Professor Profiles

Which course(s) do you teach, Professor? Do you stick to one course only or do you teach more than one?

I'm just finishing my second quarter at DePaul. So far I taught MGT 502 Operations Management. I may be asked to teach other courses such as Strategic Supply Chain Management (MGT 501) or Managing Service Operations (MGT 545). Also, in the near future I'd like to offer a special topic elective, possibly on Humanitarian Supply Chains. Additionally, I'd like to take some students abroad to Turkey with a Driehaus International Business Seminar.

Can you tell me a little bit about your background? For example, are you from the Midwest area? Did you grow up here, or did you move from another area? How is it that you find yourself here now? Are there any interesting stories associated with your being here now?

No, I'm not from the Midwest. I am from the Mideast; the Middle East that is. I was born and raised in Turkey (born on the Aegean coast and raised in Istanbul). I left home in 1993 for Edinburg, TX to get an MBA degree. I could not find Edinburg on the map when I was leaving home so it was a rather nervous trip. From the get-go I was planning to finish my MBA as soon as possible and go back home to find a good job. I even promised my mother that I will be back in two years. But just when I was finishing my degree my then girlfriend (now wife) announced that she is coming to Texas A&M to pursue a PhD; so I changed gears and moved to College Station, TX to get myself a PhD degree, too. The new post-PhD plan was to return to Turkey to teach but when I heard about academic salaries back home I moved to Richmond, VA. After nine years of teaching at the University of Richmond when it was time to move on, the new plan was to stay below the Mason-Dixon Line because I don't really like cold weather. But I found myself in Chicago! I guess life is what happens to you when you are busy making plans (was it John Lennon who said that?).

Where did you earn your undergraduate degree? And your graduate degree?

I received my B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey. I have an MBA from the University of Texas-Pan American, and a PhD in Operations Management from Texas A&M University.

What has been your work experience, Professor? Have you any regrets? Any unfinished symphonies, so to speak? What about accomplishments- what are your greatest? What have you yet to achieve? Do you have any particularly funny or poignant stories you would like to share?

I went from school to school to school. As far as work experience outside academia is concerned, I worked as a Consultant at the Small Business Development Center of the University of Texas-Pan American during my MBA. I wrote the business plans and help start numerous businesses ranging from corn-stands for a thousand dollars, to frozen food companies for four million. However, when people ask your work experience they usually refer to the corporate world or as students put it "the real world". Professors routinely are asked to provide "real world examples" to explain concepts in class. What they don't realize is that academia is a huge industry in the US. We design, market and deliver products and services like any other "real" business. We compete with other institutions for tuition dollars and government funds. We even export education. For example, DePaul gives degrees to graduate students in Bahrain, Taiwan, and Greece. Universities provide as complex of a business environment as a for-profit corporation, if not better, but we still ignore them as legitimate business examples.

Any unfinished symphonies you ask? I do have an entrepreneurial side that I take from my dad. When I was 7-8 years old I was organizing lotteries for neighborhood kids, and I converted my grandfather's unused chicken shack to a shadow theater. I was the writer, director, producer, and puppeteer of each show. While in college I had a tutoring business, a used-textbook business, and I was trading stocks in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (on the floor until they closed it to the public). Even today, I keep coming up with bunch of ideas for start-ups. Maybe one day I'll actually try one of them.

Regrets, accomplishments? I have no regrets. I had a great time studying and learning stuff and am now doing what I love; teach. I don't think I have accomplished anything big yet. If after my passing I am remembered as a good father, husband, friend, and teacher, I'd consider that an accomplishment.

What is the best part, in your opinion, about teaching at DePaul University? What do you wish more students knew? What do you wish you knew before you started teaching at DePaul?

There are several things I enjoy. First, I find DePaul to have an entrepreneurial culture in the sense that there is openness to new ideas and willingness to try them. That wasn't at all the case in my previous institution. Second, the Vincentian mission is very appealing to me. There are a lot of good, smart, hard-working people in this world. All they need is an opportunity to excel. DePaul provides that opportunity. Some of my students will be the first to graduate from college in their families. To be part of that is a great thing.

