The Neil Griffin College of Business celebrated Faculty Appreciation Week with current and retired faculty, recognizing their impact on students and the university by handing out awards.

Himani Vidhani received the Excellence in Teaching, Non-Tenure award from the Neil Griffin College of Business, recognizing her profound influence on student learning and her dedication to fostering an environment where every student is encouraged to reach their full potential.

Hrishikesh Desai, director of the Master of Accountancy program, won a teaching award for his distinguished achievement in instruction and for setting a standard of excellence that inspires both students and colleagues alike.

Desai said it makes him proud when students are rewarded for their work by receiving grants and scholarships.

“One of the most memorable moments was when students who had taken professional exams came back to tell me that they passed because of the training, advising and quality of teaching in our program,” Desai said. “As the director of the program, that was incredibly rewarding.” 

Desai was also nominated and selected as one of the Arkansas 40 Under 40 honorees. He is among individuals across the state recognized as distinguished in their fields and for impacting the careers of others. He was also the only person from Arkansas State University on that list.

Vidhani, instructor of information systems and business analytics, said her passion comes from the success of her students. She teaches technical subjects like computer applications and management information systems, which are constantly evolving.

“I measure success through the quality of research my students produce, the opportunities they have to present their work and the grants they secure, not just grades or test scores,” Vidhani said.

Vidhani said she remembers encouraging a student and seeing their confidence grow while helping her navigate her schedule and challenges.

“I often think that years from now, a student might remember something I did for them, and that brings a smile to my face,” Vidhani said.

Gail Hudson, former professor of marketing and director of internships at A-State, said she fell in love with teaching at an early age and started teaching right after finishing her master’s degree.

“Seeing a student finally understand something, when the light turns on, is a great feeling,” Hudson said.

Bill Roe, former professor of management, administrator and associate dean at A-State, said he realized he really enjoyed teaching and wanted to pursue it further.

Roe said he wants to prepare his students not just for their current life, but for life after college.

“One meaningful experience was mentoring a student who went on to earn a finance degree and become very successful. Later, he wanted to give back and help future students, which showed how much those early experiences mattered,” Roe said.

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