Murray receives university-wide recognition for teaching

The Center for Instructional Innovation at Augusta University has named Dr. Susan Murray, assistant professor in the Paul S. Knox School of Accountancy in the James M. Hull College of Business at Augusta University, the recipient of the 2020 Augusta University Individual Teaching Excellence Award.

This award honors a full-time member of the teaching faculty and teaching academic staff at Augusta University who demonstrates a commitment to teaching and student success, uses effective teaching strategies, and is dedicated to fostering the academic success of students through interaction with students outside of the classroom.

As part of her recognition, Murray has moved forward in being a nominee for the University System of Georgia’s Felton Jenkins Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award. The winner of that system-wide award will be named later this month.

“Our institution takes pride in its commitment to fostering student success through excellent and innovative teaching, and it is our privilege to acknowledge Dr. Murray’s remarkable contributions in this area of higher education,” said Dr. Raymond A. Whiting, associate vice president for Curriculum and Instructional Innovation.

Murray joined Augusta University in 2017 and has made a name for herself among students and colleagues as an instructor who excels at providing students with educational opportunities that will position them for top-rated accounting jobs.

She achieves this by cultivating a welcoming and inclusive environment to support all learning styles, and she dedicates most of her classroom time to allowing students to engage in active learning assignments. Murray says she uses this approach so students can apply theory to practical, real-world situations.

“I hope that by using a variety of approaches and applications, students of all backgrounds and affinities for the topic will critically engage with the material, become confident consumers and users of it and come away with some of my passion for the subject,” said Murray.

She also leads Hull College’s annual Case Competition, which offers cross-disciplinary collaboration between undergraduate students to solve real-world business problems, network with the local business community and win cash prizes.

“The Hull Case Competition is an excellent opportunity for students to analyze and present a real-life situation involving business processes, controls and ethics,” said Murray. “They get to show off their skills in research, professional writing, analysis, public speaking and persuasion. It is also a great networking opportunity as the students work with area professionals, and it is a great opportunity for our potential employers to see our students in action.”

Hull College of Business Dean Dr. Rick Franza attributes her teaching success to the continuous development of her technical skills and pedagogical abilities.

“I can’t think of a more deserving candidate for this award than Dr. Murray,” said Franza. “Her engagement of her students, both in and out of the classroom, is unparalleled, and her commitment to improving her technical knowledge is remarkable.”

Zach Boone, one of Murray’s former students and a budget accountant for Deere & Company World Headquarters, shared similar sentiments.

“Dr. Murray exemplifies commitment by her willingness to always be there for her students,” said Boone. “She inspires her students with a ‘real-world’ approach to the managerial accounting discipline, and she does an exceptional job of providing scenarios that can be applied to the business environment.”

Murray’s career in higher education spans more than 13 years. She earned her doctoral degree from Texas Tech University, a master’s degree from Hawaii Pacific University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Additionally, she earned her certifications in management accountancy and financial management from the Institute of Management Accountants.

She is also a certified public accountant in the states of Illinois and Georgia, and she is a certified global management accountant with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Her work in education and accounting has been published in seven peer-reviewed publications, including a teaching case in the Institute of Management Accounting’s Educational Case Journal.

Learn more about the university’s Center for Instructional Innovation teaching awards.