Celebrating Excellence and Inspiration in Education

A class taught by a great professor is a transformative experience for a student. The Foster School of Business is distinguished by its faculty, which comprises teachers who bring their subject matter to life, impart knowledge with passion, and have cutting-edge expertise in their subject matter.  

The prestigious PACCAR Award for Teaching Excellence was established in 1998 by PACCAR Inc., a Fortune 200 global technology company based in Bellevue, Washington. Each year, MBA students select the winner and recognize one outstanding educator at graduation. Learning who has won this highly coveted award is one of the highlights of the evening.  

Dean Frank Hodge taught accounting at Foster for nearly 20 years prior to his appointment as dean and is himself a PACAAR award winner, having received the honor in 2014. Hodge recently welcomed a group of fellow winners at a gathering on campus to celebrate the enduring impact these professors have had on their students’ lives. Among those in attendance was Professor Emeritus of Finance Robert Higgins, who has been at UW since 1967 and received the PACAAR award in 2003.   

A Remarkable Assemblage of Talented Educators

“This is a remarkable assemblage of talented educators,” said Hodge. “Every one of these professors has had a tremendous impact on the lives of so many students, and I’m thrilled to have them here today. The Foster student experience is defined by the exceptional quality of our professors. This award is special because it is selected by our students and honors those teachers who have made a significant difference in their lives.”  

“PACCAR has grown over the last 119 years due to the dedication and ingenuity of our talented employees worldwide. Education is important in all aspects of our lives,” said PACAAR Executive Chairman Mark Pigott. “The PACCAR Teaching Award was started 25 years ago to identify and reward teachers in the University of Washington Graduate School of Business who motivate and inspire their students to achieve the very best.” 

The PACCAR Award goes to one professor each year. This year, it was Jennifer Graves.

“Each member of our faculty demonstrates a deep and abiding commitment to not only classroom education, but to supporting tomorrow’s leaders and innovators in their personal and professional growth,” said Hodge. “They help to instill strong core values to guide students as they develop into responsible and thoughtful business leaders.”  

“Our faculty inspires students to aim higher than they think possible, take calculated risks, and discover their potential,” concluded Hodge. “They are there to offer encouragement and guidance when things get rough. They are there to offer congratulations when things go well. They are thrilled to stay in touch with alumni and celebrate their personal and professional milestones. And, while individual students eventually graduate and leave campus, faculty remain and are always ready to support the next class of students on their educational journey.”