In and beyond the classroom
Dr. Judy Callahan is next in our new Faculty Spotlight series. She shares her career path to becoming a professor and faculty member at the Warrington College of Business and what excites her most about teaching students.
Before becoming a professor, Callahan established herself in the business world. Between completing her undergraduate and MBA degrees at the University of Maryland, she sold advertising for and managed the sales staff of the #1 radio station in Washington, D.C. After several years there, she decided to move on from the radio station and earn her PhD in management and statistics at the same school.
Equipped with her doctorate, Callahan wanted to teach full-time and began scheduling appointments with universities across the nation. Soon after, though, she cancelled her appointments, choosing to stay with the first school she interviewed at: the University of Florida.
“UF had quality students and resources for faculty that surpassed other universities,” she recalled.
“The ‘job’ of an instructional professor in the Warrington College of Business at UF means teaching 365 days a year,” she said. “The classes overlap and vary in length, size and delivery vehicle. Designing courses for an online experience is different from one delivered face-to-face.
“Furthermore, effective experiential learning requires instructors to provide continuous feedback to the students. The array of courses taught both online and face-to-face has honed my instructional design skills. I am able to envision the outcome and develop a course that fulfills that vision.”
Each of Callahan’s courses involve active student engagement. Encouraging students to practice using skills they learn in class, Callahan facilitates in-class discussions, enacting teamwork, problem-solving exercises and more. She is adamant about the importance of class participation, wanting students to get the most out of their learning experience.
After teaching at UF and UCF for several years, she decided to take a break from academe, but found she couldn’t stay away from the classroom. While holding a job as Director of Organizational Management at an infrastructure engineering company, she taught one class per year. Seven years later, she was back to teaching full-time at UF.
As an Associate Instructional Professor, Callahan continues to teach graduate-level courses. Lately, she has found more creative ways to teach students business skills, taking the classroom outdoors in her Primitive Leadership and Decision Making course (MAN6930). With the help of “Naked and Afraid” stars Brooke and Matt Wright, Callahan spent spring break teaching leadership, decision making and wilderness survival skills to MBA students in the Ocala National Forest.
“Teaching is my vocation – it’s my calling,” she said. “Spending time with intellectually curious people excites me. Teaching provides a deep fulfillment by requiring me to stay abreast of the field; add facilitating the learning of others and it is my magic elixir.”