Impactful approach to supply chain education earns Scott international acclaim

At a business conference while he was a doctoral student, a seasoned professor told Nehemiah Scott that only research, not teaching, is what matters in academia.

“I immediately disagreed and wanted to prove that statement wrong,” said Scott, who joined Gies Business in 2015 and is now a teaching associate professor of business administration. “From that point forward, I committed myself to demonstrating – every day – the profound impact teaching excellence has on the next generation of leaders.”

Scott’s impact and his philosophy of leading with passion and practicality has earned him the designation of one of the 50 Best Undergraduate Business Professors from Poets&Quants. The award highlights educators who excel in teaching and research, and it recognizes Scott for his exceptional contributions to business education, including transformative teaching and innovative course design.  Scott becomes the 12th Gies Business professor in the last six years to be named to Poets&Quants’ Top 50. Sandra Corredor earned the honor in 2024. Unnati Narang and Min Jung Kim were recognized in 2023. Joseph Mahoney and Dawn Kink earned the nod in 2022.  Aimee Barbeau, Kevin Jackson, and Eric Larson were named to the list for 2021. Mark Wolters, Aravinda Garimella, and Michael Bednar earned the award in 2020.

Making supply chain real and relatable

“Students get more engaged in the material when you make supply chain real and relatable,” said Scott, a former director of the Gies Business supply chain management program. “I teach it by meeting them where they are as individual consumers, tapping into their intuition.”

Victoria Czarnik, a junior in supply chain management and marketing, appreciates how Scott covers so much material in a digestible way by using current examples.

“He made me realize how crucial the supply chain is in our daily lives,” said Czarnik. “He showed me how it could be a fulfilling career where you learn skills that will not only help you succeed in your first job but continuously evolve.”  

“Prof. Scott makes supply chain topics feel alive, tying every concept back to how businesses actually operate and how leaders make decisions in fast-changing environments,” said Jonathon Jacome, a senior in information systems with minor in The Hoeft Technology & Management Program who met Prof. Scott when he was associate dean for undergraduate programs. “As someone interested in technology consulting, I found it inspiring how he emphasized the role of digital tools, data, and innovation in supply chain management. He has helped me see how my major connects to solving real business problems.”

Scott believes that co-creation is critical to the educational experience and seeks to design learning environments that promote active engagement. As an example, one of his favorite in-class activities is a manufacturing game where student teams compete to build a product efficiently – connecting fun to core supply chain and operations concepts.

Scott also gets students out into the field. In partnership with Gies Global, he co-created and now runs a one-week faculty-led immersion to Panama, one of the most strategically important supply chain and logistics hubs in the world. The Panama Canal is one of several sites students visit. Scott has successfully partnered with the Supply Chain Management program to make this experience financially accessible. The immersion gives 15 undergraduate students a first-hand look at the nexus of global trade and distribution.

“Hearing major players there like Maersk and Copa Airlines explain their logistics and the intricacies of their partnerships brought to life the concepts I learned in class,” said Snigdha Jangala (BADM ’25). “I now apply what I’ve learned to my job every day as a contracts procurement agent at Boeing’s assembly factory in Everett, WA.”

Most of the students Scott teaches now were in high school when the pandemic hit. Curiosity about supply chain grew exponentially during this time, and Gies Business worked quickly to establish itself as a thought leader by addressing the global business implications of COVID-19.

In 2020, Gies Business tapped Scott to explain the short- and long-term impacts of supply chain disruptions during the pandemic as part of the College’s COVID-19 global webinar series. Scott distilled the strategic lessons suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, logistics entities, and customers can learn from the crisis and offered advice on future investments. In just 3.5 weeks, Scott also created a complementary Coursera MOOC, Managing Supply Chain Disruption During COVID-19, fulfilling a request made by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Simultaneously, Scott was associate instructor for the Gies iMBA course BADM 567: Operations Management. Through current events discussions, learners located in different parts of the world shared real-time reports of shortages and other supply chain disruption stories unfolding in their respective communities.

“During the pandemic, I came to truly appreciate that what we do in the classroom impacts not only the students, but also their family and friends as they share what they’ve learned about topical issues,” said Scott. “I even had the opportunity to engage with parents who appreciated both the content and my teaching style.”

A path paved by curiosity and family

Scott’s path to becoming a supply chain management professor wasn’t a straight shot. Growing up in Akron, OH, he developed a lifelong curiosity about how things work and come together, prompting him to pursue and earn his undergraduate degree in computer science and engineering technology. He then pivoted to business by pursuing an MBA in Information Systems, where, a professor recognized his teaching potential, pointing to his presentation skills and ability to frame questions in class. Scott also noticed fellow students often reached out to him to distill class content or to help them develop effective presentations.

“I found myself explaining concepts after class and watching my peers actually understand,” said Scott. “I realized I had a skill for teaching that I truly enjoyed.”

Scott then earned a PhD in Manufacturing & Technology Management.

“Being a supply chain professor is special to me for many reasons, including my mom’s encouragement to pursue a PhD and my dad’s 37+ years as a supply chain professional working in sourcing for Goodyear Aerospace, Loral, and Lockheed Martin,” he said.

Since he’s become a professor, Scott contends his responsibility continues to extend beyond classroom instruction. Students approach him for advice on a wide range of topics, from internships to graduate school applications and general life plans.

“He always takes the time to listen and offer thoughtful, practical guidance,” said Jacome. “What stands out is how personal he makes it -- he helps you think through what’s best for you. His mentorship has been a big part of my growth both at Gies and beyond.”

"I tell my students that anything they set their minds to is attainable,” said Scott. “The only thing that sets you back is not trying."