Elise Boyas Win Assad Teaching Excellence Award

Her quality of teaching, positive impact on students, and collaboration with other faculty are among the reasons Elise Boyas was named the inaugural winner of the Arjang A. Assad Teaching Excellence Award. 

Boyas, clinical associate professor of Business Administration, was announced in June 2022 as the recipient. She was chosen from six nominees by the Teaching Excellence & Assessment Committee composed of faculty members from each academic area in Pitt Business.    

Boyas joined the Pitt Business faculty in 2009, teaching a wide variety of courses in financial and management accounting at both the graduate and the undergraduate levels. Previously, she taught at Robert Morris, Walsh, and Rutgers universities. She began her professional career in accounting, including as a senior auditor. She has received multiple teaching awards at Pitt, including the undergraduate Student Impact Award and Outstanding Instructor awards for Part-Time MBA, Full-Time MBA, Executive MBA, and Master of Science in Accounting.  

“I established this award to advance the teaching innovation and dynamic climate that has been established here at Pitt Business,” says Assad. “Congratulations, Elise. I am honored to have my name associated with you as the first recipient.” 

Assad hired about 40 faculty members during his tenure as Henry E. Haller Jr. Dean from 2015 through July 1, 2022. He established this endowed award to reward exemplary teachers. Pitt Business has continued to fundraise to add to the endowment Assad established through Pitt Day of Giving contributions by alumni, employees, and other supporters.