CBA Faculty Spotlight: Melissa Frye

Associate Professor
Department of Finance

Melissa Frye loves to run. She runs marathons, she frequently chases her five year old-daughter (as well as her golden retriever) around the house, and she can often be seen dashing through the halls of the CBA running from one class or meeting to the next. Yet...she makes it look easy and does it all with a smile!

Frye joined UCF in 1999 after earning her Ph.D. from Georgia Tech. She thinks the UCF College of Business Administration stands apart from many other business schools. "I think we have been able to strike the right balance between teaching and research. Our faculty members are committed to being excellent teachers, but at the same time, we have a strong emphasis on research. We are challenged and rewarded to excel in both areas," she said.

She thinks our students benefit from such a dedicated group of faculty members and she offers the following advice to them: "The most important thing you can learn in college is how to think. My job is to challenge you to enhance your analytical and critical thinking skills, so that you can make better decisions. Don't try to memorize steps or formulas to solve problems-instead focus on thinking through the issues. The business world rewards people who can think and make decisions effectively."

Frye thinks being around such great people is the key to our success. "I feel lucky to work with such excellent students and faculty and I look forward to coming to work every day. I can honestly say that I love my job!" she said.

You can learn more about Melissa Frye by visiting her Web site.