Warrington professors, advisor receive College’s annual awards
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Warrington College of Business Administration recognized four exceptional educators with its 2013-2014 Teaching/Advising Awards.
Huber Hurst Professor of Contract Law & Legal Studies Dr. Larry A. DiMatteo and John B. Hall Chair Dr. Joel Houston were recipients of the Graduate Teaching Awards. Huber Hurst Professor Robert W. Emerson received the Undergraduate Teaching Award and Lesley Harris, Assistant Director, Academic Advising & Career Coaching at the Heavener School of Business, earned the Undergraduate Advising Award.
“There were a number of excellent nominees in all categories so choosing the winners was challenging,” said Senior Associate Dean & Director of the Hough Graduate School of Business Dr. S. Selcuk Erenguc. “The College is fortunate to have such a pervasive level of excellence in its teaching and advising activities.”
Huber Hurst Professor of Contract Law & Legal Studies Dr. Larry A. DiMatteo (left) and John B. Hall Chair Dr. Joel Houston were recipients of the College’s Graduate Teaching Awards.
Dr. Larry A. DiMatteo: Dr. DiMatteo has been at Warrington for 15 years beginning as an Assistant Professor of Legal Studies in 1999 before becoming the Huber Hurst Professor of Contract Law & Legal Studies in 2005. He has written 70 publications, including seven books, specializing in the areas of contract law and international business law. Dr. DiMatteo previously was recognized as the University of Florida’s Teacher-Scholar of the Year (2011-2012), was awarded a Fulbright Professorship in 2012 and received Warrington’s Graduate Teacher of the Year Award in 2010. Dr. DiMatteo received two bachelor’s degrees from the University at Buffalo, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Cornell University, Masters of Law from Harvard University, and his Doctor of Philosophy from Monash University (Australia).
Dr. Joel Houston: Dr. Houston has spent 28 years at the College beginning as an Assistant Professor in 1987. Among Dr. Houston’s research interests are financial institutions and corporate finance, and he teaches two of the most popular classes at UF MBA (Asset Valuation, Risk and Return, and Measuring and Managing Value). He previously served as Lecturer of Finance at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and as an Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Dr. Houston received a Bachelor of Arts from Franklin Marshall College (Pa.) in 1982, a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1984 and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1986.
Huber Hurst Professor Robert W. Emerson was named the College’s Undergraduate Teacher of the Year while Lesley Harris, Assistant Director, Academic Advising & Career Coaching was named Undergraduate Advisor of the Year.
Professor Robert W. Emerson: Professor Emerson has been at the College for 26 years beginning as an Assistant Professor of Business Law & Legal Studies in 1988. He specializes in all aspects of the legal system related to franchising and comparative legal procedure. Professor Emerson, who has now received the College’s Teacher of the Year Award for the 12th time, has also received the American Business Law Association and Academy of Legal Studies Best Article Award seven times. Professor Emerson received a Bachelor of Arts from Sewanee: The University of the South (Tenn.) and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.
Ms. Lesley Harris: Harris joined Heavener’s advising and career coaching staff in 2009, and was named the School’s Assistant Director, Academic Advising & Career Coaching in April 2013 based on her excellence in programmatic management and commitment to students. In spring 2013, she met with 1,106 students via walk-in appointments which accounted for 22.8% of all students visiting the Heavener advising office. This past year, she launched an innovative new program, the Warrington Diplomat Leadership Ventures, to help students develop leadership skills through adventures based on teamwork and communication. Harris earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Education with a focus in College Student Personnel from Illinois State University.
