Three Fowler Faculty Members Honored with 2022 Teaching Excellence Awards

By Suzanne Finch 

Three San Diego State University faculty members were recently named the 2022 Fowler College of Business Teaching Excellence Award recipients. 

Management professor, Beth Chung; accounting lecturer, Narelle MacKenzie; and assistant marketing professor, Alex Yao were chosen for the annual award based on a list of criteria that includes their “demonstrated command of their subject matter, skill in organizing and delivering materials, and incorporation of ethical and global perspectives” into their teaching agendas. 

The winners were chosen by the members of the college’s Faculty Development Committee and will be presented with their awards certificates during the spring 2023 semester.  

Beth Chung
Beth Chung has taught and researched about issues surrounding organizational behavior and leadership, as well as diversity and inclusion in the workplace since she arrived at SDSU in 2000. She is currently the director of the Institute for Inclusiveness and Diversity in Organizations (IIDO) and she has included her students in her work with IIDO and her research studies in general, providing them with valuable insight on corporate inclusiveness and diversity. 

“I feel so elated and honored to receive this teaching award,” said Chung. “I have always cherished my students and enjoyed the teaching aspect of my job so it is immensely gratifying to receive recognition for doing something that I love.”      

Chung has previously been awarded for her teaching efforts as Professor of the Year from Pi Beta Phi (2008) and the college’s Outstanding Faculty Contribution for Teaching (2006). 

Narelle MacKenzie
As a practicing CPA and international tax expert, Narelle MacKenzie is well-positioned to provide her students with meaningful lessons learned from her years of experience as an accounting professional. She has served as a lecturer at SDSU since 2007 and has taught classes at both the graduate and undergraduate level. 

“I was thrilled when I heard I was one of the recipients of this award,” said MacKenzie. “The classes I teach are not easy and I seek to continually improve the learning experience for my students so they can become confident that the skills they learn in my class will benefit them in their future careers.  I am very thankful for the collegial environment of the Charles W. Lamden School of Accountancy as my colleagues have very much helped me develop the skills I now have for teaching and mentoring my students with innovative teaching strategies.”

MacKenzie has been chosen as the Most Influential Faculty Member by top students in the Fowler College of Business in 2020, 2021 and 2022. 

Alex Yao
Having just joined the Fowler College of Business in 2019, Alex Yao has already made a positive impact on his students. “Professor Yao is a genuine guy who really cares about his students and wants every one of them to succeed,” said one of his students on the Rate My Professors site. “Goes above and beyond to help his students succeed by making himself available outside of class,” said another. 

Yao credits his fellow faculty members for his teaching success. “I felt very lucky to be selected for this award, because there are so many star teachers here,” he said. “I truly appreciate how my colleagues have been very encouraging and helpful since I joined FCB as a junior faculty member and I wouldn’t have received this award without their support. It encourages me to keep doing better.”

Accounting Lecturer, Narelle MacKenzie  Marketing Professor, Alex Yao  Management Professor, Beth Chung