Welcoming Shane Perry to MBS
An accredited public relations professional, Shane Perry brings his extensive experience in marketing and communications to the Maine Business School as the new Lecturer in Marketing.
What inspired you to become a professor?
Dr. Kathryn Lasky at the University of Southern Maine inspired me to want to become a professor. Kathryn was someone who effectively challenged my idea of “settling for good enough.” She got to know me as both my professor and my advisor. She encouraged me to continue my education into grad school and told me I would make a good teacher.
What is your area of expertise?
Marketing and Public Relations.
How did you get interested in your field?
It was an undergrad media criticism course that first sparked my interest in the field of marketing and communications. I found that marketing combined my interest in research and data with my background in the arts. In marketing, creativity can lend itself to unique solutions for real-world business problems. I like being able to use the data and metrics as a starting point for creative output.
What classes do you teach at UMaine?
Introduction to Marketing (MKT 270), both in-person and online.
What are your expectations of your students?
It’s my job to help my students build a solid understanding of the fundamentals of marketing so they are well-prepared for more advanced marketing topics. I hope students will come to class with a curious mind. I think classes are more enjoyable for everyone when there is active participation. I foster an inclusive, welcoming classroom environment, encouraging students to ask and answer questions without fear of judgment. This is an intro class, and there are no stupid questions.
What do you enjoy doing outside of academia?
One thing I really enjoy doing is playing tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons or Settlers of Catan. I have a group of friends I meet with weekly, and we try out new games. Right now, my favorite game is Monster of the Week.
What advice do you wish you had received as an undergraduate student?
Don’t rush your college experience. I dismissed a lot of the “college experience” as partying and didn’t participate in a lot of campus activities.
Part of the college experience is learning how to engage with other people. Learn how to effectively network. Learn how to be a part of a team and what that means. Learn to appreciate what you bring to the table and advocate for yourself. Learn your weak spots so you can better appreciate other people’s contributions. Learn how to handle rejection in a healthy way. Learn how to get out of your comfort zone.