Meet UBC Sauder’s new faculty – Colin Dodds

This year, UBC Sauder welcomes five new lecturers and tenure-track faculty to the school. In the second of this series, we introduce you to Colin Dodds, Full-time Lecturer, Law and Business Communications Group, UBC Sauder School of Business.

At UBC Sauder, faculty members are more than just ‘professors.’ They conduct impactful research that is changing how society views the world while also inspiring students to pursue their academic passions and become the thoughtful, values-driven leaders the business world needs. This year, UBC Sauder welcomes five new lecturers and tenure-track faculty to the school. In the second of this series, we introduce you to Colin Dodds, Full-time Lecturer, Law and Business Communications Group, UBC Sauder School of Business.

What brought you to UBC Sauder? 

I’ve actually been brought to UBC Sauder many times – my role as a faculty member is not the first time I’ve walked through the halls of the Henry Angus building. As a former Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) student studying marketing, I was attracted to UBC Sauder because of its reputation. As a former staff member at The Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre, I was attracted to UBC Sauder because of Dean Helsley’s values of rigour, respect, and responsibility. Now, as a faculty member, I’ve been brought back to UBC Sauder because of the people who work here. I get to work with a lot of smart people who support me in my job and push me to be better. It’s even better that these people are also former professors and former colleagues.

What subjects are you teaching, and how did you get into this field?

I’m currently teaching courses in business fundamentals and business communications, and I have previously taught courses in career education. I have had a meandering career that has included roles in marketing management, non-profit governance, professional coaching, online course development, career management, and textbook design. This varied background helps me bring an inter-disciplinary approach to the courses that I teach. 

What fuels your interest in these subjects?

I’m interested in business, and the courses that I teach, because there are no correct answers. These subjects are messy, complex, and constantly evolving. This creates opportunities in the classroom for deeper learning and discussion, and keeps things exciting for me as an educator. 

What inspires you to teach?

I’m inspired to teach by those who have taught me, from my elementary school teachers to my graduate school professors. The teachers in my life have had a profound impact on my ways of thinking, my growth and development, and my personal character. My career as an educator has great meaning to me because I aspire to have a similar impact on a new generation of students.

Also, teaching is a ton of fun. Businesses regularly need to manage conflicting goals with limited resources and limited information, and teaching is no different. Just like there are no correct answers in the courses I teach, there is no correct way to teach. I love experimenting with pedagogy, and I love that I can bring my personality into the classroom.

What’s the most interesting thing you have uncovered or realized during teaching?

I am continually impressed by the students at UBC Sauder. They have a degree of self-awareness that is impressive, and an interest in social impact that is commendable. I learn from them as much as they learn from me, and they have pushed me to be a better educator. Getting to know the students in my classes is what makes this job so rewarding.

What do you believe is the future of your industry?

We’ve seen the rapid adoption of educational technology from the impact of COVID-19, and I’m excited to see the continued influence of the edtech industry on higher education. That said, it’s clear that technology is not a replacement for live instruction. I see many untapped opportunities for technology to enhance, not supplant, what effective teaching will look like in the future.