What I wish my students knew is that these days do not come back. We cannot inventory time and refer back to our stocks when we need more time. You are not going to get the same degree again so make the most out of it.

What do I wish I knew before I started teaching at DePaul? I wish I realized that a quarter is a lot shorter than a semester. I mean, I knew that, but I really didn't realize it until my first quarter here.

Can you tell us something about you that most people would never know if it wasn't for my prying? Any special talents, favorite foods, hobbies, et. al.?

I love tattoos, choppers, and heavy metal music. Seriously!

I love cooking. I am no top-chef but am considering going after a culinary degree just for the fun of it.

I love scuba diving. I don't need to see anything; just being under water, weightless, in a three-dimensional environment is an amazing feeling. I feel like an astronaut. Of course, while you are 115 feet under water, being able to touch a WWII U-boot or a sand tiger shark is also nice.

Please respond to the following (as briefly or as detailed as you wish):

Favorite Artist (free to interpret): Metallica

Favorite Movie and/or TV Show: Mediterraneo (movie)

Favorite Book: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (by Jules Verne)

Favorite Restaurant/Dish: Maria's Place (in Istanbul) / Grilled Octopus

Favorite Holiday: Any day off work is a holiday and would be most welcomed J

Favorite Word: not a word but I love the sound of "are you kiddin me?"

Favorite City: Prague

Who is your role model? I can't say I have one.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Being lazy on a Mediterranean beach on a hot sunny day while listening to the cicadas and breathing in the potpourri of rosemary, pine and the sea.

What is your greatest fear? Being trapped.

What is your greatest extravagance? Spoiling my wife.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Harley Davidson in the movie "Harley-Davidson and Marlboro man".

What is your motto? WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get).

Published on March 2010

Professor Profile: Dr. Rafael Tenorio

Q. Which course(s) do you teach, Professor?

Economics for Decision-Making, Game Theory, Business Strategy, and Microeconomics of Market Organization.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about your background?

I was born in Lima, Peru, and stayed there until my early twenties. I came to the US in the mid 80's for graduate school, and moved to the Midwest in the late 80's. Hard to believe that I have been at DePaul for ten years already!

Q. Where did you earn your undergraduate degree? And your graduate degree?

I earned my undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Lima in 1982, and my PhD in Economics from Johns Hopkins University in 1989.

Q. What has been your work experience, Professor?

My first job, right out of undergraduate, was at the research department of the Central Bank of Peru (1982-84). After finishing graduate school, I worked at the Mendoza College of Business in the University of Notre Dame for ten years (1989-1998). I moved to DePaul in 1999. I have also spent two sabbatical periods at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management in Northwestern (1999-1 and 2005-2006).

Q. What is the best part, in your opinion, about teaching at DePaul University? What do you wish more students knew? What do you wish you knew before you started teaching at DePaul?

My teaching experience at DePaul has been delightful. I have taught exclusively at our part-time MBA program, and the students have been fantastic. I especially value the students' maturity and desire to learn beyond what is in the book.

What I wished more students knew? This is an easy one. I wish more students knew that Economics was widely applicable to business and decision-making, and not just a dry and abstract discipline that you are forced to take as a requirement. Quite often, students shy away from Economics courses because of this pre-conceived idea and I find that to be a shame.

As for what I wished I knew before starting at DePaul, not much really. I enjoy the fact that each day I teach is full of discoveries and surprises. I would not have liked that part of my experience to be taken away.

Q. Can you tell us something about you that most people would never know if it wasn't for our prying? Any special talents, favorite foods, hobbies, et. al.?

Most people do not know I am a big boxing aficionado. I am an avid boxing video collector, and have also occasionally free-lanced as a boxing writer (google it!)

