Where did you grow up and what was your first sign that you were headed for a life in finance?

I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and didn’t “find” finance until graduate school. A professor in graduate school at John Carroll University in Cleveland suggested I continue work on doctorate after completing my MBA. I wasn’t sure what area to consider and he suggested finance. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. I could be kind of a pioneer. There are very few female African American professors in finance in this country or any country for that matter.

What degrees (where from) and professional licenses have you earned?

My MBA came from John Carroll University (1977) and I am ABD (all but dissertation) from Northwestern University, in terms of my doctoral work.

What area of finance is your specialty and where have you worked prior to or during your teaching career?

My specialty is Financial Management in the Entertainment Industry. Prior to teaching, I was in healthcare management. After graduation with an undergraduate degree in marketing, I could not find a job. I have a knack for graduating during recessions! Anyway, I took a job as a secretary in the Operating Room at Mt. Sinai in Cleveland. They really liked my work and decided to offer me the position of manager of the operating suite. I was responsible for all the nonnursing functions of the operating room. Eventually, before I left Mt. Sinai, I’d actually been promoted all the way up to Assistant Director of Purchasing for the entire hospital.

What courses are you teaching over this school year?

I am teaching the Principles of Finance course, the introductory course in Finance (2 sections) and Money and Banking.

How would you describe your teaching style?

I was educated by the Jesuits, so my style is very similar to theirs. I believe my function is to help students learn how to think, so I try to think of ways of stimulating their minds, rather than reciting facts. My classes are usually very quantitative, because mathematics helps discipline the mind. I try to make learning fun and practical, by showing the students how the subject matter relates to them, in the here and now, as well as the future.

What personal or academic qualities do you think are most integral to a successful career in finance?

Discipline is absolutely essential. Moral integrity is exceptionally important, in view of all that has happened in the corporate world recently. Flexibility and dexterity of mind, being able to problem solve are all qualities necessary for success in any field.

Why did you decide to enter the teaching profession? What do you enjoy most about being a teacher at UIC?

When I was working in surgery, I had a chance to teach the staff working under me and discovered I really liked teaching adults and had kind of a knack for it. Here at UIC, I enjoy the diversity of the student body, both in race, religion and age. I really like our “melting pot”. After 9/11, it was so interesting to get the POV’s of my Moslem and Israeli students, as well as others.