Each spring, Beta Gamma Sigma elects an Outstanding Professor for the current school year.
Mark Alfuth, senior lecturer in the accounting and finance department, was named the 2021 Beta Gamma Sigma Outstanding Professor by members of the UW-Eau Claire chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS), the honor society serving business programs accredited by AACSB International. The award is presented to a professor who goes above and beyond in their teaching.
Alfuth has been a full-time lecturer at UW-Eau Claire, his undergraduate alma mater, since 2016 after serving as an adjunct instructor at the university for the previous 12 years. He currently teaches courses in investment strategies, wealth management, and finance principles.
"I had the privilege of having Mark as my professor for Principles of Finance and Advanced Wealth Management. He is very respected by his students as an excellent professor who teaches students important concepts used in finance and the real world," says Kayla Harle '21, who received a BBA in finance.
BGS members were asked to nominate College of Business faculty who they believed were deserving of the award. Once members submitted names, the top 3 or 4 with the most votes were selected to advance to the next round. In the final round, members then voted for the Outstanding Professor from the shortlist. Faculty who have won in the last five years are not eligible for the award.
"Students enjoy attending his office hours to receive help on assignments as well as advice as a finance/COB student. He is enthusiastic about teaching his students and loves to see them succeed," says Harle. "This is why Mark was voted as the recipient of the Outstanding Professor Award."
Alfuth has been honored as the Beta Gamma Sigma Outstanding Professor in 2015, the 2017 Roger Selin Excellence in Teaching Award, and the 2020 UW Eau Claire Excellence in Teaching Award, the highest teaching award given at the university.
Previous to teaching, he spent 14 years as CFO for the American Public Media Group of companies which included Minnesota Public Radio, Southern California Public Radio, Classical South Florida, and Greenspring Media Group. Alfuth also spent 15 years with American Express in various executive roles in finance, operations, and management.
In addition to his undergraduate degree from UW Eau Claire, Mark has an MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
Alfuth shared working with students and sharing the important knowledge of finance is what he enjoys most about being an instructor.
