Faculty Profiles

Michael London

Associate Professor, Business
Accounting, Business, Economics & Finance
484-664-3674

[email protected]

image of faculty member

Education

  • Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University
  • B.A., University of Michigan 

Teaching Interests

My expertise is in group facilitation and my goal is to create a dynamic and lively classroom experience for my students. I use methodology that is rooted in my field, organizational behavior, and also draw upon experiences in consulting with organizations, leading T-groups, playing music in ensembles and corporate training. I enjoy innovating and have been working on an approach to teaching I call "The Co-Created Classroom," in which I partner with my students to make the classroom come alive and build a cohesive learning community. I have a strong belief that there is greater potential and when we engage the "whole student" they respond with a higher set of concerns.

Beyond my field of expertise, I draw from varied interests to offer a true liberal arts experience in my business classes. My experience in consulting and coaching enlivens the classroom and brings richness to my teaching, grounding theory in current practice. I also strive to help students build a grounded confidence based on their actual strengths and not platitudes or ego. I use a variety of teaching approaches including case studies, role-plays, one-on-one student coaching, research papers, exams, essays, service-learning, group projects, vibrant class discussions and formal presentations. I also use my interests in music and poetry to uplift students and inspire them to be fully engaged in their learning.  I am also Department Internship Director for students majoring in Business Administration. 

 

Research, Scholarship or Creative/Artistic Interests

My current scholarship is devoted to innovation in management education and I have a passionate interest in student-centered pedagogy. My research includes work on student engagement, management education, leadership, group dynamics and music and poetry in management pedagogy. I also coach top executives, helping them to reach their creative potential in leading organizations and achieving their personal goals. I also facilitate and mediate through team-building sessions, T-groups and a variety of training programs. As a guitarist and songwriter, I perform concerts of the deeply moving, transcendental poetry of Rumi, the 13th century Persian Sufi mystic. I recently collaborated with a group of my students on a conference presentation and they created a video of their experience in my courses.  The Course Hero website recently featured an article on my teaching approach, “Improve Learning by Co-Teaching to Help Students Feel Invested.”

 

  • Business Administration Internship: Athletic Department
  • Business Administration Internship: MALT
  • Business Administration Internship: Merrill Lynch
  • Business Administration Internship: Muhlenberg Athletic Department
  • Business Administration Internship: LV Humane Society
  • Business Administration Internship: Merrill Lynch
  • CUE: Leadership
  • Finance Internship: Event Planning & Alumni Engagement
  • FYS: Finding Your Muse: Creativity and Improvisation
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Organizational Leadership & Peer Education
  • Professor of the Year, Wharton Evening Division, 1996 and 2003 
  • Multiple Muhlenberg Bridge Builder Awards
  • MUHL Award, 2015, for leadership abilities in the classroom
  • London, M., Kirchner, M., Searles, E.  When Students Become Leaders: Building Confidence and Courage in the Classroom, presented at Ramapo University (2019)
  • London, M, Gordon, J, Havkins, M, Adamo, G, Edward, W, Gary, C et al. (2018) Co-Creating The Classroom: Don’t Teach To them—Teach With Them!, presented at the Mid-Atlantic Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, La Salle University (2018)
  • London, M, Goodman, B., Exploring New Metaphors to Enliven the Classroom:  From Teacher/Student to ...., presented with Becky Goodman (grad 2017) at the Mid-Atlantic Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, Drexel University (2017)
  • London, M, Clifford, A, The Use of Coaching In The Classroom: Teaching to the Real Issues Undergrads Face, presented at the Mid-Atlantic Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, LaSalle University (2008)

Book Chapters

  • London, M., Van Buskirk, B., Co-Creating The Classroom in Handbook of Individual and Organizational Transformation. Springer (2017).
  • London, M., Collaborating With Respect. An invited book chapter, edited by Dennis Morris (seeking publication)
  • London, M., & Schneer, J. A. Gender-Based Perceptions, in G. N. Powell, Managing a Diverse Workforce: Learning Activities, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (2004).

Refereed Publications

  • Kirchner, M., London, M. (2021)  The Co-created Classroom: Enhancing Students’ Professional Identity Through a Teaching Apprentice Assignment.  College Teaching. (accepted for publication in 2021)
  • Van Buskirk, B., London, M., Plump, C ., The Poetic Workspace. Journal of Management Education (2017).
  • Van Buskirk, B., London, M., Poetry as Deep Intelligence: A Qualitative Approach for the Organizational Behavior Classroom, Journal of Management Education, vol. 36, 5: pp. 636-668. (2017).
  • Van Buskirk, B., London, M., Plump, C., Poetry and Poetic Metaphor In Teaching Leadership And Ethics, in the Journal of Leadership Studies (2016).
  • Van Buskirk, B., London M., Inviting the Muse into the Classroom: Poetic License in Management Education, Journal of Management Education (2008).
  • Fairfield, K., London M., Tuning into the Music of Groups: A Metaphor for Team-Based Learning in Management Education, Journal of Management Education, V. 27, Pp 654-672. (2003).
  • Linnehan, Konrad, Reitman, London and Greenhalgh, Behavioral Goals for a Diverse Organization: The Effects of Attitudes, Social Norms, and Racial Identity for Asian Americans and Whites. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, Vol. 33, No. 7, Pp. 1331-1359. (2003). 
  • London M., Work Orientations in the Classroom, in the Journal of Management Education, 15, 3, 313-324. (1991). 

