Virginia Tech® home

Michael Enz

Director of Professional Development, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and AAEC Instructor
Enz headshot
Torgersen Hall, STE 3080D (0453)
620 Drillfield
Blacksburg, VA 24061
enzmichael@vt.edu
540-231-7930

I am the Director of Professional Development for the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Virginia Tech. In this role, I help foster the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of learner-centered instruction, support the scholarship of teaching and learning, and advocate for a learning environment that values educating the whole student.

Prior to joining Virginia Tech, I taught undergraduate economics, interdisciplinary, and MBA courses for 25 years in Oregon, Massachusetts, and Virginia. During this time, I earned teaching awards at the University of Oregon, Framingham State University, and Cengage’s Best in Class Award. My research focuses on the science of learning and the teaching of economics.

Expertise:

  • Teaching economics and the science of learning

Education:

  • Ph.D., University of Oregon, Economics, Fields – Industrial Organization, Game Theory, and Applied Econometrics, 2003
  • M.S., University of Oregon, Economics, 1999
  • B.S., University of Puget Sound, Economics, Minor – Mathematics, 1996

Courses Taught at Virginia Tech

  • AAEC 1006 Economics of the Food and Fiber System

Courses taught elsewhere

  • Principles of Microeconomics
  • Principles of Macroeconomics
  • Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
  • Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
  • Issue in Industrial Organization
  • Money and Banking
  • Game Theory
  • Mathematical Economics
  • International Trade and Finance
  • Sports Economics
  • Environmental Economics
  • Fed Challenge
  • Business and the Global Environment
  • Economic Issues of the Presidential Election
  • Principles of Quantitative Economics
  • Football: America’s New Favorite Pastime
  • The American Dream
  • Quantitative Economics and Business
  • The Changing Social, Political, Legal, and Ethical Environment of Business (MBA)
  • Economic Analysis (MBA)
  • Economic Environment of the Firm (MBA)

  • Director of Professional Development, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Virginia Tech, 2023 – present
  • Instructor, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Virginia Tech, 2025 – present
  • Associate Professor, Department of Economics and Business Administration, Roanoke College, 2021 – 2023
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and Business Administration, Roanoke College, 2017 – 2021
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and Business Administration, Roanoke College, 2014 – 2017
  • Associate Professor, Department of Economics and Business Administration, Framingham State University, 2014 – 2016
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and Business Administration, Framingham State University, 2008 – 2014
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Bentley University, 2009 – 2013
  • Assistant Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, Western New England University, 2003 – 2008
  • Visiting Lecturer, Department of Economics, Willamette University, 2003
  • Graduate Teaching Fellow, Department of Economics, University of Oregon, 1996 – 2002 

First Place “Best In Class Award”, National Economics Teaching Association, 2014

Cindy Santomassimo Faculty Member of the Year, Framingham State University Student Government Association, 2010

Graduate Student Teaching Award, Department of Economics, University of Oregon, June 2000

Graduate Student Teaching Award, Department of Economics, University of Oregon, June 2001

  • Enz, M. (2024). Making learning stick in online education. Teaching Economics Online, 18–31. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781803921983.00011
  • Enz, M. and Kassens, A. (2022), “Powerful Teaching Tools: Student Perception of Economics Videos.” Journal of Economics Teaching, Volume 7, Issue 2, Pages 122 – 129.
  • Enz, M. (2021), “Moving the Science of Learning from Face-to-Face to Online.” Journal of Economics Teaching, Volume 5, Issue 4, Pages 171 – 177. 
  • Kassens, A. and Enz, M. (2018), “Chasing Economic Knowledge: Using an Economics Themed Scavenger Hunt to Learn and Build Comradery.” Journal of Economics and Economic Education Research, Volume 19, Issue 4.
  • Enz, M. and Kassens, A. (2016), “Using Twitter to Improve Student Writing.” Journal of Economics and Finance Education, Volume 15, Number 2, Pages 72 - 77. 
  • Enz, M. (2016), “Teaching the Production Function Using Fast Food Royalty.” Journal of Economics and Finance Education, Volume 15, Number 3, Pages 12 – 14. 
  • Enz, M. and Tierney, J. (2016), “Advice on Implementing Supplemental Instruction in an Introductory Level Economics Course.” Journal of Economics Teaching. Volume 1, Number 2, Pages 111 – 117.
  • Enz, M. (2015), “Recognizing Cognitive Errors: Reducing Irrationality in the Teaching and Learning of Economics.” Virginia Economic Journal, Pages 61-68.
  • Enz, M. and Walker, S. (2006). “The Impact of Professional Sports on the Local Economy,” Western New England Law Review, Volume 29, Issue 1, Pages 149 – 163.
curriculum vitae