“Teaching makes me feel like I’m improving myself and the world around me. It’s a mission that allows me to do something great for the community,” said Ramadan Abdunabi, senior clinical professor in the computer information systems department and the recipient of one of 2024’s Best Teacher Awards.
Abdunabi’s passion for teaching isn’t just fueled by his dedication to impart knowledge to his students but his sincere enjoyment and curiosity for learning.
“I’m extremely dedicated to my own professional development. I like to stay current with advancements in my field and take classes each summer,” he said.
Research is also a crucial part of his professional development. Abdunabi’s research focuses primarily on software engineering and computer security. It allows him to not only pursue his research interests but advance his students’ breadth of knowledge.
“His research contributions not only advance knowledge but also provide invaluable opportunities for student involvement, guiding them towards academic and professional success,” said Neethu Choudary Ravuri, a Master of Computer Information Systems student who nominated Abdunabi for the award.
In the classroom
While this is the first time Abdunabi has received the Best Teacher Award, he’s previously been recognized for his teaching. Last fall, he received the 2023 Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award at the College of Business’ All-College Meeting. Nominated by fellow employees, the award underscores his commitment to creating a dynamic classroom environment that promotes engagement and collaboration among his students.
Abdunabi tends to stray from textbook learning and instead focuses on the current market, using real-world examples to make complex topics more understandable. He finds this technique allows for greater participation from his students, which is another crucial aspect of his teaching.
“It’s not just about transmitting knowledge with these students; they need more than that. They need to be inspired to reach their goals and discover their purpose and potential,” he said.
Whether it’s redesigning his courses from scratch at the start of each semester or integrating new technology, Abdunabi ensures he’s creating a collaborative and engaging atmosphere for his students.
“His teaching style encouraged active participation and discussion, creating a space where every student’s voice mattered,” Ravuri said. “This approach not only made learning more engaging but also allowed for diverse perspectives to be shared and respected. It was invigorating to be part of a classroom environment where collaboration and dialogue were encouraged, fostering a sense of camaraderie and a deeper understanding of the subject matter.”
Nurturing success
Engagement isn’t the only focus in Abdunabi’s classroom. Seeing his students succeed is one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching for him, and knowing he can champion that success is an important part of his principles.
“Students have different learning styles, backgrounds and skill levels, and I want to make sure I’m considering the diversity in my classroom,” he said.
Utilizing a student-first approach, Abdunabi meets his students where they’re at, taking time to assess their individual needs within the classroom and outside of it. He offers extensive services including personalized mentoring and additional office hours to guarantee his students are on track for success.
“By providing this extra support and guidance outside regular class hours, Professor Abdunabi makes a significant positive impact by empowering students to excel academically and fostering a culture of continuous learning,” Ravuri said.
Abdunabi’s efforts to provide accessible learning at the start of the pandemic exemplify his dedication to student success. When on-campus labs shut down in 2020 due to quarantine, he assembled a virtual computer lab to substitute for the physical ones. This allowed students to easily access their web browsers to operate machines with identical hardware configurations, programs and settings.
Regardless of the changing environment of education, he made it possible for students to continue their coursework uninterrupted.
Entering the workforce
Part of Abdunabi’s habit of tailoring his courses is to ensure students’ success continues even after they’ve graduated. “I want to make sure students are ready to hit the ground running when they graduate and begin interviewing for jobs,” Abdunabi said. Some students even use him for references.
Whether or not he’s a part of their job search, Abdunabi likes to stay connected to see where they’ve ended up in their careers. “I’m always excited to follow their stories on LinkedIn, it inspires and energizes me to continue teaching,” he said.
About CSU’s College of Business
The College of Business at Colorado State University is focused on using business to create a better world.
As an AACSB-accredited business school, the College is among the top five percent of business colleges worldwide, providing programs and career support services to more than 2,500 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students. Faculty help students across our top-ranked on-campus and online programs develop the knowledge, skills and values to navigate a rapidly evolving business world and address global challenges with sustainable business solutions. Our students are known for their creativity, work ethic and resilience—resulting in an undergraduate job offer and placement rate of over 90% within 90 days of graduation.
The College’s highly ranked programs include its Online MBA, which has been ranked the No. 1 program in Colorado by U.S. News and World Report for six years running and achieved No. 16 for employability worldwide from QS Quacquarelli Symonds. The College’s Impact MBA is also ranked by Corporate Knights as a Top 20 “Better World MBA” worldwide.
