Teaching excellence at Gies
At Gies, we are committed to fostering a culture of continued excellence in teaching. We offer a variety of initiatives and activities to support faculty, and we celebrate and reward exceptional teaching and teaching innovations.
Faculty development and support
The Gies Teaching & Learning unit plays a pivotal role in supporting Gies faculty. From workshop series and webinars to financial support and personalized consultations, we are dedicated to enhancing teaching practices and driving innovation in the classroom.
Workshop series
Our cohort- and theme-based workshop series cover topics such as best practices in course design, assessment, inclusive teaching, and effective use of learning technologies. They consist of a mix of synchronous and asynchronous activities and span two to three weeks.
Monthly webinars
Teaching with Innovative Technology Coffee Hours
Offered in partnership with the Disruption Lab, this webinar series features Gies instructors showcasing how they use innovative technologies in their classrooms.
AI Discovery Series
An exploration of the intersection between teaching and learning and generative Artificial Intelligence by Gies Faculty and the Teaching and Learning team.
Supporting teaching innovations
Teaching and Learning Faculty Innovation Scholars Program
This program provides financial support to faculty who undertake innovative learning activities and develop educational materials that advance the College’s commitment to fostering excellence in business education.
Consultations and guidance
Expert staff provides personalized teaching and pedagogy guidance and support.
Faculty teaching awards and recognition
We take pride in the many College, university, and national teaching awards our faculty have received, as well as the high praise they receive from learners. Every semester more than 175 Gies Business faculty members earn "excellent" or "outstanding" ratings from their students, reflecting our dedication to impactful teaching.
Alumni Association Excellence-in-Teaching Awards
Each year, the Gies Business Alumni Association (GBAA) recognizes faculty who exhibit excellence in the classroom.
Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award
- Mitch Fisher, Accountancy, 2025
- Rich Excell, Finance, 2024
- Aimee Barbeau, Business Administration, 2023
- Sterling Raskie, Finance, 2022
- Rob Metzger, Finance, 2021
- Rachel Schwartz, Accountancy, 2020
- Fiona Kun Yao, Business Administration, 2019
- Julia Shapland, Accountancy, 2019
- Michael Kustanovich, Accountancy, 2018
- Mark Wolters, Business Administration, 2017
Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award
- Elizabeth Luckman, Business Administration, 2025
- Brian Hamm, Accountancy, 2024
- Timothy Johnson, Finance, 2023
- E. Geoffrey Love, Business Administration, 2022
- Michael Shaw, Business Administration, 2021
- Michael Bednar, Business Administration, 2020
- George Pennacchi, Finance, 2019
- Gary Hecht, Accountancy, 2018
- Martin Widdicks, Finance, 2017
University of Illinois Awards for Teaching Excellence
The Office of the Provost recognizes faculty and teaching assistants from across the university for excellence in teaching.
Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award
- Rich Excell, Finance, 2024
- Amanda Alt, Accountancy, 2023
- Eric Larson, Business Administration, 2022
- Michael Donohoe, Accountancy, 2021
- Raj Echambadi, Business Administration, 2016
- Neil Pearson, Finance, 2014
Excellence in Graduate and Professional Teaching Award
- Brian Hamm, Accountancy, 2024
- Scott Weisbenner, Finance, 2021
- Jeffrey Loewenstein, Business Administration, 2019
Poets&Quants Top 50 Undergraduate Business Professors
- Sandra Corredor, Business Administration, 2024
- Unnati Narang, Business Administration, 2023
- Min Jung Kim, Business Administration, 2023
- Joe Mahoney, Business Administration, 2022
- Dawn Kink, Accountancy, 2022
- Aimee Barbeau, Business Administration, 2021
- Kevin Jackson, Accountancy, 2021
- Eric Larson, Business Administration, 2021
- Mark Wolters, Business Administration, 2020
- Michael Bednar, Business Administration, 2020
- Aravinda Garimella, Business Administration, 2020
- Michael Donohoe, Accountancy, 2018
Faculty spotlights
Unnati Narang, assistant professor of business administration, and Vishal Sachdev, clinical associate professor of business administration, have received the campus-wide 2023 Provost's Initiative on Teaching Advancement (PITA) Award to undertake a project on the role of AI in education. The objective of the project is to examine how to effectively use generative AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance learner outcomes and disseminate their findings through instructor workshops and research publications.
Professor Narang and Sachdev were also among the eight Gies faculty members who have been named Teaching and Learning Faculty Innovation Scholars for academic year 2023-24.
Unnati Narang
Vishal Sachdev
AACSB Accreditation
Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). We hold both business and accounting accreditation.
AACSB accreditation is a rigorous process that evaluates business schools on a multitude of criteria, including faculty qualifications, teaching effectiveness, research contribution, societal impact, and student learning outcomes. It reflects our dedication to providing a top-notch educational experience to our students and our commitment to preparing our students for success in the dynamic and ever-evolving world of business.
Connect with our team
The Gies Teaching & Learning unit is dedicated to enhancing the pedagogical expertise of Gies College of Business faculty to create high-quality, transformational learning experiences for our students. The expert staff offers expertise, advice, and support in instructional design, learning technologies, and best practices for teaching and learning to help faculty provide high quality transformational learning experiences.