Refereed Presentations

  • London, M., Sinensky, E., Professors as the Architect of the Social Fabric in the Virtual Classroom. Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference” June 2021
    • Mentored Emily Sinensky '21 to conduct research and co-present at a major conference in my field.
  • Meisel S, London, M. et al, Virtual Learning: Student Interests Versus Faculty Interests.  Fall 2020 MOBTz Conference, September 2021
  • London, M., New Applications of T-Groups in Management Education, Mid-Atlantic Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, Drexel University (2019)
  • London, M., Rethinking the T-Group as Pedagogy. Presented at the Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, Coastal Carolina University (2018). 
  • Van Buskirk, B., London, M., Barrett, F., Towards a Poetry of Reflection and Reinvention: The Poetry Gallery Workshop. Presented at the Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference at Coastal Carolina University (2018).
  • London M. et al., The Music of Leadership. Eastern Academy of Management. Presented Providence R.I. (2018).
  • London M. et al., The Four Corners Exercise. Eastern Academy of Management. Presented Providence R.I. (2018). 
  • London, M., The Co-Created Classroom: Developing Students Through Coaching, International Association of Spirituality Management and Religion, Fayetteville, Arkansas (2017).
  • Van Buskirk, B., London, M., Crafting The Aesthetic Workspace, Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference. Presented Providence College (2017).
  • London, M, Van Buskirk, B., Living Our Values in the OB Classroom, Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, Walsh University ( 2016).
  • Hopes & Fears: Bringing Careers into the Classroom, Mid-Atlantic Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, LaSalle University (2016).
  • Comer D., London M., et al., It’s Got a Good Beat and You Can Learn to It: Using Music in the Management Classroom. Eastern Academy of Management. Presented at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Philadelphia Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2015).
  • London, M., Van Buskirk, B., Community in the Classroom Through Collaboration with Students, Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, University of La Verne (2015).
  • Van Buskirk, B., London, M., Poetic Metaphor And The Creation Of Community In The Management Classroom, Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, University of La Verne (2015).
  • Van Buskirk, B., London, M., Poetry As Deep Pedagogy: Organizational Behavior, Strategy And Business Law: An Exploratory Workshop. presented at the Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, Vanderbilt University, Nashville (2014).
  • London, M., Environmental Leadership, The LVAIC Sustainability Conference, Lehigh University (2014).
  • Van Buskirk, B., London, M., Poetry in the Management Curriculum, presented at the Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, University of North Carolina, Asheville (2013).
  • Kushner, R. and London, M., Songs in the Key of M: Music As Management/OB/Business Pedagogy, presented at the Mid-Atlantic Organizational Behavior Conference (2014).
  • Van Buskirk, B., London, M., Poetry As Deep Pedagogy: Organizational Behavior, Strategy And Business Law: An Exploratory Workshop, presented at the Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, Vanderbilt University, Nashville (2014).
  • Van Buskirk, B., London, M., Poetry as Deep Intelligence: An Exploratory Workshop, presented at OBTC, University of NC, Asheville (2013).
  • London, M., Van Buskirk, B., From Metaphor to Practice: Using Our Personal Metaphors to Guide our Teaching, presented at the Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2011).
  • Van Buskirk, B., London, M., Poetry as Deep Intelligence: Implications for the Management Classroom, presented at the Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC (2009).
  • London, M., Van Buskirk, B., Using Poetic Language to Enrich our Teaching and Transform the Classroom. An invited, featured presentation, The Lilly-East Conference on College and University Teaching, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware (2009). 
  • London, M., Van Buskirk, B., The Poetry Wall as a Vehicle for Classroom Transformation, presented at the Lilly-East Conference on College and University Teaching, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware. (2008).
  • Van Buskirk, B., London, M., Practical Poetry: Entrepreneurial Visioning in the Classroom, presented at the Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, Babson College, Wellesley, MA (2008). 
  • London, M., Van Buskirk, B., Exploring Poetry In Management Education, presented at the Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA (2007). 
  • Van Buskirk, W., London, M., Songwriters, Comics, Poets, Clowns and Fiddlers: An Open-Ended Discussion about the Artist Inside the Business School Professor. Presented at the Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, Nazareth College, Rochester, N.Y. (2006).

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