Understanding What Makes Us Tick

Faculty Spotlight: Patrick McGuigan, DPS, CLU, ChFC, CPCU, FLMI

Management Department

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If you've taken a management class with Professor McGuigan, you've probably been impressed by his strong values and his commitment to helping students grow. Professor McGuigan is a Clinical Professor in the Management Department. His research areas cover management education, innovation, and decision-making processes. He joined Pace 15 years ago. During his tenure he has served as a faculty advisor to a social fraternity and he is a member of the professional fraternity, Delta Sigma.

Why Management?

I find management fascinating because it represents the nexus of all my interests—psychology, economics, risk management, decision making, history, human performance, and personal development.

I like the fact that Lubin students have grit—they are going to do well and be well. Further, I like the two-campus system and teach on both—the students are different and the same.

Why Lubin/Pace?

I am a Pace alumnus and I've learned that it is unusual for schools to hire their own. However, I am so glad to be here all these years later. Also, I like the fact that Lubin students have grit—they are going to do well and be well. Further, I like the two-campus system and teach on both—the students are different and the same.

List research interests/areas.

Decision making, process improvement, performance, and strategy

Why is it important to advance research in this area or these areas?

Human behavior and trying to understand what makes us tick is fascinating to me. It is essential to advance research in these areas because they strike at the core of who we are and determine how happy we will be in life.

What do students learn in your classroom?

I consider myself more of a storyteller than a lecturer; I try to encourage students to think more deeply about their experiences, expectations, and aspirations. Overall, I try to help students understand their why.

Discuss your professional path and its impact on how you teach and what you teach.

I have an extremely varied career—you might say I have been nomadic. I started my professional life with GE and completed their Financial Management Program, so I worked as an accountant. After doing that work for a while, I realized that was not my pond and I moved into financial services and worked in sales, operations, and later started three businesses. I am applied, and everything I teach is practice oriented.

What are some challenges you had to overcome to get to where you are today?

This is a loaded question! Let me say that I dropped out of high school and joined the United States Marine Corps when I was 15 and ended up here, so you can imagine I did not take the traditional route. I have crossed many rivers and forded many streams, and for some reason, tried to avoid the easy way.

Of which triumph are you most proud?

My marriage of 35 years is my most significant source of pride. I have a great partner because we work at it and I harvest the fruits of that labor regularly. It has always been my primary source of stability and I delight in the choice.

What is the single most important lesson you'd like to impart to your students?

You will spend your life trying to figure yourself out, so start now. The journey is not an intellectual one. You have to get on the road and accept responsibility and hardship—all the good stuff is across the river from all the stuff you do not like. Go toward your fears because that is where you'll find all the answers you seek.

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

For me it is all about the students and the endless quest to figure out how to motivate and engage them when they might prefer to be somewhere other than class. I keep trying at any rate, and maybe one day, I will even manage to improve.

Courses Dr. McGuigan teaches:

Business Strategy, Managerial Negotiations, Organizational Behavior, Management Principles, UNV 101, BUS 101, and Entrepreneurship Management