Scholars News Desk
College Park Scholars Loses an Honored Colleague
April 8, 2008
Dr. Brian Shaffer, assistant professor of Logistics, Business and Public Policy at the Robert H. Smith School of Business was killed in an automobile accident in West Virginia on April 5, 2008. He served the College Park Scholars community from 2001 to 2007 as the associate director of Business, Society and the Economy (BSE).
Dr. Shaffer taught both MBA and undergraduate courses in managerial economics and public policy through the Smith School and much of his research focused on firm and industry-level responses to government regulation. His involvement in the International Association of Business & Society (IABS) and the Academy of Management, as well as the role he played as the director of an experiential MBA mini-course on public policy demonstrated the passion he had for his field of work. These accomplishments contributed to his being named a “Top Ten Percent” instructor by the Smith School.
During the 2004-2005 academic year, Dr. Shaffer was recognized as a Philip Merrill Master Teacher. Timothy Potter, the Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar that attributed success to Dr. Shaffer said, “[he] introduced me to key university resources and helped position me for many of my academic achievements.”
One of Dr. Shaffer’s greatest legacies to BSE was his role in the initiation and development of the annual trip to Hershey, PA. He catalyzed an experiential approach to learning innovative techniques and practices in business; he opened the door to more hands-on opportunities for scholars eager to develop their understanding of business in society.
He received both his MBA and his Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley. He received his B.A. with Honors in Economics from Indiana University, Bloomington.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, April 10 at 4:30 p.m. in the University of Maryland Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Fellowship Hall, P.O. Box 13890, Greensboro, NC 27415.
The Washington Post has published Dr. Brian Shaffer's obituary at the following site.
