Profile

  • Title:
    Dean of Business and Security Studies, Assistant Professor of Business
  • Department:
    Business and Security Studies

Amir Toosi, D.B.A.

Contact

Background

Dr. Amir Toosi is currently the Dean of the Business and Security Studies Division that oversees the business, homeland and international security, and cybersecurity management programs at Rivier University. Dr. Toosi’s has experience working in both the corporate and higher education fields, where he has served in leadership roles and has taught in traditional, hybrid model, and online classrooms.

In the corporate industry, Dr. Toosi has served as an international and domestic telecommunication consultant in logistics, assembly, and project management; independent consultant in strategic management, operation management, statistical research, and entrepreneurship; and property management at a real estate investment firm. He very well traveled, having visited more than thirty-five states within the United States and has traveled to more than twenty countries in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Dr. Toosi is a member of Academy of Management, The Association of Continuing Higher Education, and served as the Chair and Past Chair for the Scholarly-Practitioner Publication Committee for Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. He is a member of the Board of Trustees for Symphony NH and a Board Director for the United Way of Greater Nashua. He is a past Chair of the Board of Directors for the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as an Ambassador. He chairs the Rivier University Business and Security Studies Advisory Councils and serves on the Nursing, Public Health, and Biotechnology Advisory Councils.

Degrees

  • D.B.A., Argosy University
  • MBA, Heidelberg University
  • B.S., Eastern Illinois University

Academic Philosophy

“My desire to enrich the lives of students and equip them with the skills and knowledge to begin their career journeys motivated me to make this choice within high education industry. I believe an instructor is a facilitator and a subject matter expert of the knowledge and its relationship to market demand, student needs, and the learning capacity of the students. My function in a classroom and in a university environment at large is to serve as an instructional facilitator and a mentor. The primary focus in this role is the student, and providing effective and reflective teaching.

As an instructor of learning we need to be aware that students have different learning styles and come from a variety of academic backgrounds. One teaching method may not be appropriate for all students. Technology-based applications and other methods of instructional delivery may be different for different classes. There are many proven methods and tools available that a faculty member can utilize to best serve group and individual student needs. One method I strongly support is forging partnerships with professionals from local industry, such that they can serve as mentors and/or team members on team projects. This would bring to the learning environment real-world experiences to enrich students understanding of the career paths they are pursuing.

I believe in a curriculum that systematically integrates student’s knowledge gained from different courses and different disciplines into their existing courses and applies that knowledge and experience to the corporate world. I believe students need to be encouraged and given opportunities to extend themselves in applying their knowledge. An on-going formative assessment protocol should be utilized to make any necessary revisions to program curricula, student requirements, and teaching methodologies. I also believe that an instructor’s role is not only limited to effective instructional delivery. In my work experience, I became acutely aware of the critical importance of the administrative and organizational responsibilities an instructor must fulfill to ensure both student and institutional success.

In summary, I believe that students come first. In order to ensure their success, it is critical that they: (1) receive instruction in an appropriate form tailored to their individualized needs; (2) understand the real-world application of the skills and concepts they are learning; (3) are taught in an environment that closely emulates the world of work; and (4) learn from their experience and be able to constantly evaluate, modify, and apply their learning experiences.”

Specialties

  • Entrepreneurship
  • General Management
  • Leadership and Ethics
  • Researching Methods and Decision Making
  • Strategic Management

Recent Publications and Proceedings

  1. Toosi, A. H., Braden, P., & et al. (2016, June). Scholarly Initiatives – Writing, Editing, and Publishing in Business Disciplines. Presented at the ACBSP Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
  2. Toosi, A. H., (2014, October). Win, win, win situation for all stakeholders. Presented at the ACBSP Region 1 Conference, Groton, CT.