Ramadevi Kannan, professor of accounting at Owens Community College, has been named a regional recipient
of the 2019 ACBSP Teaching Excellence Award. The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
(ACBSP) recognizes individuals each year who exemplify teaching excellence in the classroom.
Kannan will be honored, along with other regional recipients, at the ACBSP Conference 2019, June 21-24 in
Houston, Texas. She will receive a crystal medallion and a $250 check. Two International Teaching
Excellence Award recipients, one from a baccalaureate/graduate degree-granting institution and one from
an associate degree- granting institution, will be announced at the Salute to Regions ceremony. As a
regional recipient, Kannan is now a candidate for the international award.
“Ms. Kannan has a reputation for working very closely with students to ensure they have the tools needed
to be successful. She is fair and kind when dealing with students’ issues and she delivers the
curriculum to suit multiple learning styles. Furthermore, I recently learned that Rama even went so far
as to financially assist a student whose laptop was stolen during the semester. That level of dedication
to students is extraordinary, but illustrates her kindness and compassion for helping student succeed,”
said Elizabeth “Libby” King, chair, Business Technologies at Owens.
The ACBSP Associate Degree Commission established the International Teaching Excellence Award in 1995 to
recognize outstanding classroom teachers. In 2002, the Baccalaureate Degree Commission created a similar
award to recognize excellence in teaching at the baccalaureate/graduate degree level. ACBSP is the only
specialized body for business schools that presents an award recognizing excellence in teaching, open to
application by the entire membership.
“It is more important than ever for business programs to produce graduates who are ready to enter the
global marketplace,” said Jeffrey Alderman, ACBSP president and CEO. “ACBSP has a mission to develop,
promote and recognize best practices that contribute to continuous improvement of business education.
Recognition of teaching excellence is one way we achieve this goal,” he stated.