Teaching — Aaron Pagel

Approach

Teaching Philosophy

My teaching is Socratic and case-based. A class session opens with something a student brings in, an observation from the world or a case tied to the last lecture, and new material follows from there. Not everyone participates the same way, so I build in options that do not require thinking on your feet. Most commonly, students write journals applying recent frameworks to something in the news, or send me a link with a short note about why it might interest the class, and I use those to start the discussion. I prioritize group projects presented in class over exams because a presentation shows me how a student reasons through a problem.

“Aaron was a great professor and I enjoyed taking this class. BA minor classes can be boring due to the usual lecture nature, but he kept me engaged and helped me learn in a better way.”

Management: Value through People · Fall 2023

“The instructor spends his time to make sure everyone gets the material being taught. Tied the material to the real world almost always which was real nice.”

Principles of Microeconomics · Spring 2019

“I'm a returning student and taking this course actually caused a change in my major. I believe that change will be for the best and the content of this class will definitely help me as I continue with additional educational plans. The class content and its delivery were engaging and relevant/applicable to the present events in the world.”

Managerial Decision Making · Spring 2020

“I got my money's worth with this class. Numerous takeaways. Most importantly this is somebody to emulate. I felt my vocabulary take better shape than in any other course. His feedback was invaluable.”

Business Strategy - Graduate · Summer 2020

“The instructor was very supportive and approachable throughout the course, which made it easier to stay engaged and ask questions when something wasn’t clear. His willingness to help and provide guidance during class discussions and assignments created a comfortable learning environment that helped me better understand the material and stay motivated.”

Business Strategy and Planning · Winter 2026

Experience

Courses Taught

2026
Eugene, OR

Business Strategy & Planning

University of Oregon, Undergraduate Major Requirement

Project and case-based to teach, review, and practice strategy frameworks.
Required for undergraduates seeking a degree within the business school.
Two in-person sections.

2023
Eugene, OR

Management: Value through People

University of Oregon, Undergraduate Minor Requirement

Introduction to management research and concepts.
Required for undergraduates seeking a minor in business administration.
One in-person section.

2018–2020
Chicago, IL

Business Strategy — Graduate

DePaul University, MBA Concentration Requirement

Case-based course designed to introduce MBA students to strategy frameworks.
Required course for the Business Strategy & Decision-Making concentration.
Two sections — one in-person for the Executive MBA, one online synchronous for part-time MBA students.

2018–2021
Chicago, IL

Business Strategy — Undergraduate

DePaul University, Undergraduate Elective

Modified case-based course introducing undergraduates to strategy topics and frameworks.
Adapted course materials and syllabus from the MBA version with the assistance of a tenured economics professor, replacing Harvard Business School cases with mini-cases from Roadside MBA to trade immersion in an open decision for a clearer view of the framework at work.
Three sections — two in-person, one online hybrid.

2019–2021
Chicago, IL

Managerial Decision-Making

DePaul University, Undergraduate Elective

Introduction to behavioral economic concepts.
Developed course outline and syllabus with Professor Rafael Tenorio, organized around four decision-making heuristics, the biases that arise within each, and how to account for them in students' own judgments.
Two online hybrid sections.

2018–2020
Chicago, IL

Principles of Microeconomics

DePaul University, Undergraduate Requirement

Introduction to microeconomics required to major in economics.
Five in-person sections.

2018–2019
Various

Introduction to Strategy

NewSpace Business Plan Competition

Presented introductory strategy frameworks and considerations to entrepreneurs of space start-ups as part of a business plan competition.

Strategy in the Classroom