Dr. Robert Lambert
Professor of Marketing
In their book Counter-Intuitive Marketing, Clancy and Krieg note, Marketing is the engine that drives growth, but it's thrown a rod. For years I have felt that business education at most colleges and universities has not only thrown a rod but also has burst into flames. The metaphor of a blown engine is appealing to me because I view myself as a mechanic who not only rebuilds the engine, but rebuilds it in such a way that will yield the greatest level of output and performance possible.
It is my personal belief that each student on our campus has God-given talents that are grossly under utilized. This view stems from my own experience as a student. Having grown up in poverty and coming from a family of 11 children, I was fortunate to have a college professor who took a personal interest in me; someone who recognized my hidden potential and motivated and challenged me in ways that brought out the best in me as a student and person. Over the years, I have approached teaching in a similar manner. I constantly strive to understand each student as a person and develop methods of teaching that challenge and motivate my students to not only meet their potential but also exceed it. Why settle for good when greatness is possible?
