Professor Shayan Mirabi
Meet Professor Shayan Mirabi: Staying Current in the Field
Degrees:
- Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration with Concentration in Financial Management at North Central University (in progress)
- M.B.A., American Intercontinental University, June 2006
- M.S. in Microcomputer Systems Technology, University of Houston
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Montana State University, 1983
- I.M.E. in Industrial Management Engineering, Montana State University, 1983
Out of the Classroom:
Prof. Mirabi started playing professional volleyball at age 15.
Prof. Shayan Mirabi approaches teaching the way his students approach his classes: very intently. But not so much so he can't have fun in a classroom. "According to my students, some of my greatest strengths are my interesting lectures and classes and my level of enthusiasm."
"Enthusiasm is contagious, and students end up wanting to learn and succeed. My courses are usually rated as among the most demanding, but despite the heavy workload, most students are very satisfied with my courses. They find they learn a great deal and achieve more than they thought possible."
Prof. Mirabi started teaching before he had even graduated with his own Bachelor's degree. "Fellow students would approach me for help. Pretty soon I realized I really enjoyed helping them. And then when I got into industry, I had a friend in education that asked if I was willing to teach night classes. That was 1987, and I've been teaching since."
Don't think Prof. Mirabi has spent his whole life in academia though. He has nine years of managerial experience, three years of seismic data acquisition experience, and ten years of computer consulting under his belt. And Prof. Mirabi continues to work as a consultant on various projects in the Houston area.
"It is a teacher's responsibility to stay current in a field, engaging in research and participating in classes, conferences, workshops, and/or mentoring. I think that when you look at AIU Houston's curriculum, it is most successful when you consider the faculty and their involvement in their respective industries. They share not only academic knowledge with their students but also corporate skills. Being able to bring those two things together in the class is the mark of good teachers."
"Teaching is great fun and hard work for me. It is trying new approaches and continuously revising to more effectively guide students. It is constant reassessment, updating, and adjustment of content and presentation, searching for a more effective way to challenge students to achieve their full potential. I care about my students and want them to succeed in my classes and life."
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