Profile - Steven Restad

Instructor Profile

Meet Steven Restad
Instructor of Business

Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of St. Thomas; Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Question and Answer

  • Question

    What is your approach to teaching?

    Answer

    Teaching should be more about getting students excited about learning than necessarily memorizing a lot of theories and concepts. The more we can prepare students for success outside of the classroom, the more valuable the learning.

  • Question

    What inspires you as a teacher?

    Answer

    What inspires me as a teacher is when I see students who seems to have so much going against them...succeed! I see this all the time in my courses. As people we are very resilient, and I love it when students who have some very bad luck can put that aside and achieve academic success. I don't really have any significant roles models or heroes because I think we all are heroes in our own right. One book that I read as an undergraduate was Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. You won't think about business, politics or the environment the same way every again after reading this rather short but shocking book!

  • Question

    How would you describe what happens during one of your classes?

    Answer

    The best classes happen when we get lost in a highly interactive activity and everyone participates. These usually revolve around a course theory or concept, and the activities brings the theory or concept to life.

  • Question

    What makes your curriculum interesting or valuable?

    Answer

    I had more than four years of expatriate work experiencing as a staff member in a Japanese company in Tokyo. This filters through all the courses I teach.

  • Question

    How do you think students describe your teaching?

    Answer

    Lively, engaging and maybe sometimes unconventional. Definitely not boring or routine.

  • Question

    What are some ways you help your students succeed?

    Answer

    I interact online daily with my students. I keep a close eye on grades, and when I see students who are not achieving, I reach out to them to see if I can help them make decisions. I also have many contacts in higher education in the Twin Cities region and also with employers. I use these to get my students the information they need or want.

  • Question

    How do you help students get the most out of your classes?

    Answer

    I really keep an eye on my students' progress, and I make connections to current events or other content-focuses.

Fun Facts

  • Fun Fact #1

    I taught swimming lessons and was a lifeguard throughout my entire undergraduate degree program.

  • Fun Fact #2

    I'm married to someone from outside the United States (Japan) and have three bilingual, bicultural kids.

  • Fun Fact #3

    My favorite dessert is Turtle Cake from Cafe Latte in St. Paul, Minn.

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