At Stukent®, we are proud to spotlight educators who bring passion, innovation, and real-world connections into their classrooms. This month, we are excited to recognize Laurence Minsky, a professor at Columbia College Chicago. Professor Minsky has dedicated his career to empowering students with the skills and confidence to excel in the ever-evolving marketing industry.
For Professor Minsky, the most meaningful milestones aren’t his own accolades — they’re the achievements of his students.
“The expected answer would be when I received tenure and when I was promoted to full professor,” Professor Minsky said. “But the real highlights are seeing my (former) students land their first jobs and progress through their careers. It makes me feel like I did something right.”
One of Minsky’s most impactful moments as an educator came early in his career when he partnered with the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago. The project’s goal was to help Chicago go smoke-free, with the hope that the rest of Illinois would too.
“The students came up with the solution and helped execute the related ad campaign,” Professor Minsky said. “Chicago banned smoking in bars and restaurants. And then Illinois followed. It’s old news now — this was years ago — but I think about the number of lives my students saved because of their solution and resulting campaign.”
Professor Minsky finds great joy in seeing his students thrive both in and out of the classroom.
“Seeing the success of my students as they journey through their careers, closely followed by seeing the lightbulb go off,” Professor Minsky said. “One day a student is struggling and the next, their work is miles ahead.”
Professor Minsky integrates Stukent courseware and Simternships® into his curriculum, including the Social Media Marketing Bundle, Digital Marketing Bundle, and Digital Marketing Analytics Bundle. These tools allow students to gain practical experience in a simulated environment.
“They’ve helped my students get comfortable behind the ‘dashboard,’” Minsky said. “No large, sophisticated brand will open up their dashboard to beginners — there’s too much risk — so these simulations are the best way to give students exposure to them and comfort with them while building their strategic and executional skills.”
When it comes to maximizing Stukent resources, Minsky encourages educators to leverage the Buhi brand for additional classroom assignments. “Have them do projects in class or as homework using the Buhi product line to target their stated personas,” Minsky said. “For instance, I have my students make TikTok videos about a Buhi backpack feature or for a promotion. That way, students get experience creating the visual materials as well.”
Minsky also emphasizes the importance of helping students showcase their work. “Work with your students to show them how to package the experience (into a slide deck or website example) for their portfolios, so they can use the experience in interviews to help them land internships and full-time professional employment,” he said.
Professor Minsky exemplifies the qualities that make for an outstanding educator: dedication to his students, innovative teaching strategies, and the ability to bridge the gap between theory and practice. His use of Stukent Simternships and courseware ensures his students are equipped with the skills they need to succeed in their careers.
Each month, Stukent highlights a standout higher education instructor. Those selected use Stukent products in the classroom and exemplify Stukent’s core values and mission to help educators help students help the world.
To learn about Stukent Simternships and courseware and to get FREE instructor access to Stukent materials, visit our website.
