Testimonials from Professors

Gretchen B. Charrier
Professor, Accounting

Her advice:
I would advise women that education is an important step in achieving career goals.  You should not be too narrow in your career choices and be flexible.  A strong educational base and hard work can act as leverage as you take risks with your career.  I have used my accounting degree and experience to move my career in different directions over the years and have become more marketable and happy with the results.   

How she got here:
I actually never thought I would be an accountant, or a professor.  Neither options were life-long goals of mine, yet both have been very rewarding.  I followed what I enjoyed and what challenged me.  I became interested in teaching while working in public accounting and training a group of newly hired staff.  I enjoyed seeing the staff develop and understand the process and rules.  After working in public accounting for seven years and becoming a manager, I was given a chance to teach at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York.  At the end of my first semester I enjoyed teaching so much that I decided I would pursue it full-time.  After I received my graduate degree I worked for the government and a start-up company before finally reaching my goal of teaching at one of the most highly-regarded accounting departments in the country.

Her challenges along the way:
Accounting was not easy for me, but I was interested in it and enjoyed digging into the information to solve the puzzle.  I worked many 100 hour weeks, and at times second guessed my decision, but in the end I never regretted my choice of career.  After getting my M.P.A. at the McCombs School I was involved in a start-up pharmaceutical benefits management company, but still pursued my long-term goal by teaching evening courses.  This meant long hours, but ensured I stayed close to academia.  When a position at McCombs became open, I was fortunate that Steve Limberg remembered my desire to teach and asked me to join McCombs.

What she likes best:
I love the excitement of campus life and the energy of the students.  I am impressed with the quality of students at UT-Austin at every level.  With the recent unfortunate financial scandals, accounting has become a career students are interested in pursuing.  I enjoy the questions and the discussions about the careers and ethics in accounting.

Her thoughts on the value of a Texas MBA:
Graduates of the Texas MBA program can be found world-wide in a variety of careers.  We have a strong network of alumni that enjoy giving back to the school and supporting its programs. MOOT Corp. was started at McCombs and is now recognized internationally.  The Texas Plus program allows students to work on real business issues in a team environment.  These are just a couple of examples that highlight the innovativeness of the school and their ability to attract top talent for the classroom, corporate and alumni support.

A little more about her:
I received my B.S. in Accounting at the University of Kentucky and my M.P.A. at the University of Texas at Austin.  I worked in public accounting for 7 years and was an assurance services manager.  I joined the UT faculty in 1997 and have taught financial, managerial, tax and financial statement analysis courses at the undergraduate and graduate level.  At the McCombs School I have received the Texas Exes Teaching Excellence Award and the Hank and Mary Harkins Excellence in Teaching Award.

Leigh McAlister
Professor, Marketing

Her advice:
My issues aren't really the issues of the day-I was storming the front lines, fighting every step of the way, but my observations are that women are making it work. Men are better today because they have been raised by successful women. This progress makes me happy, but I wish I could help more. I would tell women today to keep up the effort; it is work, but it is rewarding to overcoming the smaller, more regular hurdles in your path. My students, today have many options, and that is exciting to me.

How she got here:
I was raised in southern Oklahoma, and I got on the academic track early. I received a scholarship through the National Merit Foundation, went to college, applied for jobs and found that my career options were limited. I was accepted into the School of Engineering at Stanford, and then went on to get my Ph.D. in Decision Sciences at the Stanford Business School. I knew I loved academia-that is where I had always felt accepted. 

Dean May was at the University of Washington when I was there, and he was integral in helping me manage my career. It is a privilege to work with him again. He is receptive to new thought, diversity, and he has a clear picture of where the school is headed and how to get there. After the University of Washington, I spent 5 years on the faculty of the Sloan School at MIT and then I was ready to get back to my roots and make an impact. I knew that UT is a great school, so it all just came together really well for me.

Her challenges along the way:
It was hard to come back with a degree in mathematics and be told that I could be a secretary. Stanford was a huge challenge for me, but it provided a turning point in my life and my understanding of the world and myself. 

