Sometimes I think I am teaching in Latin and my students are listening for a modern language.
I shared with my students the other day a list of major corporations that I follow. That list includes all the major North American railways along with Caterpillar, Boeing, John Deere, Chevron, Wal-Mart and McDonald’s. When I asked them which companies they follow I hear, in order, Apple, Google, Facebook, Disney, Target and McDonald’s. Clearly we look at business through different lenses. I think heavy duty, long run, industrial leaders and my students see light, nimble, creative new firms.
Now there is nothing wrong with either of our frameworks. However, here is the subtle, and I believe, tremendous opportunity.
The processes of closing this gap involves movement on both sides, During this summer my colleague, Janet O’Tousa, and I took our accounting students and some fellow faculty to a tour of a national steel processing firm with its headquarters in South Bend. At Steel Warehouse we were surrounded by tons of steel formed to the highest tolerance by massive equipment. Students understand the prof a bit better.
By starting this little blog I am experiencing communication of information in a format that I am unfamiliar. Hey, it is not that bad. Prof understands his students a bit better.
The moving toward each other is a quiet and slow process. But, my friends, it is fun and I believe a worthwhile effort.
Let me know what you think.
About Edward Hums
Edward F. Hums, M.B.A., C.P.A.
Teaching Professor of Accountancy
Ed Hums is in his tenth year as a full-time faculty member of the Mendoza College of Business and currently teaches financial and managerial accounting to undergraduates and team teaches a course in the Masters in Non-Profit Administration program. He also lectures in the Executive Education program at the University and at various corporate locations. Ed is currently faculty coordinator for the Vivian Harrington Gray Notre Dame – St. Mary’s Tax Assistance Program. In addition to his teaching and lecturing, Ed monitors the rail industry.
Ed received the Frank O’Malley Teaching Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education, the highest individual teaching award at the University, in 2004 and the Paul Fenlon Undergraduate Teaching Award in 2005. In 2006 when the on-line version of Business Week initially profiled America’s favorite business professors, Ed was the first faculty member listed. In 2008 Ed received an Edmund P. Joyce C.S.C. Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. In October 2010 at the request of Student Government, Ed delivered Notre Dame’s Fall 2010 “Last Lecture” in Washington Hall.
Ed served Notre Dame for 26 years in various administrative roles at the University including budgeting, financial planning, tax reporting, systems management, and financial reporting. In 1989 while working in administration, Ed began teaching on a part-time basis.
Ed is a 1975 graduate of Notre Dame with an undergraduate degree in accountancy. He was lead student trainer on Notre Dame’s 1973 national championship football team. Ed holds two masters’ degrees from Indiana University South Bend, and is a licensed CPA in Indiana. Ed and his wife, Shirley, a staff member in the University’s athletic department and Notre Dame alum, reside in Mishawaka. Ed is a member of the Edward Fredrick Sorin Society, Notre Dame Monogram Club, Indiana CPA Society, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, American Accounting Association, Beta Alpha Psi, National Association of Rail Shippers and is player/coach of the Notre Dame faculty hockey team.
