Three Warrington Ph.D. students awarded for instructional excellence
Ph.D. students Zhefan Huang (Ph.D. ‘26), Sujin Park (Ph.D. ‘27) and Alan Sohn (Ph.D. ‘26) were awarded the 2024-2025 Ph.D. Teaching Award for the Warrington College of Business.
Doctoral students are selected by the Warrington Teaching Committee and awarded by the UF Teaching & Learning Center that exhibit exceptional teaching as they independently lead a course during the fall 2024 and spring 2025 semesters.
Zhefan Huang – MAN4301 Human Resource Management
His research focuses on human resource management, organizational effectiveness, human resource flows, strategic leadership and the future of work. His work has been published in several esteemed journals including Personnel Psychology and the Journal of Management. He also serves the research community as a reviewer for multiple journals.
Huang taught MAN4301 Human Resource Management in the fall of 2024. This course aligned with his research interests as it provided students with a broad overview of HR functions and how it shapes organizational success. Throughout the semester, he covered key topics including job analysis, compensation, recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management and employee relations.
“I chose to teach Human Resource Management because it directly aligns with my research interests in HR practices and workforce dynamics,” Huang said. “I enjoy sharing insights from my research and translating them into practical applications that students can use in their careers. At the same time, I greatly value learning from students’ perspectives, as their insights often spark new ideas and enrich my own research.”
“Winning this award is very meaningful to me,” Huang said. “It not only recognizes my efforts in the classroom but also affirms the value of creating an engaging and supportive learning environment for students. I am excited to continue contributing to both teaching and research at UF and beyond.”
Huang would like to thank Peter S. Sealey PhD Professor & Marketing Department Chair Richard Lutz and the Department of Management for their mentorship and support. Finally, he would like to thank his students, whose enthusiasm and curiosity made teaching a rewarding experience for him.
Sujin Park – MAR3503 Consumer Behavior
Park is a 4th-year Ph.D. student in Marketing at the University of Florida with a focus on consumer behavior. Before beginning her Ph.D., Park earned two bachelor’s degrees in consumer science and business administration, as well as a master’s degree in business administration (marketing) from Seoul National University.
Her research examines how people make decisions and evaluations across different contexts, specifically on how lay beliefs shape these processes and well-being. Her work has been recognized by major academic conferences, including the Association for Consumer Research and the Society for Consumer Psychology.
In the spring semester of 2025, Park taught MAR3503 Consumer Behavior. She chose to teach the course to help students see how insights from behavioral science make consumer complexity more understandable and relevant both for marketing and for their own lives as consumers. She led her students through an introduction of consumer research methods, exploring perception, attitudes, decision-making, choice architecture and social influence. She designed her class to be highly interactive with case studies and collaborative discussions, fostering an environment for her students to actively connect academic insights to marketing challenges.
“I am truly grateful to receive this award.” Park said. “It means a lot to know that the time and effort I have dedicated to creating engaging classes has made a difference for my students. I especially want to thank my students for their enthusiasm and commitment, which made teaching such a rewarding experience. This recognition not only feels like a meaningful affirmation of my teaching but also motivates me to continue working toward making my courses even better in the future.”
Park would like to thank Lutz for his valuable and inspiring teaching seminar and her adviser, City Furniture Professor Aner Sela for his guidance. Most importantly, she wants to thank her students for their effort and dedication in keeping up with challenging material, allowing her teaching experience to be truly meaningful and motivating her to improve her course.
Alan Sohn – TAX 5025 and TAX 5027 Federal Income Tax 1 and 2
Professionally, he worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for four years, serving multinational corporate clients through tax-related issues including inbound transactions, cross-border tax structure and tax due diligence. He also worked for the LA Clippers as an accounting manager, developing his tax and financial analysis expertise.
His research primarily focuses on corporate taxation and tax policy using archival methods. Specifically, his research examines the real and financial effects of taxes and the dynamics between corporate taxpayers and their stakeholders. His research has gained recognition at major academic conferences, allowing him to speak at the 2025 American Accounting Association Annual Meeting and the 2025 Hawaii Accounting Research Conference.
Sohn taught TAX 5025 and TAX 5027, Federal Income Tax 1 and 2, in the fall semester of 2024. Throughout the course, he guided his students through federal tax laws and basic tax concepts involving gross income, income exclusions and deductions. This course has allowed Sohn to synthesize his passion for taxes into the classroom. He ultimately hopes to inspire students to recognize and pursue their goals as prospective tax professionals.
“Winning this award is a recognition of my hard work and dedication to creating an engaging and impactful learning experience for my students,” Sohn said. “It also reinforces my passion for teaching and highlights the strong pedagogical linkage between my academic research and classroom instruction in taxation. The award is both incredibly rewarding and humbling, and it further motivates me to continually refine and enhance my classes each and every semester to better support my students’ professional and intellectual growth.”
Sohn would like to thank Lutz for his insightful teaching seminar and Jack Kramer Term Associate Professor Michael Mayberry and Assistant Professor Scott Rane for their guidance in developing his course instruction. Additionally, he would like to thank his graduate students for their patience and engagement throughout the semester, allowing him to enjoy his teaching experience.
