Pray, who has taught undergraduate and graduate courses, admits that she's partial to the Master of Business Administration courses. Those students take life more seriously. It helps keep me sharp. Whether discussing a classic managerial style or a new model for employee motivation, the MBA students can provide new insight and application. For me to be an effective professor, I have to be sharp, have an understanding of the discipline and know how it's applied.
Students make that happen.
Recognizing the importance of students, Pray incorporates at least a 15-minute meeting outside of class with each of her students. As the director of the internship program, Pray uses her meetings with undergraduates to explore their interests and personal objectives for the future. Graduate students, on the other hand, are usually already employed. Pray typically meets her MBA students at their workplace for a tour followed by lunch. It shows that she's genuinely interested in learning what does and doesn't work in the 'real world'.