Putting students at the center of business and technology education
Clinical Associate Professor,
Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality
NYU SPS Teaching Excellence Award Recipient, 2018, 2024
#teachwithtechnology
#multimediainstruction
Nexus: What do you teach?
Richie: I teach an undergraduate Business Fundamentals course and graduate courses called Trends in Travel and Hospitality and Placemaking & Destination Branding at the Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality at NYU SPS. Since 2013, I have been teaching across various modalities at SPS including in-person, online, and hybrid formats.
Nexus: What teaching practice, activity, or technology do your students benefit from the most?
Richie: I incorporate multimodal content into all of my courses to enhance learning and engagement. For example, when teaching entrepreneurship and business creation in my Business Fundamentals class, I use short TED Talks by influential figures in business as well as podcasts, such as How I Built This by Guy Raz.
I also include excerpts from trusted video sources (7–12 minutes) that explain concepts in creative or humorous ways. Students enjoy YouTube and podcasts in their daily lives, so integrating this multimedia content resonates well.
Nexus: What best practices in teaching do you recommend to faculty?
Richie: I recommend the following learner-centered strategies:
Foster Active, Collaborative Participation: Encourage discussions, debates, and interactive activities. Assign group or partner projects that require critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration such as presentations, problem-solving, and real-world simulations.
Provide Constructive Feedback: Offer timely, actionable feedback to help students understand their progress and improve. Encourage reflection to deepen ongoing learning and growth.
Encourage Lifelong Learning: Assign activities that require students to stay informed about current global trends and business news, fostering a habit of continuous learning and curiosity.
Experiment with Technology: I started using generative AI tools like Copilot Pro and Gamma to prepare PowerPoint slides for my courses. As faculty, we can utilize technologies like these to support our thinking and research, as well as to reduce time on certain tasks. I also share this message with my students.
Nexus: Do you have any testimonials or feedback from your students about their learning experiences that you can share with us?
Richie: I appreciate receiving feedback from my students as I continue to support their learning. Recently, two students shared:
"Good Afternoon, Dr. K.:
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to you to express my gratitude for all of your insightful lessons this semester. Your passion for teaching really stood out, and I have learned so much from your knowledge and experiences in the industry. I really appreciate everything you have shared with us, and I am grateful for the time and energy you put into making the class so engaging and interesting."
"Dr. K is amazing! He really knows how to engage you in the class. He understands your skills and tries to elevate them along with other skills he thinks you need to achieve to become a leader in your field. His class is fun and energetic, there is no room for boredom there. I learned a lot!"
Nexus: What was your favorite class as a student?
Richie: Marketing. It combined creativity, strategy, and psychology. I have always loved studying and researching consumer behavior, branding, and the art of connecting products or services with people's needs and emotions. This passion has stayed with me, informing my professional focus and my teaching approach today.
Nexus: If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?
Richie: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938), the founder of modern Türkiye, demonstrated visionary leadership, resilience, and a commitment to progress during a transformative period in history. I deeply admire his efforts to modernize education, champion women's rights, and establish a secular and democratic foundation for Türkiye. His ability to inspire a nation and lay the groundwork for its future is incredibly inspiring.
Bio:
Dr. Recep “Richie” Karaburun is Clinical Associate Professor at the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality.
He holds a doctorate in Business Administration from the Lubin School of Business at Pace University, an MBA from the George Argyros School of Business and Economics at Chapman University, and a BBA in International Relations from Uludag University in Türkiye.
In 2018 and 2024, Dr. Karaburun was honored with the NYU SPS Teaching Excellence Award and in 2019, the NYU SPS Outstanding Service Award. In 2021, he was appointed Director of the Innovation Hub Incubator Program.
Learn more and connect with Dr. Karaburun via the NYU SPS Faculty Directory.
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