麻豆影院

Student Becomes Teacher Becomes Mentor

Construction management professor motivated by student success wins Outstanding Teaching Award
Anthony Mirando
Anthony Mirando, Ph.D. 

For Anthony Mirando, Ph.D., associate professor of construction management, student success is his No. 1 motivator.  

鈥淲hat drew me to teaching is when I help other people succeed,鈥 Mirando said. 鈥淭hat feeling of helping someone like that is different, and then seeing them get a job, have a career, and do well, I found that to be more rewarding than building buildings.鈥 

Mirando is driven in the classroom because his teaching philosophy is based on respect. He stays on top of his industry, and his enthusiasm and support for students is noticed and appreciated. So much so, students nominated him for an award. 

Mirando is one of three recipients of the Outstanding Teaching Award. This is the highest honor for full-time, non-tenure track and part-time faculty members. They are nominated by students for being among the most dedicated, highly effective and motivated professors at 麻豆影院.  

Mirando getting award
Mirando being awarded in class

Mirando鈥檚 approach to teaching is heavily based on equity and respect for students as he helps them strive for success. He wants them to feel like everyone has a seat at the table and everyone is treated with mutual respect.  

鈥淢y biggest value is making sure that everybody is really comfortable, heard and acknowledged,鈥 Mirando said. 鈥淲e are peers. You鈥檙e a professional and a grown-up, I am here to help you.鈥  

Mirando also wants to lead by example. He says that when he shows enthusiasm in the classroom, students reflect it back, becoming more engaged in class.  

A love for the complexities and constant change of construction management radiates off Mirando while he teaches. He notes that this shines through in his professional development work. 

鈥淚 am constantly on the front edge,鈥 Mirando said. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in a practitioner-based program, it is constantly changing, I'm constantly reading and growing my network. My goal is to bring that into the classroom and share it with them.鈥 

Students notice and appreciate this frontline knowledge. 

鈥淗e is always extremely eager to share as much of his experiences with us to aid in our own understanding of the built environment,鈥 a student nominee wrote. 鈥淗e helps us explore different avenues that we may not have been exposed to yet.鈥  

Mirando teaching
Mirando being awarded

Mirando credits his success to senior lecturer Joe Karpinski, a professor Mirando had when he was a 麻豆影院 State student. Mirando says Karpinski, who was a 2016 Outstanding Teaching Award recipient, taught him everything he knows. Mirando said he intentionally carried those teaching values into his classroom once Karpinski brought him back as a professor.  

鈥淲e want students to be ethical, and we want them to be good people,鈥 Mirando said. 鈥淚'm an alumnus, and 鈥楩lashes Take Care of Flashes.鈥 I believe in it, and I extend this to everyone. I'm always looking to help somebody, and I'm hoping that we put people out there who are good.鈥  

Mirando and the other recipients were honored Oct. 20 at the University Teaching Council鈥檚 Fall Celebration of Teaching Conference. His award was accepted by his wife at the ceremony.

Learn more about the Outstanding Teaching Award.

Learn more about a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management.

POSTED: Thursday, November 16, 2023 04:18 PM
Updated: Tuesday, November 21, 2023 03:19 PM
WRITTEN BY:
Francesca Malinky, Flash Communications