After spending 17 years teaching at IU Southeast, Janardhanan Alse, professor of business, has reached one of his goals this past year.
Alse was promoted from associate professor to a full professor of economics in the School of Business.
Alse started his teaching career at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee as a teaching assistant from 1985 to 1991.
When he had a job opportunity at IU Southeast as an associate professor in the fall of 1992, Alse applied for the position.
He started his undergraduate studies in his hometown of Madras, India, at Madras Christian College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and later earned his master’s degree from the University of Madras.
While attending the University of Madras, Alse said he had classes with Professor Shankar Ullahanathan. Alse said he was extremely impressed with Ullahanthan’s teaching and dedication.
Ullahanathan had previous taught at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and sparked the interest in Alse to attend and earn a master’s and doctorate of economics and international economics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Even with his recent promotion, Alse said there are the still the same expectations of him.
Alse teaches a variety of economic and business courses on the undergraduate and graduate level. Those classes include Money and Banking, Internal Economics, International Business Analysis, and Managerial Economics.
He also teaches a workshop through the summer for teachers from kindergarten to 12th grade in economics.
He said the Money and Banking course he teaches is one of his favorite classes to teach at IU Southeast. He said that’s because the topic and the government oversight that affects the topic is constantly changing.
Alse said he was brought into the teaching profession when he was attending University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As a graduate student he said he enjoyed the teaching assignments he was given.
“If I am going to pursue a career, I wanted it to be in something I enjoyed doing,” Alse said. “I enjoyed teaching. It opens up the mind with the power of knowledge.”
He said his first goal was to become a full professor, which he has accomplished, but that will not stop him from achieving his other teaching goals.
“I want to be the best teacher I can be, keep going and want to be at the top of my profession and to keep adding tools and skills,” he said.
He said his IUS experience has been a good one. He said he credits that to a few unique things the people at IU Southeast have to offer.
“The collegiality among campus faculty and the faculty of the School of Business and the determination of students to want to achieve higher education even with other demands they face have made his time at IUS enjoyable,” he said. “This is a very wonderful place to work.”
The staff at the School of Business who work with him every day also appreciates the hard work and dedication he brings to his profession.
Rebecca Flowers, office services assistant of the School of Business, said she enjoys working with him.
“Professor Alse is easy to work with, a ‘please- and- thank you’ type of person and a top-of-the-line person to work with,” Flowers said.
Cheryl Young, administrative secretary, said he is straight forward and honest.
“He is the first to volunteer his help with anything,” Young said.
When asked what he hoped students would take away from his class, Alse took a minute to think about his answer.
He said he hoped students would leave his class with a greater understanding of the topic that was covered. He also said he hoped they would have a better understanding of real world issues that are tied to the topic and apply the tools given in class to solve business related issues.
Even with all the time Alse puts in his teaching skills and teaching goals he still finds time to volunteer is his in the community.
He has been a volunteer at the Metro United Way for more than 10 years.
Alse also participates in the United Center for Interfaith relations and Interfaith Path to Peace. This group is located in downtown Louisville and hopes to bring different religions to a common understanding.
Besides teaching and volunteering his time to the community, Alse has another passion in sports.
Alse used to coach soccer at Holy Family and a soccer team traveling soccer team located in Southern Indiana.
By JUSTIN RAY
Staff Writer
jusray@ius.edu