Please respond to the following (as briefly or as detailed as you wish):

Favorite Artist: Singer: Ruben Blades

Favorite Movie and/or TV Show: Zorba the Greek/Lost

Favorite Book: Don Quixote

Favorite Restaurant/Dish: Ceviche at any good Peruvian restaurant

Favorite Holiday: None in particular (spring break if it applies!)

Favorite Word: Tenacious

Favorite City: Rome

Q. Who is your role model?

My father.

Q. What is your idea of perfect happiness? .

Any pressure-free time with my family.

Q. What is your greatest fear?

Missing-up on the opportunities that life gives me.

Q. What is your greatest extravagance? .

Hmmm, perhaps the ability to be consistently free of a rigid schedule.

Q. Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

Lieutenant Commander Data (from Star Trek, the New Generation). For his ability to make decisions free of emotions, while at the same time striving to understand (and even emulate) human behavior.

Q. What is your motto?

Never let a majority squash your individual initiative.

Published October 2009

Professor Profile: Professor Charles Naquin

Professor Profile: Professor Lisa Gundry

If there’s anything the Kellstadt MBA Association hopes to instill in its members, it’s that some of the best learning experiences are held outside of the classroom. As students, we’re busy enough trying to figure out our homework, much less our professors. So, the MBAA has ventured out to bring the professors to you.    Here’s a snapshot of one our favorite graduate professors at DePaul. Allow us to introduce to you to Professor Lisa Gundry:

Q. Which courses do you teach, Professor?

A. The course I teach primarily is Creativity in Business in the MBA program. I also teach Creativity & Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship Strategy in the undergrad program. I direct the Center for Creativity and Innovation.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about your background?

A. I grew up in Evanston, and although I spent many summer days of my youth on the Northwestern University beach, it would have been a surprise to know then that I was to return there to complete my Ph.D. much later. I chose to join a Chicago area university because of the connection to our local business community, and DePaul’s connection is especially strong in this regard.

Q. Where did you earn your undergraduate degree? And your graduate degree?

A. Loyola University: Undergraduate and Master’s.   Northwestern University: Ph.D.

Q. What has been your work experience, Professor?

A. I have worked for a number of organizations, including a manufacturing firm; a research firm; the dept. of Family Practice in a medical school; an adult education organization where I taught adults to read and to prepare for their GED (one of my most rewarding jobs), and I also owned my own data entry business many years ago. That was my first foray into entrepreneurship, and I loved it. I returned to academe when I completed my Ph.D., since I had really enjoyed teaching. I continue consulting with companies on issues related to creativity and innovation in organizations.

Q. Have you any regrets? Any unfinished symphonies, so to speak?

A. Well, there’s always another book to write, another study to do, another class to design…and there’s always another day to think about doing these and other things!

Q. What about accomplishments- what are your greatest?

A. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to write an Entrepreneurship Strategy text published last year that focused on innovation across the life cycle of business. I got a chance to interview many entrepreneurs whose firms I admire, and I learned much from the experience. I am very proud and privileged to have won teaching awards, including the DePaul University Excellence in Teaching Award, and the Best Entrepreneurship Professor Award. However, those who know me well know that I don’t crave the limelight. I feel these awards should be shared with my students, because I believe I can’t be an effective teacher without a roomful of curious and motivated students who challenge me to provide as outstanding an educational experience for them as I can.

Q. Do you have any particularly funny or poignant stories you would like to share?

A. There are many stories. I once had a student come up to me after class during the early part of the quarter to tell me that she had finally, after many months of trying, persuaded her boss to pay her MBA tuition. The deal he struck was that he would pay, but she would need to meet with him the morning after each class for a few minutes to share with him something useful she had learned that could be applied to the business! This was an eye-opener for me. While I have always tried to teach practical applications of organization theory, this story prompted me to be sure that I leave students with something they could use the “very next day” in their work and business.

