems and Operations Management. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems from the University of Mississippi. His current research focuses on measuring latent constructs through text and data mining. In 2014, Kitchens won the “Most Promising Research/Advancing Science Award” with Mahdi Moqri in Teradata University Network’s inaugural contest in analytics. Kitchens has taught courses on information systems and operations management strategy and business systems. “Everything I do in the classroom is focused toward encouraging students to be engaged,” he said. “Becoming an outstanding educator is a goal that is very important to me, and it is very encouraging to have such great feedback from my students and colleagues as I continue to reach for it.” Kitchens recently accepted a position as an Assistant Professor of Commerce, Information Technology Area at the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce beginning in Fall 2015. His research and teaching focus will be in Business Analytics.
Both honorees scored exceptionally well in the four award categories of teaching philosophy, mid-course evaluations, student feedback, and syllabus design. They showed high knowledge and preparation for class, used real world application activities in their teaching, and demonstrated respect and dedication toward student success.
