Called to Teach
by Justin Walker
At the Hankamer School of Business, teaching is more than the transfer of knowledge. It is a commitment to shaping lives, developing leaders and preparing students to make a meaningful impact in the world. This year’s teaching award recipients represent the very best of that commitment. Their approaches may differ, but each shares a common passion for investing in students and creating transformative learning experiences that extend far beyond the classroom. Together, they reflect the culture of excellence, innovation and care that defines teaching at HSB.
“Exceptional teaching sits at the heart of our mission as a Christian business school,” said Dr. David M. Szymanski, the William E. Crenshaw Endowed Dean of HSB. “What makes these faculty members so deserving of recognition is not only their mastery of their disciplines, but also their deep commitment to helping students grow as professionals, leaders and individuals. They exemplify the kind of transformational educational experience that distinguishes the Hankamer School of Business.”
Ann Mirabito, PhD
Professor, Marketing
Teaching Excellence Award (Tenured)
There are two things that drive my passion for teaching. First, for many of my students, this is the only formal Marketing course they will take. As they move into senior roles, they will be responsible for evaluating strategy, allocating resources and making decisions that shape growth. I take that responsibility seriously – this course needs to give them a clear, durable foundation for how to think about marketing at a strategic level.
Second, I care deeply about what marketing can do. Too often, marketing is framed as persuasion or tactics. I approach it differently – as a discipline centered on creating value in people’s lives while meeting organizational goals. That framing changes how students evaluate decisions, from messaging to resource allocation to long-term strategy.
Cari Edison, BBA ’99, MBA ’99
Teaching Professor, Accounting and Business Law
Teaching Excellence Award (Clinical/Lecturer)
I strive to make every class engaging, effective and ultimately transformational for my students. When students are actively engaged, learning becomes more and more memorable.
That starts with the everyday moments. Rather than relying solely on lecture, I ask open-ended questions that encourage students to think critically and participate in the conversation. I also use real-world and hypothetical scenarios that connect accounting concepts to situations they can envision themselves facing in their careers.
I also look for creative ways to bring learning to life. In one lesson, students use virtual reality headsets and a 360-degree manufacturing plant tour to experience product costing in an immersive, hands-on environment. Experiences like these help students see why the material matters, not just how it works.
My courses are constantly evolving because I’m always searching for better ways to present material, earn student buy-in and help students understand the value of what they’re learning.
Betty Xing, PhD
Assistant Professor, Accounting and Business Law
Robin and Mark Howard Early Career Teaching Award (Tenure-Track)
What I love most are the students themselves. We talk about tax, of course, but also about identity, purpose and the real challenges they’re navigating. Baylor creates a safe environment for those conversations. When I ask students to commit to something, they rarely push back because there’s a strong sense of trust. Our community is built on caring for one another, learning together and showing up for each other. It’s amazing to watch what happens when people grow.
I make it a priority to get to know my students. People engage more deeply when they feel seen, and the class becomes more meaningful when it connects to who they are and what they care about. I even keep a little collection of student autographs.
Lee Grumbles, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor, Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation
Robin and Mark Howard Early Career Teaching Award (Clinical/Lecturer)
I intentionally design my courses around experiential learning, investing time and energy into creating opportunities for students to actively apply new concepts. For example, in New Venture Finance, students practice concepts in class, giving them the space to experiment, make mistakes and learn in real time. These lessons are then reinforced through real-world case studies, often presented live by the business owners themselves.
In my Introduction to Entrepreneurship course, students learn to validate their ideas through a computer simulation that challenges them to ask customers the “right questions.” They then take this learning beyond the classroom – engaging directly with potential customers to test, refine and strengthen their own product or service ideas.
