Dr. Patricia Styer, Assistant Professor

Which classes do you teach online?

BA 584: Process Improvement and BA 597: Advanced Management Information Systems

What do you want students to take away from your classes? What do you want them to learn?

Transforming data into information and impactful actions requires planning, attention to detail, and an effective integration framework. Our MBA students bring a wide range of valuable experience to this multidisciplinary field. I want each one of them to get better at something they already do well, and to learn at least one new skill that will substantially impact how they plan, implement, and evaluate projects.

How long have you been teaching online courses?

Two years.

Why did you start teaching?

While teaching has always been an avocation, I decided to teach full time because I believe I have a unique and valuable perspective to share with students.

What advice would you give to those considering the online MBA program?

An MBA degree should broaden your perspective and improve your skills as a systems thinker. You will also be expected to go deep into the weeds for selected topics, including SQL coding if you pursue an analytics concentration. If you are a numbers person and want to improve your people and management skills, this is your program. If you are people-oriented and need to improve your quantitative business knowledge, this is your program. If you have been a project or program manager and need additional training to pursue a promotion, this is your program. Your classmates will be intelligent, practical, and willing to share advice and an occasional compromising revelation in the class discussion forums.