JAMSHID MEHRAN WINS LEGACY AWARD Jamshid Mehran, professor and chair of Finance and International Business at the Judd Leighton School of Business and Economics, received the Legacy Award from the IU South Bend Alumni Association. The award was given at the Chancellor’s spring breakfast at the beginning of the spring 2013 semester. The award recognizes full time or retired faculty members who have made a significant impact on the lives of students at IU South Bend. A $500 scholarship is presented in his name to a student in finance.
Mehran has been on the faculty since 1986. He received his doctorate and master’s degree both from the University of Arkansas, and an M.B.A. from Central Michigan University. He previously taught at the University of North Dakota and Western Michigan University and worked as an auditor, accounting supervisor and financial advisor.
Nominations for the award come from faculty, staff and alumni. A committee of faculty, alumni and students make the final selection. The nomination cited his commitment and love of the subject matter. “Professor Mehran has provided encouragement and advice to many students. His research has been weaved into class adding an extra benefit to the students.”
VAIDYANATHAN APPOINTED MACK FELLOW Associate professor of decision sciences and director of the MS-MIT program, Ganesh Vaidayanathan, was selected for appointment as a prestigious Mack Fellow with the IU Faculty Colloquium on Excellence in Teaching for the 201314 academic year. The research he is conducting during the year as part of the appointment focuses on the effects on students of teaching in online and hybrid formats. Delivering classes and programs in online and hybrid (blended) formats is increasingly common in higher education settings. How students perceive learning in these environments is impacted by many factors including the nature of their communication experiences, the lack of face-to-face interactions between students and instructors, and other factors.
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Vaidyanathan’s specific research objectives are to examine students’ perceptions of teaching effectiveness for both online and hybrid classes and measure whether demographics affect individuals’ perceptions of various teaching effectiveness outcomes. A survey instrument will be used to collect the data. Both undergraduate and graduate students in the Leighton School of Business and Economics will be asked to volunteer to complete the survey.