Congratulations to the 2025 Teaching Award of Excellence Winner

Lang introduced its teaching awards back in 2018 to honor the exceptional contributions of our instructors. These awards were created to recognize their strong commitment to student learning and support. Over the years, these awards have grown to become a meaningful symbol of excellence in teaching at Lang, celebrating both innovative pedagogical approaches and the personal investment our instructors make towards their students’ success.

This year, Lang received an outstanding number of applications, underscoring the commitment of our instructors to creating supportive, inclusive, and challenging learning environments. The submissions reflected the many ways our faculty act as mentors and role models, inspiring students to achieve their full potential both inside and outside the classroom. Through these awards, Lang celebrates the community of educators who elevate the student experience every day.

It is with great pleasure that we announce the 2025 Teaching Award of Excellence recipients. The MacPherson Teaching Award of Excellence is awarded to a Lang faculty member who demonstrates excellence in teaching and learning. This year's recipient of the MacPherson Teaching Award of Excellence is:

· Fred Liu, Department of Economics and Finance

Professor Liu was recognized for his outstanding dedication to student learning and mentorship. He actively involves undergraduate students in high-level research, providing them with opportunities that are rarely seen at this stage of study. His innovative teaching has transformed courses like the capstone FIN*4000, where he integrates timely topics such as machine learning in finance, and FIN*3200, where he prepares students for professional designations like the CFA. In addition, by linking his active research program to his teaching, he creates highly engaging and integrative learning environments that inspire students and highlight the real-world value of their work. His approach reflects not only innovation and excellence in teaching but also a genuine care for his students’ growth and success. One of his students had this to say in their supporting letter:

“Dr. Liu’s teaching style is uplifting and unique, especially in the way he connects academic concepts to real-world applications. There is never a moment in his courses where the material feels irrelevant or outdated. For instance, in Fundamentals of Derivatives, Dr. Liu referenced gold-standard materials such as Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives by John Hull. While this textbook can be intimidating for first-time learners, Dr. Liu made the material approachable through interactive assignments, engaging lectures, and one-on-one support. By the end of the course, I had gained invaluable knowledge that helped me succeed in Sales and Trading interviews at major financial firms.”

This year’s recipient of the Casey Cosgrove Teaching Award of Excellence is:

· Poorya Selk-Ghafari, Department of Marketing and Consumer Studies

Known for blending rigorous research with hands-on, experiential learning, Poorya transformed his MCS4100 (Entrepreneurship) course into a startup accelerator, guiding student teams to develop market-ready ventures, secure funding, and launch products. He also revitalized the technically challenging MCS2020 (Information Management) course, making complex topics accessible and engaging for all students. Across his courses, Poorya’s innovative, student-centered approach, grounded in his cutting-edge research, has earned high praise for fostering inclusive, participatory classrooms where students develop real-world skills and entrepreneurial confidence. One of his students had this to say in their supporting letter:

“One of the most effective aspects of his teaching was the integration of friendly competitions that encouraged teamwork and class-wide engagement. These competitions not only made learning more enjoyable but also fostered collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, which are essential competencies to have for success in both academic and professional settings. He provided numerous opportunities for students to grow, ensuring that multiple pathways to success were available and that every student had the tools they needed to excel.”

Congratulations to this year’s award winners, and thank you for your efforts in providing outstanding learning experiences for Lang students!