Teacher of the Year Andy Brim

Huntsman School of Business 2025 Teacher of the Year and Eldon J. Gardner Utah State University Teacher of the Year

Step off the elevator on the seventh floor of the Eccles Business Building at Utah State University (USU), and you’ll likely be greeted warmly by Andy Brim, PhD. Affectionately referred to as the “seventh floor welcoming committee,” the professional practice assistant professor of data analytics and information systems is known for his kindness — and now officially for what students have long known: his unwavering commitment to their success.

Brim was honored as the 2025 Eldon J. Gardner Utah State University Teacher of the Year, USU’s highest recognition for excellence in teaching. He was also named the Huntsman School of Business Teacher of the Year for his ability to bridge real-world industry practices with academic theory, and to prepare students not only for their first job but for long-term career success. As a teacher and an Analytics Solutions Center (ACS) mentor, Brim is driven by a genuine love for his students.

Brim recently shared insights into his personal journey and professional experiences with Huntsman Business.

Tell us about you!

I’m from Elmhurst, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. I loved growing up there with two incredible parents, my brother and two sisters. My dad worked for a successful options trading firm in Chicago, and that’s where I was exposed to financial markets and trading. Growing up near Chicago, I also loved playing sports, playing percussion in the school band, and drums in my rock band. I also collected reptiles and other animals, which my mom did not really like. I built a fishpond in my backyard and filled it with turtles, frogs, fish, and whatever else I decided to throw in there. There were a lot of kids in my neighborhood, and I spent summers running around barefoot having fun.

What inspired you to attend USU?

My dad is from Midvale, Utah, and we visited for a couple weeks every summer. Visiting Utah was a dream – hanging out with cousins, and camping in the gorgeous mountains made me fall in love with Utah. I knew I wanted to go to college here. I visited USU as a senior in high school and felt in my heart, this was the right place for me. Dr. Ross Petersen, a history professor and legend at USU, recruited out-of-state students to come here. I convinced my best friend Justin to come with me, and we’ve been singing “The Scotsman” ever since.

My wife Camey and I met right after I returned from serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Denver, Colorado. We literally met the first day I got back to Logan, and I thought she was gorgeous! We dated and got married the next summer.

What led you from industry at Bank of America to academia?

After I graduated with an undergrad in computer science from Utah State in 2006, I took a job at Bank of America’s Investment Bank, in the Global Markets and Trading Division. I loved my time at Bank of America’s Investment Bank. I learned a lot about financial markets and how to build trading systems. After eight years there, I decided to shift careers and go back to get a PhD and become a professor. It was a sacrifice, but I’ve always loved teaching, and I wanted to research AI in finance. My wife and I decided to come back to Utah State for graduate school, to pursue a master’s in financial economics and a PhD in computer science. It was hard, but it was also fun and well worth it!

What is your favorite class to teach?

I love both of my classes: DATA 5500 Advanced Python Programming, and DATA 5570 Building Software with Artificial Intelligence, because they both allow me to help students build their computer programming knowledge and skills. When I grade final projects and see the growth of students from the beginning of the semester to the end, it’s really inspiring.

What is your teaching philosophy?

Huntsman School Economics Professor Randy T. Simmons said: "The secret to teaching forever: Love your students. At the end of the day, I think that I am a teacher."

Loving our students is much more than being friendly. It involves hard work on our part to make sure the students are getting the most out of their education. It also requires expecting hard work from our students and guiding them, even correcting them, when they need it. Additionally, it is always near the forefront of my mind that our responsibility includes giving them all the resources and opportunities we can, to ensure their success here at Utah State, and beyond.

What advice do you have for Huntsman Students?

Be part of a community, work hard, learn as much as you can, and always look for opportunities to help and serve others. And of course, Go Aggies!