Bruce E. Pfeiffer

Excellence in Teaching, 2014

Marketing

Bruce Pfeiffer's teaching philosophy is simple: make it clear to your students that you are passionate, that you care, and that you will be there for them even when they are no longer your students, and they will rise to the challenge.

He enlivens his classroom–an inviting place where even the meekest students can find their voices–with exercises, projects and discussions. And he is bullish on the idea of community, continually emphasizing giving back in the form of internships, mentoring and job opportunities.

Pfeiffer's teaching scores are always in the top tier and frequently reach a perfect 5.0, but even these numbers don't tell the whole story.

Whether he's teaching undergraduates or graduates, the accolades are always the same. One student said, "I was privileged to have him as my professor," while another commented, "I wanted to make him proud of my work." Still another said, "I hope he realizes how much we appreciate him and how he makes learning fun."

Reflecting on the growth Pfeiffer encourages, one student observed, "He challenged me in ways I did not anticipate. . .the quality of work I produced went beyond what I thought I was capable of." Another said, "I expected Professor Pfeiffer's influence to end along with our class, [but] he continued to stay involved. Whenever he found an internship or job opportunity [that] might interest one of us he always forwarded it along with words of encouragement, convincing us he truly believed in our potential for success."

In a final evaluation, one student added, "I think I can speak for all of his students when I say that his passion and dedication to his work is something we admire and hope to gain in our own careers. I cannot think of a more deserving person to be recognized for this award."

By: Arnold P. Garron, Interim Dean, Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics