S. Michael Sexton III

BBA: University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
MBA: University of North Texas, Denton, Texas

BIOGRAPHY

Mr. Sexton joined UNT in 1999 as an adjunct, was promoted to instructor (1999), Lecturer (2001), and Senior Lecturer (2006). Today, he is a Master Teacher and Principal Lecturer (2020) in the Department of Management. He worked in retail operations for eighteen years (seven years as a buyer) and managed a family office for five years. Though the majority of his Industry experience is in Operations and Marketing, his degrees are in Human Resource Management. Mr. Sexton teaches twelve (12) different courses to include Managing the Business Enterprise, Business Policy, Family Entrepreneurship, Foundations of Entrepreneurship, Honors Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, Advanced Entrepreneurship, Advanced Business Planning, International Management, Management Concepts, Communicating in Business, and Special Problems in Management.  

INSTRUCTIONAL PHILOSOPHY

Classrooms offer unique opportunities for growth.  For students, individual perspectives can be refined. For instructors, it can be a stimulating environment consisting of innovative ways to share knowledge. As an instructor, I work to capitalize on the opportunities available within the learning environment. I am conscious to ensure that each student ends the semester with an enhanced perspective of the content and a greater appreciation for the value of learning.  Underlying my intention to make the most of each class meeting are three core goals: (1) to promote a positive learning environment for all students, (2) to prepare students for work by shortening the learning curve, and (3) to provide a foundation that stimulates a passion for lifelong learning.

INSTRUCTIONAL INNOVATION

Mr. Sexton has taught right at 12,929+ students at UNT. He is comfortable with large face-to-face and online classes while interacting with students, mixing lecture modes, and treating all with respect and dignity, while maintaining high standards and order. In 2001, he began designing, creating, and delivering on-line (web- based) content using WebCT Campus Edition©, WebCT Vista©, Blackboard Vista©, Blackboard Learn©, and Canvas© Learning Management Systems (LMS) platforms. He was one of the first instructors at UNT to incorporate video conferencing technology and multiple locations (3) broadcasting into classrooms. Out of fairness, he alternated broadcast locations to provide all students face-to-face time with the instructor.

Mr. Sexton regularly uses Turning-point Technologies (clickers), Skype© and Zoom© classroom conferencing, Story Board exercises for problem identification and product innovation, “Flipping the Classroom” since 2001, and has required Pecha Kucha presentations in the classroom since 2009. He recently taught freshmen students in the BUSI 1340 Managing the Business Enterprise course as part of the University’s discovery core. BUSI 1340 courses sections regularly reach near 200 students each.

CURRICULIUM INNOVATION

Mr. Sexton has influenced pedagogy and course design in the areas of Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, Strategy Integration, Management Concepts, Business Communication, and Family Business. He seeks out best practices, implements changes quickly, and provides resources for others. He holds copyrights on dozens of illustrations and diagrams, written several case studies for class use, illustrated a Business Communication textbook, and designed the Family Business and Build a Business courses from scratch. Mr. Sexton has completed dozens of course revisions, both for face-to-face and on-line delivery.

Mr. Sexton worked with Dr. Anat Barnir in Management to completely revise the Entrepreneurship degree program and courses offerings. The new degree program will be called ‘Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Management’. Two course revisions and a new course appeared in the 2020-2021 catalog. These complement MGMT 4235 Social Entrepreneurship and MGMT 4710 Family Entrepreneurship courses.

The MGMT 3850 Foundations in Entrepreneurship and MGMT 4100 Advanced Business Planning for Entrepreneurs have been revised. MGMT 4100 Advanced Business Planning is the new Practicum in Entrepreneurship and focuses on specific skill sets. These changes will provide a more direct path while mapping on to State reporting requirements.  

MENTORING AND COACHING

Mr. Sexton has mentored 30+ new UNT faculty members as part of the Provost’s initiative. He is currently mentoring three (3) faculty in the College of Business. Mr. Sexton has mentored 1000’s of undergraduate students, supervised 17+ doctoral students and new faculty learning to teach.

He has provided oversight of MGMT 3820 Management Concepts since 2008, MGMT 3850 Entrepreneurship since 2013, and MGMT 4660 International Perspectives since 2022. This entails establishing course goals and objectives, syllabi templates and course schedules, textbook selection, creating grading rubrics, and meeting with doctoral students and new faculty on a regular basis. He works to resolve on-line delivery specific issues as they arise. Mr. Sexton also conducted a seminar on “On-line Course Delivery Assessment and Security” for the College of Business in August 2014.

Mr. Sexton has conducted Entrepreneurship workshops for 400+ students at Dallas Hillcrest High School and Dallas Lincoln High School Career Center. He works closely with the Professional Leadership Program in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business and is currently mentoring several undergraduate students on special projects.

STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS

Since 2008, Mr. Sexton has specialized in student study abroad programs to Europe, Asia, Central America, South America, and the Mediterranean. Programs center on the idea of an International Business trip with the purpose of introducing students to corporate leaders of International firms to discuss global strategy and marketing, define customer value proposition, and measure value-chain activities.

Training tends to be short term, while development infers lifelong learning. This is why we teach life and soft skills while on the road. Many students have not traveled abroad, taken care of their own wellbeing, or have practiced making presentations. In addition, students learn to use public transit, personal security, how to access and use money, proper dietary and health practices, and how to dress professionally. In short, we get students ready for work.

Mr. Sexton has led 13 programs (22 Countries) with 263 students benefiting from life lessons learned while traveling abroad. Many programs take 15-18 months from start to finish in terms of investigation, paperwork, contracting, site selection, negotiating with host firms, recruiting, and after-action reports. Though a labor far beyond normal classroom teaching, he enjoys helping students transform into mature professionals through these programs.    

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Mr. Sexton’s outside activities include consulting with small and medium enterprises (SME's), agribusinesses, and non-profit organizations in the areas of corporate and SBU strategy, human resource planning, policies and procedures, branding and organizational communication (including social media). He has worked with the City of Seagoville, Texas on strategic direction, capital improvements, and tax base planning. Mr. Sexton has also worked with the City of Denton, Texas employees in the areas of business writing and communication. Additionally, he has worked with the Combined Law Enforcement Agencies of Texas (CLEAT) in providing survey design and interpretation services for law enforcement agencies.

Mr. Sexton’s other activities include producing audio recordings (voice-over's) for promotional videos (AACSB video for College of Business), educational programs, documentaries, and the UNT Police Department. He tutors junior high and high school students in arithmetic, algebra, and geometry free of charge.  

FACULTY ADVISOR

Mr. Sexton is the past faculty advisor to the NTent Entrepreneurship Student Group. Previously, he was the co-sponsor of the Entrepreneurship and Family Business Club along with Dr. Christopher Penney and Dr. Elizabeth Struckell. He was the faculty advisor for the student Family Business Initiative for Entrepreneurship (FBIE) Club as part of the wider initiative in the College of Business (2014 – 2015). The group is active in the Denton community and co-sponsors networking events. He was formally the advisor for the Students In Free Enterprise/ ENACTUS (SIFE) organization (2007 – 2014). The SIFE/ ENACTUS team competed at the regional event in March 2012, taking second place in league and “Rookie of the Year” honors. The UNT team advanced to the national competition in May (Kansas City, Mo.) and were awarded “National Rookie of the Year 2012.” Additionally, he has been the sponsor of UNT Primal Parkour student group since 2013.

MEMBERSHIPS

Mr. Sexton is a member of the UNT Entrepreneurship Committee, UNT Family Business Committee, the Academy of Management (AOM), the Southern Management Association (SMA), the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE), the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Texas Farm Bureau, and Beta Gamma Sigma (national scholastic honor society). Previously, he was a member of the Family Firm Institute (FFI) for UNT. He and wife Harriet are members of St. John the Apostle, United Methodist Church in Arlington, Texas. He is a past/ current chair the Staff Parish Relations committee.  

AWARDS, NOMINATIONS, AND HONORS

• 2021 Outstanding Service Award in Management
• 2019 Award for supporting UNT Sports and Student Athletes
• 2019 Awarded University Foundation Outstanding Lecturer of the Year Award
• 2019 Nomination College Innovation in Teaching Award
• 2016 Awarded Teacher of the Year - Management
• 2015 Nomination University Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award
• 2015 - 2018 Nomination University Foundation Outstanding Lecturer of the Year Award
• 2015 - 2017 Nominated University J. H. Shelton Excellence in Teaching Award
• 2010 Awarded Educator of the Year – Management
• 2010 University Citation of Distinguished Service Contribution to International Education
• 2006 Awarded University Outstanding Online Teacher / Course of the Year
• 2007 - 2014 Awarded Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow
• 2001 - 2002 Awarded Outstanding Teaching Award: Council of Business Students

DEPARTMENT, COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY APPOINTMENTS

• 2024 - 2025 Member, MGMT ENT Program Taskforce
• 2024 - 2025 Member, MGMT Chair Search Committee
• 2024 - 2025 Member, UNT Committee on Charter and Bylaws 
• 2024 - 2025 Member, MGMT New Faculty Screening Committee
• 2023 - 2025 Coordinator, MGMT New Faculty Assimilation 
• 2024 - 2025 Member, RCOB Undergraduate Student Research Committee
• 2024 - 2025 Chair, UNT Committee on Faculty Salaries
• 2022 - 2024 Member, UNT Committee on Faculty Salaries
• 2022 - 2023 Member, UNT Committee on Parking and Transportation
• 2020 Promoted to Principal Lecturer in the College of Business
• 2008 - 2025 Course Coordinator MGMT 3820
• 2013 - 2025 Course Coordinator MGMT 3850
• 2022 - 2025 Course Coordinator MGMT 4660
• 2003 - 2025 Graduation Announcer
• 2001 - 2025 Entrepreneurship/ Strategy Group Member, College of Business
• 2006 - 2023 Faculty Advisor to the Entrepreneurship Student Group
• 2016 - 2026 Senator, University Faculty Senate (First Lecturer elected from RCOB)
• 2018 - 2022 Member, Committee on Faculty Governance
• 2018 - 2022 Member, Committee to Evaluate Administrators
• 2016 - 2019 Director, Management Study Abroad Programs
• 2016 - 2025 Chair, Management Scholarship Committee
• 2016 – 2021 Member, RCOB Scholarship Committee
• 2015 – 2019 University New Faculty Success Mentor (Provost Office)
• 2013 - 2016 University Study Abroad Programs Committee
• 2013 - 2016 University China Advisory Council (CAC)
• 2014 - 2016 UNT CAC Academic Programs and Study Abroad Sub-committee
• 2014 Texas Academy of Math and Science (TAMS) Dean Search Committee
• 2013 - 2016 Management Scholarship Committee Member
• 2007 - 2009 Director, UNT Small Business Institute
• 2007 - 2008 Associate Director, Murphy Center for Entrepreneurship
• 2004 - 2005 Coordinator, iMBA Program College of Business

INTELLECTUAL CONTRIBUTIONS

• Medina-Cravens, M.N., Davis, S.E., Sexton, S.M., and Cooper, D. (2020). Connecting with New Business Students: The Role of Socialization and Core Self-Evaluations in University Identification. Accepted for publication in the Journal of Studies in Higher Education.
• Medina, M.N., Ostermeier, K., Cooper, D., Hancock, J., Sexton, S.M., and Chen, V. (2017). An Exploratory Investigation of Authenticity in Student Teams. Accepted for presentation at the Southern Management Association conference 2017.
• Medina, M.N., Cooper, D., and Sexton, S.M. (NA). The Role of Socialization and Core Self-Evaluations in University Organizational Identification. Work in progress for submission to the Journal of the Academy of Management.           
• Medina, M.N., Cooper, D., and Sexton, S.M. (2016). Developing a Connection with New Undergraduate Business Students: The Role of Socialization and Core Self-Evaluations in University Organizational Identification. Accepted for presentation at the Academy of Management conference 2016.
• Chandler, J., Cooper, D., Peake, W.O., Sexton, S.M. (na) The Candy Shop Family Business Case. Work in progress.
• Insley, R. G. (2010).  Communicating in Business in the 21 st. Century. Boston, MA.:  Pearson Custom Publishing. Models and diagrams created by S.M. Sexton.  
• Insley, R. G. (2008).  Communicating In Business in the 21st. Century. Boston, MA:  Pearson Custom Publishing. Models and diagrams created by S.M. Sexton.  

FEATURED IN MEDIA

Dallas Morning News (September 7, 2014). When it’s all in the Family. Featuring our MGMT 3810 Family Business course and case.

 D Magazine Online. In support of the Family Business course and Family Business Initiative breakfast.

Prosper Press Online. In support of the Family Business course and Family Initiative breakfast.