Anthony Scardillo, DM, MBA, Assistant Professor of Marketing
Division or School: School of Business
Number of Years at the Mount: 1
Hobbies/Recreation: Family; Morning walks; Cooking and Tinkering with my 1966 VW Beetle
What students don’t know about me: I used to sing in a Barbershop Harmony Quartet
Marketing is about getting your product noticed by the consumer with the intent to sell that product. And the hardest part is getting your product noticed in today’s extremely cluttered and competitive market.
Using that context, if a student wants to “break the ice” with a professor, they need to view themselves as a “product” and determine what attributes you have that would help you get noticed – and ultimately “selected” by the consumer (The Professor).
And believe it or not, it’s not just good grades!!!
Professors – especially professors at the Mount – want to get to know you, but because there are so many students, we often don’t get the chance unless the student takes the initiative. Here are some tips that will help:
- Come early to class.
- Students who come early to class have an opportunity to talk one-one-one with the professor before class starts.
- On the flip-side, those students who stroll in late also get noticed, but this is a bad quality. Don’t be late to class!
- Stay after class.
- Professors like to hear feedback from students. Pick one or two items from the lecture and spend a minute discussing it with the professor. Feel free to even argue the point. Most will enjoy the debate!
- Visit the Professor during Office Hours
- This is probably the best way to break the ice. Usually professors have very few students who “drop in” during their office hours. What a great opportunity to get that professor all to yourself! Have questions about an assignment; career choice; or other topic. They’ll be glad to discuss!
- Take the Initiative
- Go for Help!
- Lastly, if you are not doing well in a particular class, GO FOR EXTRA HELP from the professor. Personally speaking, I will go out of my way to help a student who has come for extra help. It shows they care.