CCU business faculty members recognized for excellence inside and outside of the classroom
The E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration at Coastal Carolina University has awarded professorships to four faculty members who exemplify excellence in teaching, research and service. The following professorships have been awarded for 2017-2018: The Vereen Teaching Impact Award to David Fink and Richard Drass; the Baxley Applied Impact Award to Robert Salvino; and the Blanton Distinguished Research Impact Award to Monica Fine.
These professorships were created in 2015 to annually recognize professors who have a positive impact on the University community and surrounding areas. The criteria for these awards are service to the students, school and profession; enhancement of the Wall College reputation; substantial contributions to the application of sound business practice; the ability to relate real-world experiences into the classroom; dedication; character; quality of teaching; quality and number of scholarly works; and appropriate professional and personal conduct.
David Fink, lecturer in the Department of Management and Decision Sciences, demonstrated an extraordinary quality of teaching in the classroom according to his students. Fink integrates real-world experiences into the classroom as a former Fortune 500 business executive, and he encourages the use of practical applications as well as case studies and current events. He specifically addresses career services and job placement in his courses to promote the success of his students beyond the classroom.
Richard “Dick” Drass, lecturer in the Department of Management and Decision Sciences, consistently promotes the application of business practices in his classroom. He supervised 54 undergraduate teams and 10 MBA teams that performed community service projects. Five of his students started their own businesses in 2016 as a result of the knowledge they gained in his classes. Business students consistently indicate his exemplary teaching in the classroom.
The Vereen Teaching Impact Award was named for the late Col. Lindsey H. Vereen, who was a member of the Coastal business faculty from 1966 to 1977. Vereen was a decorated World War II veteran who earned a master’s degree in industrial management from the University of Pittsburgh.
Robert Salvino, associate professor in the Department of Finance and Economics and associate director of the Grant Center for Real Estate and Economic Development at CCU, made substantial contributions to the community in his role as associate director for the Grant Center. He advanced awareness of the Grant Center in the region and made numerous presentations to civic and professional groups. His students worked on a project for Murrells Inlet 2020, a community revitalization group, analyzing feasibility of expanding multipurpose bike and walking paths throughout Murrells Inlet. Salvino created the new minor in commercial and investment real estate and grew the minor to 29 students within the first year.
The Baxley Applied Impact Award was named for the late Col. William Baxley Jr., a longtime CCU business professor and administrator.
Monica Fine, associate professor and chair of the Department of Marketing and Hospitality, Resort and Tourism Management, had a total of six peer-reviewed journal articles accepted or published in 2016 alone. In addition to her responsibilities as department chair, she served as Quality Enhancement Plan coordinator for the Wall College and as adviser of the CCU chapter of the American Marketing Association. In the past year, she co-authored articles in the Southern Business Economic Journal, Tourism Culture & Communication, and the Journal of Marketing for Higher Education.
The Blanton Distinguished Impact Award was named in honor of the late James P. Blanton, a local businessman, conservationist, legislator, champion of education and founder of CCU.