Hello there!
I’m Nils Van den Steen, visiting professor of Information Technology and Operations Management at SMU Cox School of Business.
Convince them of the why and they will crave for the what.
I love teaching.
I first realized this when I had to substitute for my 11th grade history teacher after he rushed out in the middle of a lecture and told me that I was “in charge of explaining the rest of the Eighty Years’ War to my classmates.” Ever since then, teaching has brought me a lot of joy. Whether it was tutoring friends in high school, running case sessions for graduate students as a teaching assistant, or teaching my first course as a business school professor. Seeing the light turn on in someone’s eyes when it finally clicks is addictive, and I for one, am hooked.
At the intersection of technology and business.
For as long as I can remember I have had an interest in information technology (IT). I assembled my first desktop computer at the age of 12 and have always been the “tech support” nephew or grandson of the family. During my undergrad, this interest in IT was complemented by a newfound passion for business.
Since then, whether as a grad student, PhD researcher, or early career academic I have found myself enthralled by questions and problems at the intersection of IT and Business.
Teaching evaluations
I am both grateful and proud of the fact that my approach in teaching resonates with my students. At the end of the day, I am there to provide a service to them and I feel that is my duty to do that to the best of my abilities. That is why I truly value their feedback, they let me know what I am doing well and where I can improve.
Operations Management
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Instructor effectiveness: 5 out of 5 – School mean 4.39 out of 5
Overall performance: 4.99 out of 5 - School mean 4.48 out of 5
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Instructor effectiveness: 4.88 out of 5 – School mean 4.31 out of 5
Overall performance: 4.88 out of 5 - School mean 4.42 out of 5
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Instructor effectiveness: 4.84 out of 5 – School mean 4.29 out of 5
Overall performance: 4.82 out of 5 - School mean 4.43 out of 5
2022 Rotunda Outstanding Professor Award (ROPA)
The ROPA is a campuswide award that is given to a select number of SMU professors who were nominated by their students for their excellence both inside and outside the classroom. Nominations for this award are reviewed by a committee of SMU students who serve on the staff of the Rotunda yearbook. This award has been given annually by the Rotunda staff since the mid-1950s.
