If you ask Google what makes a great assistant professor, its AI Overview will tell you it’s someone who demonstrates a strong balance between effective teaching, impactful research and positive engagement with colleagues and students. Perhaps this very definition is the goal that inspires early academics to apply for the Paul R. Lawrence Fellowship, where fellows are trained in case research, writing and teaching.    

One of this year’s fellows is Mithila Guha, a second-year assistant professor of marketing in San José State University’s Lucas College of Business (LCoB) and the first recipient to hail from SJSU. Guha first learned about the fellowship through a LinkedIn post which led her to research the unique opportunity. Considering she had always wanted to enhance her ability to teach and write case studies effectively, she was convinced to apply. 

“My teaching pedagogy frequently incorporates case studies to engage students with real-world scenarios,” Guha said. “This fellowship presented a perfect opportunity to learn from experienced mentors on how to craft and utilize case studies more effectively in the classroom.”

The programming for the fellowship spanned October 17-19, 2024, during which time Guha was able to engage in specialized sessions and mentorship activities followed by the North American Case Research Association (NACRA) conference. She was quick to point out that its impact will extend far beyond the mentorship and the knowledge gained.

“[The fellowship] stands out because it directly addresses the challenges of writing impactful case studies and integrating them into pedagogy, which is an area many traditional fellowships overlook,” Guha said. “Additionally, being paired with a senior mentor throughout the NACRA conference adds immense value by offering personalized learning and networking opportunities.” 

As it turns out, Guha’s mentor for the conference was Anne Lawrence, professor emerita of the LCoB’s School of Management, who taught for 30 years and whose father the fellowship is named after.

“My father, Paul R. Lawrence, was on the faculty of the Harvard Business School for 40 years,” Lawrence said. “He was a case author, teacher, and champion of the case method.”

Following in his footsteps, Lawrence became a professor and a case writer. She also served in many offices for NACRA, including the presidency. The Case Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization, was incorporated as an affiliate of NACRA in 2014 and the first Paul R. Lawrence fellowships were offered in 2015. To date, they have given 92. 

“After my father passed away in 2011, I decided that a wonderful way to honor his professional legacy would be to set up a foundation to provide fellowships to doctoral students and early career faculty to train them in the case method of teaching and research,” Lawrence shared.

The mentorship experience, according to Guha, has been an enriching and rewarding one. Unlike many academic fellowships that focus solely on research, she said this one combines mentorship with practical application, specifically tailored to case research and teaching. 

“Anne’s commitment to fostering new talent in case research and writing is evident in her mentorship through this fellowship,” Guha said. “Although I didn’t know her personally before being awarded the fellowship, learning about her career and family legacy has been incredibly inspiring.”

On Lawrence’s end, she was thrilled that they received an application from such a talented early-career scholar from the institution where she built her career.  

“It was a delight to work with Mithila,” Lawrence said. “Her enthusiasm for the case method and for crafting compelling cases both for peer-reviewed publication and for her own students’ use was very gratifying to see.”

Guha noted that the skills and network she has gained from being a fellow will not only enhance her ability to inspire students, but also strengthen her research profile in the field of marketing and business education. 

About being the first in the LCoB to be a Paul R. Lawrence fellow, she remarked, “It’s an honor to represent LCOB and continue its tradition of excellence.” 

Dr. Mithila Guha with Dr. Anne Lawrence.

Lucas College and Graduate School of Business faculty, staff, students and alumni consistently make a significant impact in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Many graduates have gone on to excel in various industries, with a notable presence in Silicon Valley. These organizations recognize and value the exceptional education and skills our alumni bring to their roles, making San José State University a key contributor to the region’s thriving economy. We offer MBA, PMBA, MSFA, MSAA, MST and MSTM degrees at the graduate level and 14 different BSBA concentrations at the undergraduate level, the largest set of offerings among the CSUs. These include accounting, accounting information systems, business analytics, corporate accounting & finance, entrepreneurship, finance, general business, hospitality, tourism, & event management, human resources management, international business, management, management information systems, marketing, and operations & supply chain management.