Other memorable stories and experiences include getting locked in a classroom with a class for over an hour because the door was jammed. The custodian had to “break in” eventually to free us! The irony was not lost on us, because the session that afternoon was on managing through conflicts and crises. I once taught an entire session with the overhead slides (remember those?) facing backwards. My class was so polite that no one said anything. I guess I must have been too excited about my lecture to notice until nearly ½ hour into the session!

Q. What is the best part, in your opinion, about teaching at DePaul University? What do you wish more students knew?

A. The diversity of students and their experiences make a DePaul classroom a representation of the city of Chicago, and the world beyond. Most of the students work, and they bring valuable insights and firsthand knowledge to the program that takes learning to a much higher level. DePaul students are practical, and they want to learn something that is relevant to their jobs and careers.

I wish more students knew that professors are a great resource for them. Many of us are involved in research and/or consulting projects that may interest students who want to get more involved, and can help them plan careers, choose appropriate courses, and have a more fulfilling MBA experience. Come visit with us in our offices, and hear what’s new in our fields!

Q. Can you tell us something about you that most people would never know if it wasn't for the Professor Profile?

A. I am a coffee enthusiast – to the extreme. I roast my own beans that I order green from a specialty wholesaler in Oakland. If I had to choose a “second career” it would be as a coffee cupper (taster). I love traveling and learning new languages, walking, and biking with my sons.

Please respond to the following (as briefly or as detailed as you wish):

Favorite Artist (free to interpret): Claude Monet

Favorite Movie and/or TV Show: Masterpiece Theater (I love the English classics)

Favorite Book: Impossible to say…so many books, too little time, as the saying goes.

Favorite Restaurant/Dish: Dave’s Italian Kitchen (Evanston), their Spinach Ricotta Cheese Pie with lemon-butter sauce. I also love Southport Grocery and Café which is owned by my friend Lisa Santos. Her restaurant was chosen for “Check, Please” which was very exciting! Best breakfast in Chicago.

Favorite Holiday:: Thanksgiving –food, family, and no shopping!

Favorite City: After Chicago, I love Vienna, Austria (I’m half Viennese, so that’s probably why).

Who is your role model?

I have been so fortunate to have many teachers and mentors who have taught me so much, especially my grandmorther who flouted every convention for women when she gres up in the early part of the 20th century. Well into her 90s she was always interested in what I was studying or working on.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Happiness is enjoying what you are experiencing now…in the moment, and being authentic – to yourself and others. The destination is never as great as the journey. Happiness is celebrating the steps you take – not just waiting for the leaps to occur.

What is your greatest fear?

Not doing everything I want to do while I can.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Okay, so we talked about coffee…the occasional massage doesn’t hurt either!

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

Elizabeth Bennett

What is your motto?

There’s always another way…another try, another answer, another approach..

Professor Profile: D. Joel Whalen

If there's anything the Kellstadt MBA Association hopes to instill in its members, it's that some of the best learning experiences are held outside of the classroom. As students, we're busy enough trying to figure out our homework, much less our professors. So, the MBAA has ventured out to bring the professors to you. Here's a snapshot of one of our favorite graduate professors at DePaul. Allow us to introduce to you Professor D. Joel Whalen:

Q. Which course(s) do you teach, Professor?

A. Effective Business Communication (MKT 576) & Advertising and Sales Promotion Management (MKT 575)

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about your background?

A. Born in Detroit into a car dealer family. We moved to Miami in 1955 when Castro was still in the mountains outside Havana. My mother, always full of life, celebrated our first tropical Christmas by having the dealership’s body shop spray paint a Christmas tree white. She decorated it with gold painted seashells dusted with golden glitter. During the 1960’s space race, my family lived a couple of miles from the launch pads at Cape Kennedy. I saw Alan Shepard and John Glenn launched into orbit. Even today, 45 years later, the space program still thrills me.

In the 1970’s the University of Florida gave me a BS in Broadcast Journalism. I spun records and read news for radio and television stations throughout Florida. Then came the Disco Scare of the mid-1970s. I’d had enough of strobe lights, platform shoes, and flammable shirts. I had to get out of that soundproofed booth. So I moved into political, then corporate, communication consulting. I helped a Florida Secretary of State, and a representative or two, into office. I sold computer hardware and software, vast concrete bridges over great stretches of water, soft drinks, single-family homes, and a mountain resort, as a marketing consultant.

