MtvU’s RateMyProfessors.com recently released its annual lists ranking the nation’s top professors and universities, with DU’s Paige Baltzan coming in as number eighteen. The website is owned by MTV Networks and is a more targeted network for college and university campuses across the U.S.

Baltzan, a 1994 graduate of DU with an MBA specializing in Masters of Information Science, has been teaching as an adjunct faculty member at the Daniels College of Business for about fifteen years. She also writes textbooks for McGraw-Hill Irwin. Baltzan noted that there are many rewarding aspects of teaching at DU, including her long-standing connection with the school being an alumnus, and also the joy she derives from helping students with their own future careers.

“The real value of being a professor comes when a student visits you five years after they graduate to tell you that you made a difference and helped them find success,” said Baltzan.

Baltzan teaches classes in the Business Information Analytics (BIA, formerly ITEC) department of DCB. She has so far taught everything from project management, programming, systems analysis and design, strategic advantages of technology, database, data warehousing in the Executive MBA and PMBA programs.
RateMyProfessors.com (RPM) is the largest online destination for professor ratings. With about 8000 schools and 15 million entirely student-generated comments and ratings, RateMyProfessors.com is the highest trafficked free site for researching and rating the more than 1.8 million professors from its database that includes colleges and universities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Each year, RateMyProfessors.com compiles “Top Lists” of the highest-rated professors, hottest professors and top schools in the U.S. based on ratings from students. Last year, Baltzan was ranked number four on the top professors list. Although Baltzan did say that she avoids visiting the site or reading the comments written about her, she does consider it an honor to be included on their list.
“I have a deep passion for my subject matter and it shows in the classroom,” said Baltzan.
She works to engage students in the classroom and evokes an excitement for teaching that is not always exhibited by college professors.

“My motto is that if I am not having fun then my students are not having fun.  I do not believe there has to be a correlation between pain and learning.  Some of the best learning occurs when the students are engaged and having a good time learning the material,” said Baltzan.

According to an mtvU representative, RMP employs a third party company that is tasked with vetting comments and ratings to make sure they accurately reflect teaching ability and avoid user fraud on the site. MtvU works closely with the third party so that they understand the site guidelines and thoroughly browse all of the content on RMP. They make sure all the comments are reviewed before going live on the site.

Baltzan also noted how sharing information among the faculty in DCB helps her maintain the high standard of success that she has already set.

“We support each other and share teaching tips, activities, lectures and exams.  I always know if I need support my co-faculty will always lend a hand and they know I will always help with any of their needs.  It is easy to find success when you have a great support system at work,” said Baltzan.

To check out the full list of Best Professors and Schools or to get some insights about who teaches certain courses next semester, visit RateMyProfessors.com.