Anna TalafuseAnna Talafuse, Ph.D.

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Marketing, COB

A technologically-forward teacher actively involved on campus and a scholar of marketing, Anna Talafuse, Ph.D., has been awarded this year’s Excellence Award for Non- Tenured Faculty.

Eight years ago, Talafuse began her teaching career at MSU Billings as a part- time instructor in the College of Business. Since then, Anna has received her doctorate in Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing, which in turn helped solidify the AACSB accreditation of the COB. Talafuse was an integral part of expanding the marketing discipline at the university, and her
involvement led to the offering of a completely-online marketing degree.

Talafuse is dedicated to helping students learn about current technology and trends related to business. She has incorporated new technological advancements into her classroom and was one of the first College of Business faculty members to embrace teaching in the Western Security Bank Technology Enhanced Integrative Learning (TEIL) room. “It is the classroom of the future,” a colleague notes. “But Anna has no hesitation introducing it to students now.” Talafuse is also noted for her “active” communication style in her online classes.

“If she is awake and a student sends an email, whether it is 1:00 p.m. or 1:00 a.m., Dr. Talafuse will respond,” her nominator says. “Her personal policy of responding as soon as she can has made her a favorite among students.”

An energetic member of the MSUB community, Talafuse currently serves on five campus committees, mentors other part-time faculty members, and goes out of her way to make sure the faculty members receive answers, so they can complete tasks in a timely manner.

Talafuse has co-authored two research papers and has presented several times on both campuses. She contributes to her field through publications about student advising satisfaction and sales call anxiety, topics relevant to the field of business today. Her colleague notes “she strives to include others in learning and has asked two colleagues from the COB to aid in the research process.”

Talafuse’s impact on her students and the College of Business helped her solidify the Excellence Award for Non-Tenured Faculty.