At the May 8 UCR School of Business Spring Banquet, the annual student-voted awards were presented to six faculty members by student leaders.
“The faculty of the School of Business are world-renowned scholars, teachers, and mentors. Each year, the school provides students an opportunity to give awards to the professors who have impacted their academic journey,” said Anshuman Chiplunkar ’26 MBA, president of the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management Student Association, who was one of the evening’s student presenters.
The accolades, each including a monetary stipend for the faculty member, are the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching; the Merino Endowed Innovation Award, created by James Merino, a 1998 alumnus; and the Shulman Endowed Excellence in Teaching Award established in honor of former Associate Professor of Management and Economics David Shulman and his wife.
2025-2026 Golden Apple Awards for Teaching Excellence
The Golden Apple recognizes teaching excellence in the core, prerequisite, and elective courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. As voted by students, the award honors professors who provide the best overall experience in terms of learning, engagement, and teaching style.
Undergraduate Prerequisite & Core Courses: Associate Professor of Management Michael Haselhuhn
Students described Professor Haselhuhn’s teaching as “super interactive,” noting that his approach makes “concepts feel practical instead of theoretical.” One student commented that his structure encourages active learning over memorization, while another praised him for being “excellent at giving alternative points of view that you may never have considered, stimulating critical thinking.”
Undergraduate Elective Courses: Assistant Professor of Teaching in Management Kyle Ingram
Professor Ingram was celebrated for his ability to transform difficult material into a “fun experience.” Students noted he is “authentic, prepares fantastic lectures, and makes every lesson memorable by pairing concepts with hands-on activities.” His nominators also highlighted his empathy, stating he “really cares about students’ ability to master the subject matter.”
Graduate Core Courses: Assistant Professor of Management Demetrius Lewis
Professor Lewis was recognized for creating a “positive and inclusive environment” that encourages participation and deep understanding. Students noted he is “extremely responsive and made complex topics very clear and approachable.” One student shared that Lewis effectively “‘leveled-up’ my presentation skills, which allowed me to challenge the way I think and present information.”
Graduate Elective Courses: Assistant Professor of Finance Mike Dong
Professor Dong was honored for his engaging lectures and real-world examples that helped students grasp complex financial material. Students noted that he “sparked my interest in finance as a career by connecting the course to economic trends and practical applications.” Though he was unable to attend the banquet, his impact on the student body was clear.
2025-2026 Merino Endowed Innovation Award
The Merino Innovation Award recognizes a faculty member for bringing innovative ways of teaching or utilizing innovative tools and technologies in the classroom.
Associate Professor of Management Ye Li Professor Li was chosen for his creative use of weekly surveys to provide students with real-time data on their own cognitive biases. “With students’ short attention span these days, he managed to capture our attention with engaging lectures and teaching methods—no small feat!” said one student. Another simply noted, “I would take this class again if I could.”
2025-2026 Shulman Endowed Excellence in Teaching Award
This award recognizes an outstanding faculty member who embodies the fulfillment of learning through their excellence in teaching.
Lecturer in Management Austin Attaway Professor Attaway was praised for his ability to ensure “no one was left behind.” His students remarked that his teaching style “makes you want to pay attention and think more deeply,” creating an environment where learning feels “natural and even exciting.” One student noted he was such an influential teacher they took as many of his classes as possible, adding that he ensures students “go out into the world and apply the knowledge from class.”
Learn more about the annual awards:
Faculty Teaching & Innovation Awards
View photos of the event on Flickr: