Kashef Majid, associate professor of business at UMW, is one of the Top 50 Undergraduate Professors of 2024, honored by Poets&Quants. The annual list features accomplished, innovative and compassionate faculty who “represent the best of what an undergraduate business degree can offer,” according to the online publication.
An outstanding professor with exceptional contributions to research and teaching, Majid has received numerous awards in both fields, leaving a lasting and significant impact on his discipline, his students, and his community.
“This is a highly selective distinction made by one of the most influential voices in business education today: Poets&Quants” said Filiz Tabak, dean of the UMW College of Business. “Kashef’s research has revealed important implications for businesses and policymakers, particularly in areas such as digital marketing, consumer responsibility and the sharing economy Its innovative teaching is also known for imparting cutting-edge, highly marketable skills to its students as well as bringing a strong sense of social responsibility and community engagement.
As an example, he developed an innovative digital marketing course through which students acquire skills in digital marketing and AI tools in addition to obtaining Google Analytics certification. He also developed a course called Alleviating Food Waste, which partners with local businesses to help them redeploy excess food resources in a way that benefits the community.
Majid has also established a strong and impactful research record, with articles in some of the most highly regarded publications in his discipline, including the Journal of Business ResearchTHE Journal of International Trade Policy, Tourism ManagementTHE Journal of Product and Brand Management and the Journal of Services Marketing.
Nominator and fellow Associate Professor of Business Analytics and Associate Dean Christopher Garcia said, “These not only demonstrate the quality and relevance of his work, but also highlight his ability to tackle complex, interdisciplinary challenges. Additionally, his commitment to mentoring students and colleagues, leading to co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals, further highlights his commitment to fostering a collaborative and intellectually stimulating academic environment.
Majid has received numerous honors for his outstanding research, including UMW’s Waple Fellowship Award, the 2021 Mary W. Pinschmidt Award for significant impact on the lives of graduate students, and a 2014 Innovative Digital Pedagogy Fellowship Award. nominated for the AIB Haynes Prize for the most promising researcher under the age of 40 and received the George Washington School of Business Board of Trustees Excellence Award for his research exceptional doctoral studies and teaching. He received a Ph.D. He holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from George Washington University, a master’s degree from Concordia University and a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Ottawa.
“I was quite late in my Ph.D. program at GWU when I realized I wanted to become a professor at a business school. I worked with wonderful academic advisors who were excellent teachers but also did impactful research. I saw becoming a professor as an opportunity to do work that contributed to those around me (like my advisors),” Majid said. He also cites UMW colleagues such as Ken Machande, Robert Rycroft and the late Gwen Hale as inspiration, giving him the freedom to lecture on topics of interest and continue to improve through ‘education.
Today, he leads by example and aims to create an engaging classroom experience. Class projects include community partners for applied learning and benefits. He finds that students engage in a variety of subjects, emphasizing that they are “humble – intelligent, hard-working and always striving for progress.”
This description also fits Majid, who is known to be a tough teacher but whose lessons are worth it.