Mark Shanley, PhD
Professor and Department Head
Managerial Studies

Degree: PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Courses: MBA 500: Corporate Strategy
Areas of Interest: Strategic Management and Organizations
Research Specialties: Strategic Management, Organization Theory, Economics of Strategy, Vertical Group Formation, Small Group Research, New Venture Strategy

Which class do you enjoy teaching the most and why?
MBA 500: Corporate Strategy because it provides an opportunity for students to get big changes on how they view firms. It presents a view they have not experienced before. It is rewarding for me to see the payback they receive.

From all your years of teaching, which student is the most memorable? Why?
I was a graduate student at Penn State teaching an undergraduate management course. It was right after midterms when I was sitting in my office and received a phone call. It was a student who asked how she had done on her midterm. I told her that I had not graded them yet but would do so very soon. We hung up and a couple hours later she appeared in my office. She had jumped on a train from New York City, where she lived, to come to my office in Philadelphia because she was worried and had not liked my tone of voice over the phone when I told her I had not graded the exams yet.

What is your favorite aspect of Chicago?
My favorite aspect is being in the center of Chicago. It is the best business district in the world.
(He can prove it, too! Just ask him.)

How has the Liautaud MBA program progressed since you started teaching here?
I have noticed several positive changes which include improvements in core courses, the hiring of great new faculty, the introduction of several new innovative programs and the incorporation of top professional organizations in the area to the program.

What is one interesting fact about you?
I commuted from Wilmette to Purdue University for six years. It was approximately 140 miles each way.

What drew you to UIC? What made you want to teach here?
The location. I no longer had to commute. The fact that it is research-based university.

Do you have any funny moments from your early days of teaching?
I was teaching a fairly large sized class when a lady walked in and interrupted the class to whisper something to me. My daughter had locked the babysitter out of the house while she was still in it. So I had to end class immediately to go home.

What advice do you have for MBA students?
It is OK to think hard about what you want to do with your professional life. Just keep doing it. It is a continuous process that you can take your time with, there is no need to make an immediate decision.

What do you enjoy most about Chicago? Do you have a favorite spot in the city?
Wrigley Field and an Italian restaurant called Francesco's Hole in the Wall located in the North Suburbs.


CONTACT THE LGSB:

Liautaud Graduate School of Business
815 W. Van Buren (MC 077) Suite 220
Chicago, IL 60607

Phone: (312) 996-4573
Fax: (312) 413-0338

E-mail: mba@uic.edu