Gatepost Interview: Dr. Michael Harrison
Economics Department

By Amanda Lefebvre
Staff Writer

GP: What is your educational background?

Harrison: I’ve got bachelor’s of science in finance with a minor in marketing from Central Connecticut State University, a master’s of science in management from American College, which is in Pennsylvania, an MBA in finance from Colorado State University, and Ph.D. in international business from Southern New Hampshire University. Actually, a lot of my undergrad was done at Florida Atlantic University, where I studied marketing and finance, but I moved up to Connecticut.

GP: Why did you decide to pursue the study of finance and marketing?

Harrison: My original goal was actually to play professional sports. I had a tryout for the Yan- kees - one of the local newspaper writers covering one of my high school games when we played the team in Palmer, Mass. doubled as a scout and I had a very good game that day. About a month later, I got a letter in the mail from the New York Yankees inviting me up to Yankee Stadium for a tryout there. So, one of the reasons I went to Florida really was to play baseball more so than for the academics. But, I never ended up being drafted - I never went professional. So, when I went into the working world, I decided I wanted to try to channel some of that energy - I worked at Fidelity Investments and Bose Corporation, and while I was working at Fidelity, that’s where I worked on an MBA program and I just continued that until I moved over to Bose with a Ph.D. in international business. But, after I was in the business world for a while, I was working for a development group where they do teaching in the corporate world, and I really loved it. So, what I decided to do was go for the Ph.D. - because I knew, eventually, I’d like to teach at a university, whether it would to be on their terms, or as an early retirement or retirement strategy - so I could be marketable to teach at a university.

GP: What is the most challenging part of your job?

Harrison: I try to make the classes as relevant as possible to the students and to current events. I think the biggest challenge is trying to connect with the 20 to 25 students that may come from a variety of backgrounds or have different experiences. It’s also the greatest reward if I’m able to do that. That’s where a lot of that prep work comes in, trying to come up with examples that are relevant and current that hopefully resonate with students.

GP: Please give a brief summary of your resume.

Harrison: When I first got out in the working world, I worked for American Airlines, and then went to workor a cargo airline in Miami, called Aero Air - I was interested in aviation. But after working in that industry for a while, it wasn’t for me. It wasn’t the best match. I switched to the financial services industry and became a private pilot, so I got to do what I love by flying, but I wasn’t working in the industry. ... The airline really owned your life, so it wasn’t a good match for what I was looking to do. ... I was teaching adjunct before I got hired here full time. I taught and did some guest lecture pieces, too. I guest lectured at Harvard, Boston College, Suffolk University and I taught adjunct at Southern New Hampshire University, the Harvard summer school and UMass Boston.

GP: What courses are you currently teaching?

Harrison: I’m teaching two sections of Marketing Principles. I just took over the MBA program, so that takes up a lot of time.

GP: What do you enjoy the most about working at FSC?

Harrison: There are a couple of things I like the most ... be- ing able to interact with the students, and see them grow, even if it’s only over a semester, and see them engaged in class is probably one of the most rewarding things for me. Also, my business colleagues, the people in the department as well as the administration, have just been phenomenally supportive and helpful. It’s been an extremely collegial atmosphere - I really feel at home. ... You can see the authenticity and sincerity. ... They say Framingham State is the premier state college, and I think it’s really true. ... It’s really been great.

GP: Do you have any advice for your students?

Harrison: I think the biggest advice I would have for my students ... [is to] try and find out what you really like to do while you’re here. And figure out a way to use that to your advantage for your career. The other piece of advice I would have is network. And, if at all possible, take a public speaking course while you’re here, even if you’re not a business major. Whether you’re presenting to a large audience or to your boss ... the skills that you learn in a public presentation or in a public speaking course are invaluable.

GP: Is there anything besides economics that you are passionate about?

Harrison: As far as hobbies, I am a private pilot, so I do like to fly around New England - I rent the planes. I grew up playing sports, and I still like to play sports. I played in a hockey league and a baseball league in the area. And right now, my biggest passion is my four-year-old son - it’s almost as if I’m going through a second childhood with him. He teaches me so much in many ways and he’s just the love of my life.