Article by Linda Relyea
By ten after 8 in the morning, Dr. Linda Reid has gone over half a dozen formulas and reviewed the study guide with her Adams State University business students. More than once she asked, "What time is the exam? Remember to come in early and read your study guide to prepare."
"Linda always has a smile on her face," said Angela Prentiss, Adams State alumna ’16. "For us students, it is the little things that brighten our day."
Dressed in a black jacket, with a feathered trim, rhinestones decorate her glasses frames; jeweled rings adorn her manicured fingers. Reid always dresses with a keen fashion sense but presents no aloof mannerisms. She shows genuine concern for her students and welcomes feedback. "Students are our number one priority."
A basket of mini-chocolate bars supply students with a little energy boost and she keeps them engaged and interested as she clarifies expectations. She genuinely wants her students to succeed and often says, "Put that down," cueing students to write what she just covered.
Adams State alumna Pamela (Bond) Klecker ’10 said Reid teaches students to focus on the essentials and not sweat the small stuff. "She always drove home the major points, topics, concerns, etc. as applicable to the business world you would be entering. She taught you to be practical and relevant in a very big business world."
Dream come true
Reid fulfilled her childhood goal of becoming a teacher when she accepted the position in the Adams State University School of Business in 1997. "I am proud to be teaching at a Hispanic Serving Institution with many first generation students. It is a privilege to teach these students." She received emeritus professor of business this spring.
Her students have reaped the benefits. "Linda is a people person and has always been great at relating to her students," Prentiss said. "She truly cares about her students and will go the extra mile to make sure they succeed."
Small classroom size, close interaction with students, Adams State’s dedication to diversity, and her colleagues – Reid has "loved" her job. "ASU and the School of Business gave me the opportunity to fulfill my lifelong dream of teaching."
According to Prentiss, Reid knows how to motivate her students. "Not only does Linda excel regarding classroom content, but Linda also makes her classes fun. She uses humor to help keep students engaged during long lectures and adjusts her style to fit the needs of the class."
Reid has taught undergraduate classes, extended campus classes, workshops and MBA online courses. Her specialties include Fraud/Forensic Accounting and Leadership Management. She teaches courses in advanced management, fraud examination, business law, computer applications, intro to accounting, business statistics, leadership skills for managers, as well as a variety of other business courses.
"She is always there to give help and offer encouragement to a struggling student," Prentiss added. "Linda loves what she does and it definitely comes across in the way she teaches. Her passion and love for teaching makes a difference in the lives of students daily."
Her office space reflects Dr. Linda Reid’s colorful personality and sense of fun, which students appreciate, especially in the classroom.
Fellow faculty member and Adams State alumna Dr. Patricia Robbins ’93 ’96, associate professor of business, said for Reid, it is all about the students. "Linda will often say that we are not in the classroom to impress students with our knowledge and credentials or intimidate with an academic vocabulary. We are there to build rapport and present course content so it is understandable and applicable in the real world."
A good friend and mentor, Carl Coolbaugh, Adams State emeritus professor of business, encouraged Reid to apply at Adams State. "I wanted to see students light up and get as excited as I was about business," she said. "Nothing is more rewarding than watching students grasp a subject and embrace it."
Prentiss said Reid provided students with the knowledge and courage they needed to succeed. "She has forever changed the lives of so many students for the better and she will always have a place in our hearts."
Success means more than a paycheck. "We want our students to exhibit leadership citizenship," Reid said. "Developing leadership skills involves building civic and social responsibilities."
And leadership can be learned. "Many believe that leadership is the province of extraordinary individuals and the unique attributes of such individuals are inherited or genetic," Reid added. According to Transformational Leadership theories, leadership is a behavioral process capable of being learned and managed.
Reid leads through example. "She inspires students and helps to empower them so they can lead as well," Prentiss said.
Real world experience
Before coming to Adams State, Reid worked as interim director of the Small Business Development Center, in Alamosa, and was an assistant brewmaster for Stroh’s Brewing Company in Winston-Salem, NC. "The School of Business is a diverse group of faculty that bring years of experience with them," Reid said. "These years of experience provide students learning opportunities that go far beyond their textbooks."
The students recognize this value. "Linda brings in her relevant past experiences to help students understand how organizations and the workplace should or should not function," Prentiss said. "Linda’s real-world experience provides students with a readiness and confidence to face those real-world problems themselves."
Klecker admires Reid as a mentor and professor. "She led by example in the business world, but more importantly in life, in cultivating relationships with people." Reid encourages her students to relate to and work with people successfully. "She just loves people. This is manifest in the relationships she has in the classroom and beyond with students. We knew she genuinely cared about each of us. I am blessed not only to call her my teacher, but also my friend."
Reid earned a D.B.A. from Nova Southeastern University, in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., completing her dissertation on The Relationship between Strategic Management and Presidential Leadership in Selected Colorado State-Supported and Private Institutions in Higher Education; she received a Master of Business Administration from Wake Forest University; and two Bachelor of Science degrees one from Colorado State University and, in 1996, one from Adams State.
Awards and memberships
Her commitment to her profession has been reflected in awards received, most recently, the M-PBEA 2016 College/University Business Educator of the Year. Others include the Adams State Excellence in Student Centered Instruction, 2011; Colorado Society of CPAs Golden Key Award, 1996; ASC Academic Scholarship, 1996; and ASC Outstanding Business and Accounting Awards, 1996.
"Being ready for the professional world goes beyond following all the correct techniques and knowing how to succeed; it comes down to being ready with a strong character that will help one make the right decisions," Prentiss said. "Linda Reid is someone who helps students prepare for the professional world, not just with the concepts she teaches in her classes, but in the way she leads and cares for others."
Reid has been the Phi Beta Lambda sponsor since 1997, and, since 2011, has served as the vice president of Sigma Beta Delta. She was an Adams State Faculty Senator from 2001-2003; 2007-2008, and 2011. Along with being involved in campus committees and clubs, she accepted a position on the Board of Directors for the SLV Cancer Relief Fund, in 2001 and continues to serve on the board.
She holds memberships in the Colorado Society of CPAs, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners International, and the American College of Forensic Examiners International. Along with being a Certified Public Accountant, Reid is also a Certified Associate Business Manager.
Reid is married and has two stepchildren and five grandchildren. She will continue teaching at Adams State next year, as she transitions into retirement. Her goals after retirement include taking Road Scholar Trips, both domestically and abroad and visiting many National Parks in the United States.
