A quick look at some of our great profs
Bishop’s University has often been hailed by its own students as a small, unique community for education. In the Williams School of Business, the professors truly create an environment that fosters learning and education. If students were to delve deeper, they would find some surprising information about their faculty that might make them pause to consider what professors have to offer outside of the classroom.
Steve Harvey (Dean, Williams School of Business)
Alma Mater: B.A. Psychology from Bishop’s University, M.A. and Ph.D. in Industrial Organization Psychology from Guelph University
Dean Harvey truly loves Bishop’s, and has from the time he was a student. He never wanted to leave the university environment, as he loved learning – something he has stayed true to. Since he graduated from Guelph, he taught there briefly before returning to Bishop’s. He is currently our school’s Dean of the Williams School of Business, as well as a doctoral advisor (supervising theses) at the University of Sherbrooke. He has also consulted for the RCMP, Canadian Military, and NAVCanada. Throughout his twenty four years at Bishop’s, he has seen it evolve, but the one best thing that has stayed constant, through many challenges, was the sense of community. There are even some professors that still remain from the days when he was a student (i.e. Professors McKelvie, Standing, and Stout).
Dean Harvey’s academic focus has been in the field of Human Resources Management; he also teaches Organizational Conflict & Negotiation and Human Resources Management in addition to his administrative duties. In his spare time, he enjoys various athletic activities, including hiking. Dean Harvey is also a father to four children – two have attended Bishop’s University (one recently graduated, and one is still currently enrolled).
Words of Wisdom: Define your purpose in life, and put 100% of your effort into it
Recommended reading: The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger) – rebellion with consciousness
Daniel Marteinson (Taxation 2)
Alma Mater: CA from McGill University, MBA from University of Western Ontario
Professor Marteinson is a Senior Partner at a private CA firm (primarily specializing in accounting, auditing, and consulting). He is currently a professor of Taxation 2 at Bishop’s University as a hobby – he loves teaching, enjoys the energy and fresh perspectives that youth have to offer as well as the classroom experience of being able to connect with the students. With the experience from his own firm, he is able to include practical applications in his lessons – a truly valuable aspect of learning. He enjoys case studies, as they can exemplify the right and wrong way to do things, and believes they are the best way to learn.
Having already found success in his professional life, Marteinson stumbled upon his other passion in life while doing research with the Dobson-Lagasse center. He became familiar with Bishop’s University, and as he was browsing one day, found a job listing for a teaching position. The rest is history!
Words of wisdom: “As hard as you are working now, work harder towards your goals. Aim high, not low, and remember to follow your own advice while pursuing goals.”
Recommended reading: Conspiracy of Fools (Kurt Eichenwald) – emphasizes the importance of values, and having a transparent, honest business ethic – crucial for success in the long run.
Sylvie Bequet (Finance 1, Finance 2)
Alma Mater: DESCAF (Diplôme d’Études Supérieures Comptables, Administratives et Financières) from Le Havre, France, then MSc. in Finance from the University of Sherbrooke.
Professor Bequet has been at the Williams School of Business since 1983. She spends a lot of time doing research, especially Chaos Theory, (Bequet was pioneer in this field when she began her research in 1983), and can get caught in a little ‘bubble.’ She enjoys explaining difficult concepts in simpler terms, and loves the moment when a student has an “aha!” experience. Even though she has been teaching assorted Finance classes since her arrival, she is never bored of it as her teaching differs depending on each group. She makes adjustments to her lessons to specifically cater to students in that year, which keeps it interesting. Her initial interest in Bishop’s, ultimately leading to her accepting a position in the Finance department, was due to the fact that she could conceive the Finance program – other universities (Université de Laval, Université de Sherbrooke) which offered her jobs were already highly structured, and she could not employ any creativity or originality to it. Furthermore, Bishop’s is more flexible and not research oriented like many other universities that heavily emphasize quantity of publications.
Her favorite class is not a class, but the SEED portfolio. It offers students real life experience, and her role is that of a supervisor, or boss, rather than a professor. She enjoys supervising the SEED portfolio as she is able to see her students challenged, but develop better understanding of the markets, and their unstable nature. It enables open discussion and experiential learning, and students make progress in a relatively short period of time. She also enjoys teaching Finance I – it has the potential to provide value to all students, as its lessons extends into personal finance management.
Words of Wisdom: Find the right job for your personality.
Recommended Reading: The Earth’s Children (Jean Auel) – history of human evolution.
Michael Teed (HR)
Alma Mater: Ph.D. from Saint Mary’s University (NS)
Michael Teed has been described by his students as exceptionally relatable, engaging, and an overall great professor. This can be seen in his genuine care and concern for his students – he often holds weekend workshops on subjects ranging from leadership development, presentation advice, and resume feedback. Before coming to Bishop’s he taught at St Mary’s University, and consults in both private and public sectors (executive coaching and assessments). His favorite classes to teach are anything in the field of Human Resources, especially Organizational Behavior. Teed enjoys teaching, he says: “I like challenging myself to make my classes as interesting and as practical as possible. Ideally, I would like every student to finish the class, not just with their credits, but with something they can actually apply or use in their daily lives.” He loves Bishop’s because of the small classes. He appreciates getting to know students on a one-to-one basis, which isn’t possible at larger universities.
Words of Wisdom: “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” (Robert Collier) and “Work hard, play hard.” (unknown)
Recommended Reading: The Knowing and Doing Gap (Pfeffer and Sutton) – Really interesting book – the authors discuss how we basically know what we should be doing, but very few individuals actually follow through with it.
Lissa McRae (HRM, Compensation)
Alma Mater: B.Sc. (Physiotherapy) from University of Alberta, MBA from St. Mary’s University
The Williams School of Business is losing one of its most recognized and praised assets this year, as professor Lissa McRae is retiring. McRae started her career as a physiotherapist in Halifax, NS. When she realized her passion was elsewhere, she went back to school to obtain her business degree, and opened the first fresh pasta business in Nova Scotia. She also taught at St. Mary’s University in the Business Department for the BBA and MBA programs, until meeting husband Bill Robson – after which she left St. Mary’s to join the Williams School of Business faculty in 1987.
During her time here at Bishop’s, McRae has been involved in many aspects of university life. One of the causes she is most dedicated to is the BU-Champlain Refugee Sponsorship Program, where the primary cause is raising funds to bring refugee students to Bishop’s for academic study. She is also involved with Maesot, an initiative aimed at sending students to Thailand for an internship. NIBS and Excalibur, two of the business department’s most celebrated case competitions, are also co-coached by McRae. She has been Department Chair of the Business department, area coordinator, in addition to sitting as the academic advisor for the Bishop’s University Commerce Society since its inception. Perhaps her biggest contribution to the business school has been the guidance and assistance she has provided students over the years. She has often said that academic advising is her passion – she knows the BBA program very well, and enjoys giving advice to students, and helping them plan out their university careers.
Words of Wisdom: “Find your passion in life, and follow it.”
Recommended Reading: China Shakes the World (James Kynge) – a book that every business student should read.
