Modarres teaches from experience

photo by Amy Babin

New to the University of La Verne's School of Business and Global Studies is Assistant Professor of Business Administration Mohsen Modarres. Most recently from Seattle, Modarres is originally from the Middle East. He studied at the University of Nebraska, the National University in San Diego and earned his Ph.D. from Washington State University.

by Rebecca Cooper
Staff Writer

After spending time at colleges and universities around the country, Mohsen Modarres recently joined the University of La Verne faculty to spread his love of education and management.

"I started with economics, and then I was basically drawn into the management field after working in the industry," said Modarres, assistant professor of business. "Management has a much greater impact. It helps to set strategies and goals, but also to encourage improvement in the organization as a whole."

Modarres grew up in Iran and received his undergraduate degree in Tehran. After his graduation in 1978, he left Iran and headed to the University of Detroit to continue his education.

"I only lasted one semester there because it was too cold for me," Modarres said. "I then headed to Nebraska and that was cold too. I spent some time on the East Coast and then just kept heading west until I found myself here. I find the weather and the people here wonderful and plan to stay for a while."

Modarres received his master of arts and master of science degrees from the University of Nebraska. He then worked in the economics and business industries for a few years before returning to National University in San Diego for his master of business administration. Afterwards, he headed to Washington State University, where he received his Ph.D.

Prior to teaching at ULV, Modarres taught at the University of Puget Sound, Western Washington University, Eastern Washington University and Washington State University.

While teaching part time at Western Washington, he worked full time at the Technology Consulting Group and for Boeing Commercial Airplane Group in Redmond, Wash.

He helped to improve business processes, information technology and simulation technology.

"Academically and individually, Boeing is like no other place in the world," Modarres said. "Their technology is so advanced, it's amazing. They gave us courses every night to continue our education, because they thought it was important for employees to be educated. But I got bored after working in the industry for four years, so I decided to come back to teach in academia."

Modarres has only been at ULV for six months, but he is still thinking about what he will do in the future.

"Even though I have close connections to the field and would like to go back to

consulting eventually, I'm happy I decided that I wanted to do something I really love, which is returning to teaching and research and academia as a main career," he said.

"I find (ULV) a small, nice, cozy and friendly place to teach," Modarres said. "I've only taught MBA students so far, but will teach undergraduate students next semester, and I'm sure it will be just as good an experience."

Education and academia are not Modarres' only passion. He also has a passion for poetry, languages and culture.

"I think that they are beautiful things," he said. "Being able to speak another language and understand another culture is one of the most beautiful and wonderful things a person can do."

Modarres has only been on campus since summer, but he is already actively involved in trying to move the school forward.

"He's a thinker and he brings some good ideas [to ULV]" said David Kung, professor of business administration. "I think he came here with a very good understanding of organization and some good ideas on ways to improve it. I feel that he will do very well within this school."