Magic came into my life the day in late-1979 when I walked into the University of Florida box office to pick up 60-pairs of tickets for an Eagles/Jimmy Buffett concert. As the concert’s marketing guy, the tickets were part of my cut. The box office manager was a magnificent force-of-nature named Tina Ricca. I wanted my tickets, but I wanted her more. Looking back I realize that getting Tina to marry me was the toughest sale I ever made.

Florida State gave me graduate degrees in Marketing Communication in the 1980’s. Every year when the Gators play the Seminoles I hope both teams win.

DePaul University brought my wife Tina and I to Chicago in 1986; we’ve had a love affair with each other, and the city, ever since. With DePaul as my launching pad, and Tina as my partner—and co-author/editor of two books—we’ve brought the Kellstadt method of Effective Communication to universities in Australia and Thailand, as well as dozens of corporations and associations. Life is good.

Q. What is the best part, in your opinion, about teaching at DePaul University?

A. Working with the best and brightest faculty and students in one of the world’s great business centers is an invigorating experience. The Vincentian values of personalism and bootstrapping the poor make teaching at DePaul a heartfelt experience.

Q. What do you wish more students knew?

A. How to fly.

Q. What do you wish you knew before you started teaching at DePaul?

A. Students learn more when they are doing; less when I’m talking.

Q. Can you tell us something about you that most people would never know if it wasn't for our prying?

A. To celebrate my wife’s life, I occasionally draw a cartoon starring Babybird (my pet name for Tina). The single-panel drawings show Babybird commenting on the fabulous and mundane moments in Tina’s life. The cartoon started when I was in graduate school. I’d send Tina off to work with her lunch packed in a brown paper bag. I’d draw a Babybird cartoon on the bag that illustrated an event from her previous day. Today, I draw Babybird cartoons on yellow 3” X 3” Post-it Notes.

Q. Any special talents, favorite foods, hobbies, et. al.?

A. I have several arcane skills: I can make a tropical bird out of a palm frond leaf, fly a small airplane, juggle, and get lost anywhere.

Q. Please respond to the following (as briefly or as detailed as you wish):

A. Favorite Artist (free to interpret):

I prefer a realistic style in visual art, i.e., representing things as they were actually seen by the artist. We have three scenic watercolors by Reichard, which present strong, clear images of Michigan and Florida. When visual art gets abstract it leaves me behind; same thing goes for atonal modern music. I’ve got a very Betty Crocker ear. “Just take those old records off the shelf…”

Favorite Movie: My Favorite Year

TV Show: West Wing

Favorite Book: John Steinbeck’s, Travels With Charlie, Leon Uris’ Trinity, or anything by John D. McDonald

Favorite Restaurant/Dish: Bangkok street food

Favorite Holiday: St. Patrick’s Day

Favorite Word: It’s a tie between “cake” and “bumfuzzled.” Favorite sentence: “I’m bumfuzzled, let’s have some cake.”

Favorite City: Perth, Australia

Q. Who is your role model?

A. Dale Carnegie & Thomas Edison. My hero and inspiration is Tina Ricca.

Q. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

A. Looking at Tina’s face.

Q. What is your greatest fear?

A. Most people’s greatest fears are: loud noises, falling, and public speaking. I’m afraid of making a loud noise while falling (Thank you, Steve Allen). I’ve made a career out of communication anxiety, so I’m grateful that fear is so popular.

Q. What is your greatest extravagance?

A. Thinking I’m funny when I’m actually stealing from my brother, Bob, a world-class wit who has a huge radio audience in Florida.

Q. Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

A. Travis McGee

Q. What is your motto?

A. As we teach at the Center for Sales Leadership: “My motto is whatever your motto is.” I stole that from Bob

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