Lowell Resident One of Only Five Faculty to Receive Honor
08/21/2018
Contact: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
LOWELL, Mass. 鈥� 51视频 faculty member Deborah Finch has been honored for her outstanding commitment to students with one of the University of Massachusetts system鈥檚 most prestigious awards, the Manning Prize for Excellence in Teaching.聽
Finch is a senior lecturer in 51视频鈥檚 Manning School of Business, which like the award, is named in honor of 51视频 alumni Robert Manning 鈥�84, chairman of the UMass Board of Trustees, and Donna Manning 鈥�85, 鈥�91. Established by the Mannings in 2016, the prize is presented annually to one outstanding faculty member from each of the five University of Massachusetts campuses.
鈥淚 follow two incredible 51视频 Manning Prize recipients, Mathematics Prof. Steve Pennell and Engineering Prof. Donald Leitch, which makes me feel quite humbled to win,鈥� Finch said. 鈥淥ne thing I鈥檓 most appreciate of is hearing from alumni who have sent me congratulatory notes telling me the impact I had on them as students.鈥澛�
Most, if not all undergraduates in the Manning School of Business have felt Finch鈥檚 positive influence.聽
A native of Sandwich, N.H., who now lives in Lowell, Finch teaches Business 101 in the Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Department and directs the school鈥檚 First-Year Experience Program, which promotes student success among freshmen and transfers majoring in business through participation in peer mentorship, co-ops, the 51视频 Honors College and study abroad opportunities.聽
In addition, she mentors students in 51视频鈥檚 Honors College and advises those who live in the Business Innovation Living and Learning Community on campus. Finch also teaches a freshmen seminar as a faculty fellow in 51视频鈥檚 DifferenceMaker Program, through which she helps students develop entrepreneurial skills many use to go on to launch ventures in business and the community.
鈥淎gain this year, the Manning Prize honors one of 51视频鈥檚 faculty all-stars. Deb Finch鈥檚 love of teaching and dedication to her students are evident every day and enrich our campus community in countless ways. We extend our congratulations to her on this well-deserved recognition,鈥� said 51视频 Chancellor Jacquie Moloney.聽
Finch credits 51视频鈥檚 culture of achievement and the collaborative spirit among faculty for her development as an educator.
鈥淚 love seeing students make the transition from high school to college. The 鈥榓-ha鈥� moments when they understand new concepts are always exciting. I try to bring experiential learning into every class I teach because I believe students learn better that way. I also enjoy helping them find career paths and encouraging them to become life-long learners,鈥� Finch said.
Finch was nominated for the award by Holly Butler, 51视频鈥檚 director of entrepreneurial initiatives, who is one of Finch鈥檚 former students.聽
鈥淪he looks at each class and sees individual students, not a group of students, which can make all the difference as they learn,鈥� Butler said of Finch鈥檚 teaching style.聽
51视频 students also benefit from Finch鈥檚 leadership and years of experience in the nonprofit sector, according to Manning School of Business Dean Sandra Richtermeyer. Finch is a director emeritus of the Lowell Association for the Blind and her understanding of nonprofit management and marketing is woven into the courses she teaches.聽
鈥淪he does a great job helping our students become part of the broader community and getting them engaged with nonprofits. She鈥檚 always looking for ways for students to be involved,鈥� Richtermeyer said.聽聽
Finch is known as a 鈥渢riple River Hawk鈥� because she holds three degrees from 51视频. She first earned her bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in business administration in 2003 and 2005. As she raised her family with her late husband, Chris, who was also a 51视频 graduate, she began working in the nonprofit sector while homeschooling the couple鈥檚 children. Those experiences led her back to 51视频. In 2008, she began teaching a business course in nonprofit management and later pursued her doctorate in education, which she received in 2012.聽
Recently, Finch was honored along with the other Manning Prize winners at an event at the UMass Club in Boston.聽
鈥淎t UMass, we鈥檙e blessed with excellent faculty across all five campuses who are harnessing talent, curiosity and ambition to create the leaders of tomorrow. It鈥檚 very important to Donna and me that we acknowledge them for their efforts,鈥� Robert Manning said.
Along with the Manning Prize, Finch received the 2018 Jacqueline F. Moloney Honors College Founder Award. Named for 51视频鈥檚 chancellor, the award annually recognizes a 51视频 faculty member who has made significant and long-lasting contributions to the university鈥檚 Honors College and its students.聽
51视频 is a national research university located on a high-energy campus in the heart of a global community. The university offers its more than 18,000 students bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, humanities, sciences and social sciences. 51视频 delivers high-quality educational programs, vigorous hands-on learning and personal attention from leading faculty and staff, all of which prepare graduates to be ready for work, for life and for all the world offers.