Distinguished Faculty: Sasser recognized for creative research in business, marketing arenas

Business and creativity have always happily co-existed in Sheila Sasser's world.

Her dad, adamant about education, used to pay her $1 for every "A" on her report card. Her teachers, determined to channel her gifts toward good rather than mischief, used to give her special projects when she finished her schoolwork early.

CREATIVE MARKETING: (above, from left) Sheila Sasser, assistant professor of marketing and integrated marketing communications (IMC) in EMU's College of Business, discusses a marketing project with students Brett Eckert and Jessica Novak. Sasser was recently named the Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Award winner in the Research I category.

Build Easter baskets; create a window display; write a paper on Shakespeare. Just stay out of trouble.

Sasser has been busy ever since.

Apply an MBA to that creative and mischievous mind, and you get an Eastern Michigan assistant professor who is, in the words of her department head, "on the fast track to greatness."

"She's very dynamic and motivated and energetic," said Anne Balazs, EMU's marketing department head. "She's got a huge amount of energy, and she's very giving and generous with her time... There are nights she spends here. She might as well move in."

Sasser, the 2009 Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Award winner for Research I (up to 4 years of experience), teaches advertising and integrated marketing communications (IMC) in EMU's College of Business. And she is one of the most cited scholars in the world when it comes to creativity research.

"She juggles a lot of things and manages to do them all well," Balazs said, "Her classes benefit from all her connections and experience, and she brings that to class every day."

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