Dr. Thomas A. Zeni, assistant professor of business administration in East Central University’s Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business, has been named a regional recipient of the 2015 Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) Teaching Excellence Award.
“I feel excited. It’s great to be recognized for one’s work, but more importantly, this is an exciting time for the Stonecipher School of Business and East Central University,” said Zeni. “We’re all doing great things here and I’m happy my contributions can help get the word out.”
According to Zeni, this award lets him know that he, like many other assistant professors, are on the right path of acquiring more knowledge as an educator.
“I can recall the instant when I first thought about teaching. I was remembering the one or two influential teachers I had in high school and I thought it would be amazing to have students someday thinking about me in that fashion,” Zeni said. “If my students are inspired by my teaching, I couldn’t really ask for much more. I think that’s what the college experience should be about, thinking differently at the end of each day than you did at the beginning.”
Zeni will receive the award, which includes a medallion and a $100 check, at the ACBSP Conference, June 12-15, in Philadelphia, Pa. As a regional recipient, Zeni is candidate for an International Teaching Excellence Award which will also be announced at the June conference.
“Dr. Zeni has brought new ideas and perspective to the students, the Business Administration Department and the university,” said Dr. Charles Jones, professor and department chair. “Dr. Zeni’s course ratings are exceptional, but more importantly, the qualitative comments by our students in his reviews directly speak to his ability to inspire learning and foster personal and professional development among his students.”
In 2002, the ACBSP Baccalaureate Degree Commission created an award to recognize excellence in teaching at the baccalaureate/graduate degree level. ACBSP is the only specialized body for business schools that presents an award recognizing excellence in teaching, open to application by the entire membership.
“It is more important than ever for business programs to produce graduates who are ready to enter the global marketplace,” said ACBSP Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Alderman. “ACBSP has a mission to develop, promote and recognize best practices that contribute to continuous improvement of business education. Recognition of teaching excellence is one way we achieve this goal.”
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