Teaching Profile: Mary Cianni
- Rina Deshpande
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Preparing future professionals with generative AI and real-world case studies
Clinical Associate Professor
Division of Programs in Business
Nexus: What do you teach?
Mary: I teach several graduate courses at NYU SPS, including Immersion Fundamentals Residency, Consulting Practices, Special Topics in Project Management, and a new course called Consulting Skills for Business Transformation.
Nexus: What teaching practice, activity, or technology do your students benefit from the most?
Mary: Currently, I am focused on integrating generative AI into course assignments and learning experiences. My intention is to prepare students for ethical, innovative use of AI in their future professions.
For example, at the conclusion of a case project, student teams assess how using AI tools such as Gemini and NotebookLM enhanced the efficiency, effectiveness, and accuracy of their assignment. It is important that students understand how consulting firms are utilizing different generative AI tools from an ethical and practical perspective.
During the Fall 2024 semester, I hosted an open forum for students with the heads of AI strategy in several consulting firms to share updates on AI development and global impact.
AI is also helping me improve my rubric development skills as a professor. I provide it with information about assignments, and it generates ideas to consider for evaluating student submissions.
Nexus: What best practices in teaching might you recommend to faculty?
Mary: My recommendation to faculty is to approximate real-world skills in their courses by integrating the following:
Case-based Learning: Construct the class in a way that mirrors what students will encounter in the workplace, including case studies and simulations that include common industry challenges and misconceptions.
Self-Efficacy: Enhance student self-efficacy by encouraging students to reflect periodically during their coursework using exit tickets and self-reflection surveys. These tools encourage students to assess their own progress, fostering personal growth and metacognition skills.
Professional Interactions: I moderate a series at SPS called ‘Dr. Mary & Friends,’ which features different types of consulting professionals. To date, over 50 guests have participated. These sessions give students real-world insight into consulting, the chance to ask for advice, and to build their LinkedIn Network.
Toolkits: Create a toolkit that students can take into their jobs. For example, I designed a consulting lab book which includes tools and templates for each phase of a consulting project. Alumni tell me they still use it as a resource!
The closer we can emulate the profession, the greater the value for students.
Nexus: Do you have any testimonials or feedback from your students about their experience that you can share with us?
Mary: My students’ feedback helps me provide them learner-centered instruction and improve my teaching practice:
“I really loved the session on Artificial Intelligence. Both guest speakers and Dr. Mary 's facilitation gave us a great opportunity to learn so much about the topics.”
“Dr. Mary not only teaches us, but she makes us feel heard. This in turn helps us build confidence. Dr. Mary goes above and beyond as a professor. With her series ‘Dr. Mary and Friends,’ she brings in her colleagues from the industry which is a great benefit for us...”
“Dr. Mary is a great instructor and facilitator. She comes in with a great level of academic and practical experience. All were put into great efforts in facilitating the consulting course and instigating a wealth of discussions.”
Nexus: What was your favorite class when you were a student?
Mary: I took an elective undergraduate course in Experimental Psychology that transformed my career aspirations. I fell in love with the research process: writing literature reviews, conducting experiments, and analyzing data. This gave me the confidence to pursue graduate degrees in the field and to lead my own research.
Nexus: What's a surprising fact about you that your students might not know?
Mary: My brothers and I recently bought my great aunt’s house in Italy where my grandfather was born. He was the only one in his family to leave Italy for the United States. This home provides a place for me to connect with my Italian roots and family, including learning to speak Italian and acclimating to the culture. These experiences led me to develop a LinkedIn series called Change Lessons from My Part-Time Italian Life.
Bio:
Dr. Mary Cianni is a Clinical Associate Professor of Human Capital Management in the Division of Programs in Business at NYU SPS, where she has been teaching since 2020. She holds a doctorate in Psychology from Penn State University.
In 2024, Dr. Cianni was honored with the NYU SPS Teaching Excellence Award.
Learn more and connect with Professor Cianni via the NYU SPS Faculty Directory and on LinkedIn.
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