Marketing professor recognized for outstanding service in classroom

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Not all teachers are able to create a fun atmosphere in the classroom while also giving back to the community — but Mike Garver is being awarded for doing just that.

Garver, a professor of marketing, has been awarded the Service Learning Award for 2012, reflecting his service contributions in the community and around campus.

The award was given through Michigan Campus Compact, the state’s chapter of a national organization that helps universities through the state collaborate. MCC is service-oriented and actively promotes volunteerism with awards. Garver was recognized Monday at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing, along with other MCC service learning award winners.

The award, given every two years, recognizes faculty who engage students and provide them with high-quality opportunities to make an impact through their course work.

Deborah Gray, a professor of marketing, nominated Garver for the award, calling his excellence in the classroom and beyond “easily apparent.”

“Dr. Garver uses service learning as a way to bridge the gap between textbook learning and real-world experience,” she said.

Travis Burton, service learning coordinator for the Faculty Center for Innovative Teaching and member of the award’s deciding committee, said Garver and his work were very well qualified for the award.

“This award represents the body of work he’s had over the last 10 years he’s been with CMU,” Burton said. “I think it’s important to recognize civically-engaged faculty providing students with these opportunities and giving them this crucial experience in the course.”

Garver has been involved with about 20 projects during his time at CMU. His service learning projects are often through the campus and community, specifically with the Volunteer Center, Leadership Institute, Study Abroad and Career Services.

“Dr. Garver has been doing service learning projects for years,” Burton said. “Most recently, classes set up a project with the author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. The students promoted the books and basically helped to connect with the audience. The books are very … life-changing, and he wanted his class to be able to get into that. He’s also working on a new project engaging with CMU alumni; connecting students with them.”

Garver said he tries to not only help students when working on projects in the community, but also works to preserve and boost the name of the university as well.

“Motivation is the most important when we do outside work, because CMU’s reputation is on the line,” Garver said. “I want to wow the organization and make them think our projects are excellent in order to preserve (that) reputation.”

This tendency to not only help his students but to also give back to the university through his work is another quality Gray recognized in Garver.

“His students have had the opportunity to complete market opportunity analysis for several administrative offices on campus,” he said. “This is great, because it helps the students learn by doing, and contributes to the future of CMU.”

Garver and his students work collaboratively on projects, allowing students to take as much from the experience as he does.

“I’m proud of the accomplishments that my students have made with these projects,” he said. “It means most to me that we’ve done a good job with these, and our clients are always really happy and we’ve exceeded expectations. We’re all a team in this, and I’m proud that the students have done a really great job.”