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James Barker didn’t always think of himself as a natural teacher. “It took me a number of years and a lot of work to find my niche,” he says. Now he’s being recognized as an exceptional professor. Earlier this year, he received a Management Teaching Excellence award, and at a presentation on April 9, he received the A. Gordon Archibald Teaching Excellence Award for the 2018–2019 academic year.  

Made possible by a donation from the family of the late A. Gordon Archibald, the award is presented yearly to a faculty member in the Rowe School of Business who, in the eyes of peers and students, displays superior teaching, exceptional attention to student needs and excellent understanding of the subject area.  

The award was presented by Gordon Archibald’s son, David Archibald, who commented on the “fundamental importance” of having quality leadership instruction and noted that the award was established because “an award for teaching excellence has the potential to affect all of the faculty’s students.”  

Interim Dean Vivian Howard introduced Dr. Barker, noting that he teaches in all the Rowe School’s academic programs: Bachelor of Commerce, Corporate Residency MBA, Blended/Online MBA and Executive Education. He also lectures in the College of Pharmacy and teaches in the Faculty of Medicine’s Emerging Leaders in Academic Medicine program. “All of his teaching work focuses on ways to make the human experience of organizations better,” Dr. Howard said, “which in his view means more productive, more ethical and more sustainable.”  

Dr. Barker spoke briefly, thanking the Archibald family, his own family and the students in attendance.  

“The ability to shape the future is right in front of us each day in the classroom,” he said, “and with that comes responsibility... to our students and to our profession.”