An accidental career in academia

Jo Wiley is a master faculty specialist of business information systems, coordinator of business communication and the director of the Communication Center. She stumbled upon a fulfilling teaching career while taking courses at Western Michigan University. Before coming to WMU, Wiley grew a real estate appraisal company from a small staff working on typewriters to more than triple the staff using a networked computer system. Her diverse interests and expertise are highlighted in the courses she teaches and her many campus involvements which include faculty advisor for Sigma Alpha Lambda Honor Society, WMU iWebFolio steering committee member, WMU Writing Self Study committee member and observer for the Medallion Scholarship Competition.

Wiley discusses how she found herself in a teaching career she loves, what she finds to be important for success and how the Haworth College of Business helps students achieve their goals.

On finding herself in an accidental teaching career

I did not plan to pursue a career in academia. I was earning a master’s degree in professional writing with a cognate in business communication when I was first asked to teach. My first business class at Western Michigan University was with Dr. Pam Rooney, who was the chair of the business information systems department at the time. Halfway through the semester, she asked me to co-teach a course with her the following semester. I accepted and eventually assumed full responsibility for three sections of the junior-level business communication class when the assigned professor became too ill to instruct the course. Even though this was not my initial intention, I was asked to teach at Western Michigan University in 1995, and I am still here and still love it!

The importance of communication in the classroom and beyond

As a teacher, I strive to create a comfortable, thriving and engaged environment for students. Effective communication is a driving force in my classrooms. My teaching style is informed by observing and learning from my peers as well as staying in tune with the changes in our student population and how students communicate.

Communication is a broad field. It affects and plays a role in everything in business—and ultimately, everything in everyone’s lives. Even so, very little attention is paid to the importance and uniqueness of when and how to adapt and adjust one’s communication approach given varying situations. There is a lot to learn and share about effective communication.

How the Haworth College of Business helps students succeed

The most important thing that the Haworth College of Business is doing to prepare students to succeed is hiring professional and caring faculty and staff. While the classes that students take provide them with the information they need to move forward and succeed, the faculty provide excellent preparation and opportunities for students to reach their goals. The faculty and staff are dedicated to helping students succeed through their involvement with student organizations, activities and mentoring provided by the Career Center as well as all of the resources offered at the Communication Center.

The Communication Center, located in rooms 3435 and 3445 of Schneider Hall, is a place where students in the Haworth College of Business can go to receive help in strengthening and professionalizing oral, visual and written communication skills. The Communication Center provides feedback on papers and presentations at no cost to students. Creating the Communication Center has been my most exciting professional experience because it allowed me to combine my problem solving, leadership and academic skills.

Learn more about the Communication Center or schedule an appointment.

My advice to students is to not only recognize the value in the resources and the expertise provided by the faculty and staff in the Haworth College of Business but to also keep your eyes open and your ears tuned in to what is being discussed—not just in class, but throughout Western Michigan University and beyond.