Barbara

Certified Tutor

I have a Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Sciences, with a major in Interior Design, from The University of Alabama; a Master of Business Administration from The University of Alabama; and a Doctorate of Business Administration, with a major in Marketing and minors in Management and Quantitative Analysis, from Louisiana Tech University.

I worked with students both inside and outside the classroom from 1991 until 2016, and have helped a graduate student with his dissertation. While I was teaching at the collegiate-level (from 1991-2013), I would make myself available to students to work with them on better understanding course subject matter, completing course projects, and assisting them with assigned written projects, such as essays and papers.

I primarily tutor business-based courses, such as Business Communications, including writing memos, letters, reports, and communicating orally; Marketing, including reinforcing marketing concepts and assisting with marketing assignments and projects; and Management, including reinforcing management concepts and assisting with management assignments. I also tutor and assist with study habits, including how to prepare for a study session, the use of tools that enhance the studying process, and determining how long study sessions should last.

I believe my favorite subjects to tutor are Marketing and Management. Marketing is my doctoral major, and I learn something new everyday when it comes to Marketing. I am especially intrigued by packaging and branding dynamics. For instance, I will find myself buying something simply because of the way it is packaged. I have a Doctorate in Business Administration with a major in Marketing; so, I should know better! But, I am also an everyday consumer, and I can be lured into purchasing a product simply because its packaging is aesthetically pleasing to me.

I also know how many consumers will only buy products that are considered to be high-quality or where the brand name is prominently displayed on the product. For instance, many consumers prefer to purchase products where brand names, such as Nike, Under Armour, Mercedes, Coach, or Gap, are conspicuously exhibited on the products that they buy.

I would describe my teaching philosophy as that of interactive, or participatory. Specifically, at the beginning of class, I provide general information the students should have already read about or with which they should already be familiar. Then, I ask students to apply and integrate the concepts with one another, with other course concepts, and with sociological, economic, and other environmental concepts. In this way, I am not simply lecturing to students, I am allowing them to participate in the instructional process and gain confidence in their understanding of and ability to apply course concepts.

I think my biggest interest outside of academia is all that has to do with commercial, military, and space flight. I was immensely intrigued by the Concorde, which could fly at twice the speed of sound and flew commercial passengers from 1969 until 2003.

Though I love fighter and attack jets, like the F-18, for their maneuverability; and the retired SR-17 Blackbird, for its purpose, performance as a reconnaissance aircraft, and its amazing speed; my favorite military plane is the B-52. This mammoth of an aircraft, with a wing span of 185', can hold 70,000 pounds of weapons making it, among other characteristics, one of the most useful airplanes in the United States' military's arsenal.

I was 3 and 1/2 years old when I watched the first moon landing; it is something I will never forget. As well, I watched, in person, the last six launches of the Space Shuttle.

I also love fast cars and motorcycles. It seems that anything that has to do with speed attracts me! I also enjoy walking and making greeting cards and gifts for my family and friends.