Dr. Thom Porter, MBA Director and Associate Professor of Marketing
"This is not a lightweight program. Be prepared to spend at least fifteen hours on work each week per class. At the end of the day, you will have earned an MBA that will provide you real value."
Degrees Held
- Ph.D. – Indiana University, 1999
- MBA – Indiana University, 1990
- B.S. – Purdue University, 1985
Career Highlights
Served as a faculty member, department chair and associate dean. I have lead study abroad programs to Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, England, France and Germany.
In which online programs do you teach?
Which class do you teach online?
MBA 542: Marketing
What types of projects can online students expect in your course?
Video cases, group project, application orientation
What do you want students to learn in these courses? What is the expected learning outcome?
I would like students to recognize marketing in the sense that understanding customers and delivering value is essential for all organizations. I would like students to be able to relate the concepts we cover in class to their work experiences. Ultimately students should be able to see how the different building blocks of marketing fit together to form a coherent strategy for delivering value to customers.
Why did you start teaching?
I love the fact that being a professor allows you to have a career studying problems that interest you AND helping students accomplish their goals through education.
What advice would you give to those considering this online program?
This is not a lightweight program. Be prepared to spend at least fifteen hours on work each week per class. At the end of the day, you will have earned an MBA that will provide you real value.
What is the one book you think everyone should read?
“Normal Accidents” by Charles Perrow
Tell us something interesting about yourself that your students might not know.
I have completed numerous marathons including Boston (twice), New York, Chicago, Stockholm, Valencia, the Inca Train Marathon in Peru and a number of local events. I've slowed down in training, but I still run for fitness.