Management, Information Systems, and Quantitative Methods professor Mohammad Firouz, Ph.D. opens a new website , has been selected to receive the UAB President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching for his exceptional accomplishments in the classroom. He will be honored at a UAB ceremony this fall.
The award recognizes faculty members who demonstrate excellence in the classrothe classroomgh innovative teaching, student engagement, mentorship, and a commitment to student success.
Firouz is known for his innovative, student-centered approach to teaching and his commitment to preparing students for success in a rapidly evolving business environment. Through courses in operations and supply chain management, business analytics, and quantitative analysis, he challenges students to apply classroom concepts to real-world business problems while developing critical thinking and decision-making skills.
“Dr. Firouz is an outstanding educator whose innovative teaching, strong student engagement, emphasis on ethics and real-world application, and sustained service and scholarly activity make him highly deserving of this award,” said Scott Boyar, who nominated him for the award. "His dedication has had a clear and lasting impact on students, colleagues, and the management curriculum."
A hallmark of Firouz's teaching is his ability to make quantitative and analytical concepts approachable and relevant. Drawing from his experience as an applied operations research scientist at General Motors R&D, he uses current events, industry challenges and practical applications to introduce complex material. Rather than beginning with a traditional theory-first approach, Firouz often starts with a discussion of current global headlines and guides students toward the underlying technical theory needed to solve them.
-Collat entrepreneurship student,
Felicia Dailey
His courses incorporate simulations, analytics platforms, and artificial intelligence tools to enhance learning and help students develop career-ready skills. In courses such as Business Analytics Applications, Firouz employs an innovation-based simulation to teach forecasting models, enabling students to better understand and apply analytical methods in practical contexts.
"Dr. Firouz does more than teach the material; he makes sure students understand it and can put it to use," wrote entrepreneurship student Felicia Dailey in a letter supporting his nomination. "He breaks down hard ideas into simple steps while still expecting a lot from us, which makes him a very effective teacher."
Dailey recalled a course project in which members of the class built analytical models by identifying decision variables, defining constraints, and translating practical business challenges into algebraic functions. What initially seemed impossible became achievable through Firouz’s guidance, she said.
Beyond the classroom, Firouz is recognized for his dedication to student mentorship and accessibility. He regularly meets with students outside class, offers supplemental learning sessions, supervises honors projects and provides recommendation letters. His fairness, approachability, and genuine investment in student success motivate students and foster a supportive learning environment.
His leadership extends across the school through his service as chair of the Teaching Advisory Committee and his involvement with UAB's AI-related initiatives. Colleagues credit him with helping faculty thoughtfully integrate emerging technologies into the classroom and fostering a culture of continuous improvement in teaching.
"Dr. Firouz has emerged as a thought leader among the faculty on integrating artificial intelligence into our instructional approaches," said Paul Di Gangi, professor of information systems. "His willingness to share his lessons learned and mistakes reflects a collegial generosity that benefits the entire faculty."