DTA Recipient Murali Shanker: A Passion for Teaching

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For the past 16 years, Dr. Murali Shanker has molded the academic careers of countless students at Kent State. In recognition of his work, he was awarded one of the 2006 Distinguished Teaching Awards.

Dr. Murali Shanker, associate professor of management and information systems, won his Distinguished Teaching Award with his passion for teaching.

Shanker, a native of India, is an associate professor of management and information systems (MIS). After earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s in applied mathematics from the University of Madras, India, Shanker came to the United States to pursue his interests in research and education.

“I always wanted to do my Ph.D.,” he says, “and then came to University of Minnesota to pursue a doctorate in management science. After I graduated, Kent State was one of the universities that offered me an appointment. Kent offered the best blend of teaching and research focus, so I accepted the appointment in 1990.”

Shanker never saw himself getting into teaching. Prior to his arrival in the United States, he worked a few years as a systems analyst at Sarabhai Industries, a multinational company in Baroda, India. However, his thirst for greater knowledge soon found him once again in the classroom.

After being assigned teaching responsibilities during his doctoral work, Shanker fell in love with the profession. His passion for higher education has a simple root: the students.

“I am glad that I have the opportunity to contribute toward the learning of other students,” says Shanker. “My goal is to find a way so that any student who wants to learn should be able to do it.”

Shanker’s ongoing research, published in several prestigious journals, has explored areas of knowledge management and data mining, IS flexibility, distributed computation and simulation.

“I think research and teaching are two sides of the same coin,” he says. “I use my research to explore new ideas and my teaching to see how I can convey these ideas clearly. Good research helps me become a better teacher, and good teaching helps clarify ideas. So, for me, the blend is essential to growth.”

Both his skills as a teacher and as a researcher are continually put to the test.

“I am constantly revising my teaching methods,” he says. “Every year, students come with different backgrounds and learning skills, so my teaching methods are a work in progress. I am far from finding a complete solution, but hopefully, I have made some incremental steps toward it. I do enjoy the challenge, though.”

Tenure-track faculty members are nominated for the Distinguished Teaching Awards awards by students, faculty and staff. The awards are sponsored by the Alumni Association.