Empowering Educators

The faculty at University of Richmond are an integral part of student success—they become mentors, supporters, confidants, and champions. Much like the students they teach, they are lifelong learners whose emphasis on the teacher-scholar model benefits from impactful guidance and pedagogy support from trusted experts.

Teaching Fellows in the Robins School support this faculty peer mentorship by serving as role models and resources and providing guidance in teaching and research. Selected by a dean’s committee, Teaching Fellows serve a three-year term. Bill Bergman, Robins Teaching Fellow, Joe Hoyle, Accounting Teaching Fellow, and Saif Mehkari, the Paul Clikeman Teaching Fellow, just completed their tenure.

“Few people are natural born educators,” said Bergman, an instructor in marketing. “Teaching is a learned skill that requires years and years of practice. Our job is to help faculty members realize that a Ph.D. doesn’t suddenly come with the reward of teaching excellence, but that it requires constant practice and adjustment—almost like playing a musical instrument or a sport.”

Hoyle, who has over 50 years of experience as accounting professor, maintains a teaching blog and podcast, and recently wrote an e-book about how to become a better college teacher, and finds great value in sharing resources and material with other faculty.

“Our classes educate hundreds of students each semester. Each of those young people depends on us as their teachers to help them make the transition to mature, educated, thoughtful citizens,” he said. “That is a huge responsibility, and we need to take that very seriously. If our students are going to help transform the world to a better place, then we must provide each of them with a world class education.  We owe them nothing less.” 

In addition to providing advice and problem-solving, in conjunction with the Pedagogy Committee, Teaching Fellows host opportunities for colleagues to discuss topics and share ideas and experiences through pedagogy workshops. These workshops cover a range of helpful themes, including student advising, artificial intelligence, curriculum development, and student evaluations, and also serve as a means to build community and a culture of discussion around teaching. 

“We really value teaching at the Robins School,” said Mehkari, associate professor of economics. “Teaching has two components—the first is the content we teach. As teacher-scholars we bring cutting-edge content to the classroom. The second is delivering that content. Discussing and learning about different pedagogical ways to teach effectively helps us become better.”

With over 100 faculty members in the business school, many types of teaching styles exist, each influenced by personal and professional experiences. The mentorship and exchange of ideas Teaching Fellows encourage and facilitate help faculty realize there is no common or acceptable teaching method for the several areas of study offered. Each discipline is different, and each instructor can evolve a style that works best for them within their subject to be unique and successful.

“Every person in this building wants our students to be proud of what they have learned and what they are capable of accomplishing in life after graduation,” said Hoyle. “That attitude begins with teachers who love teaching, who love their subject matter, and who love their students.”

The Teaching Fellows for the 2024-2027 term are Richard Coughlan, Joe Hoyle, and Maia Linask. An installation ceremony is scheduled for November 13, 2024.