What she likes best:
I have fabulous students. They get in there, roll up their sleeves, and make things happen. My students rise to the challenge; they seem to really want to solve problems. When they see a lack or need, they create a solution. A perfect example of this is the Marketing Network. They are trying to figure out the best way to market the program. These students are taking control of their lives. I admire the women who balance family, school, and personal lives. My female students seem to go the extra mile, and they have a real talent in building organizations. It is also fun to be a part of a great marketing faculty that includes so many outstanding women scholars. 

Her thoughts on the value of a Texas MBA:
Our recruiters remember our students. Their can-do attitude is a sustaining point of difference between our program and other programs. The Marketing Network is strong, and it fosters a sense of community within the classes. Texas MBAs are prepared for the world. They know how to jump in and make things happen. They will stand out in any organization for their effort and ability to initiate new programs and ideas. 

A little more about her:
Leigh McAlister is the H. E. Hartfelder/The Southland Corporation Regent's Chair for Effective Business Leadership. She received a B.A. from the University of Oklahoma in 1972 and an M.S. and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. Her research into consumer choice has two major themes: variety seeking behavior and response to promotions. Her work has been published in Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing Research, and Marketing Science and has been supported by Procter & Gamble, HEB Grocery Co., 3M, Motorola, Frito-Lay, Philip Morris, Pepsi, Miller, McLane Distributing, and the Marketing Science Institute. She is on editorial boards of the Journal of Consumer Psychology and Marketing Letters, and has been an Academic Trustee for the Marketing Science Institute. While on the faculty of the University of Washington, she was named the outstanding teacher in the Graduate School of Business. At M.I.T., she won an institute-wide teaching award. In the spring of 1987, fall 1987, spring 1989, and spring 1992, she won teaching awards at The University of Texas. She was given the CBA Award for Research Excellence in 1994, and the CBA Award for Teaching Innovation in 1996. See more information about Leigh McAlister.

Julie Irwin
Assistant Professor, Marketing

Her advice for women:
I would have to advise any women looking at or participating in an M.B.A. program not believe anything that implies (however obliquely) that you are not capable of strong ideas and clear thought. Do not be afraid of asserting yourself. Some people will not like this in a woman, but they will just have to develop some new preferences! Also, the only way to learn the right balance between honesty and tact is to experiment, and school is a relatively safe place to do that.

I do not see any big differences at the MBA level between my male and female students. My classes tend to be balanced in terms of gender, and if anything, I have slightly more women than men. Our department is also nicely balanced; I have the privilege of working with a number of prominent, talented female faculty in the marketing group. 

How she got here:
At the University of Colorado, I worked in a lab with both economists and psychologists, and our primary research interest was how to price environmental changes and commodities, such as an increase in air quality or a decrease in radon in one's home. We also did some basic experimental economics research. From this background I developed a general research interest in how people evaluate market commodities, which led to publishing and taking a job in marketing and ultimately led me to the McCombs School.

Her challenges along the way:
There have been two types of challenge in my career: (1) The basic challenges that all academics face, such as how to complete a dissertation, how to publish, how to create effective courses while also continuing to do research, and so on, and 2. The challenge of combining the applied nature of marketing with the more academic aspects of my job. All applied fields face this challenge; in addition to staying current in our academic disciplines we need to know what is happening out there in the marketplace. 

What she likes best:
I enjoy teaching MBA students because they are adults with their own life experiences and maturity, which they bring to the classroom. 

Her thoughts on the value of a Texas MBA:
I think an MBA from the McCombs School of Business gives students the ability to think about problems strategically, and to apply basic knowledge to new problems. Also, I think that Texas MBAs are socially adept; this helps out there in the world where politics are sometimes as important as book knowledge.

A little more about her:
Julie Irwin joined the McCombs Faculty in 1999 after serving in faculty positions at the Stern School of Business at NYU and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She received her Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from the University of Colorado and post-doctoral training from the University of Illinois. Her primary research interest is in consumer decision-making-especially concerning issues invoking emotion, ethics, and/or risk. At the McCombs School she has been awarded the CBA Foundation Research Excellence Award for Assistant Professors, and was inducted into the MBA teaching "Hall of Honors". She also serves as an at-large member of the University of Texas Faculty Council.  See a more detailed bio on her.
 

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