Bevalee Pray compares herself to country music: "down home and true to life."  And those are the characteristics that make the Assistant Professor and Chair of the McAfee School of Business Administration a hit with Union University students.  They describe her as genuine, real and fun loving.

"They [students] are always lined up at her office," observes Don Lester, Dean of the McAfee School of Business Administration. "Clearly she's popular with the students, and it's because she's able to show them thatshe is genuinely concerned about their success inside and outside the classroom."

Building those types of relationships isn't an easy task. "It's simple to go into the classroom, give a lecture and leave," Pray says. "But I just can't do that."

As a doctoral student at The University of Memphis, Pray began teaching at Union part time in 1991. "Immediately I fell in love with the students," she fondly remembers. And it was that love that brought her to Union as a member of the faculty in 1994.

Pray remembers one of the first Union students she met. "We became buddies immediately," Pray explains. Ashley Worrell ('96), who now works in the Information Systems Department at Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, Tenn., was a freshman at the time. "She gave me a glimpse of who I wanted to be," Worrell recalls. "She was young enough to really relate to students but mature enough that we respected her." Since Worrell graduated, they continue to stay in touch via regular e-mail messages, telephone calls and visits.

Pray isn't afraid to become vulnerable to her students by telling them where she has made mistakes in hopes that it might help her students avoid the same ones. "She made you feel comfortable because she was able to laugh at herself and encouraged you to do the same," Worrell says.

"It's imperative to know why you're here," Pray says. "I'm here for the students. I've always told myself that if I'm only in academia because of my love for the discipline, I should be at a state school. But I'm here to share my love for the discipline with my students and I need to be at Union."

While visiting with two MBA students at Porter Cable, Jackson, Tenn., Pray sees management principles in practice while touring the plant.

Pray, who has taught undergraduate and graduate courses, admits that she's partial to the Master of Business Administration courses. "Those students take life more seriously. They are out there practicing what we're talking about in the classroom," she said. It's those students who continue to expand Pray's horizons because "they have the guts to say 'that's not how it is'."

"That makes me feel good that they feel comfortable opening up and telling me how it really works in their workplace," Pray says. "It helps keep me sharp." Whether discussing a classic managerial style or a new model for employee motivation, the MBA students can provide new insight and application. "In those classes, I see myself as more of a facilitator of ideas," Pray explains. "For me to be an effective professor, I have to be sharp, have an understanding of the discipline and know how it's applied. Students make that happen."

Recognizing the importance of students, Pray incorporates at least a 15-minute meeting outside of class with each of her students. "That's a time when I can really get to know them," she explains. As the director of the internship program, Pray uses her meetings with undergraduates to explore their interests and personal objectives for the future. Graduate students, on the other hand, are usually already employed. Pray typically meets her MBA students at their workplace for a tour followed by lunch.

"It really was great when she came out [to the plant] and learned about our workplace," Jeff Stockdale said. "It shows that she's genuinely interested in learning what does and doesn't work in the 'real world'." Stockdale is the Production Stores Supervisor at Porter Cable in Jackson and a former MBA student of Pray.

Rick Tillman, Manager of Manufacturing Systems at Porter Cable and another MBA student, recalls how accessible Pray was to his class. "Dr. Pray, like the rest of the MBA faculty, is willing to spend the time outside of class and she understands that we have limited time since we work full time."

While some may question building such friendships with her students, Pray is confident that it's the most effective way to teach. "Sure, there's always a risk that a student might try to take advantage of the relationship," she admits. "But that can happen with any relationship." She says that one must always clearly establish the boundaries from the beginning. "But by building a friendship with students, they get to see you as a real person. You can better establish your credibility and they are more likely to listen and learn." Clearly the positive so much out weighs the potential negatives, she asserts.

One negative aspect, Pray says, is the emotional attachment that develops between her and her students. "The worst part of my job is graduation day," she says. "You're torn between being excited for them as they com-mence their new beginnings and being sad because a dear friend is moving away." She quickly points out the flipside. "You get more new students each year."

Many of Pray's career successes surround students. For example, she was instrumental in developing Union's Student In Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter with Robert Wyatt, former Dean of the School of Business. "That was our lab," she said. "We talk about business in all of our classes, but it was through SIFE that the students actually got a taste of the business world." Union's SIFE chapter was recognized internationally for its programs and practical application of business principles. "It was the most demanding thing I've ever done," she admits.

After Wyatt left Union in 1997 and when Pray accepted her position of department chair, she was unable to continue serving as a SIFE adviser. "It was so hard to give it up because I knew I was making a difference." The SIFE chapter became inactive in 1998 for the first time since its inception five years ago. Pray's competitive spirit becomes evident as she smiles and says, "It'll be back next year."

But Pray continues to make a difference in her new role as department chair. "She has the ability to get the most out of our faculty and students," Lester says. He explained that it's Pray's ability to encourage, facilitate and cooperate that makes them a team. "Her skills compliment mine," he added.

Pray agrees. "We clash, but we compliment," she said with a laugh. "That's the making of a great professional relationship." Since 1997 the McAfee School of Business has grown to more than 500 students. New programs are continuing to develop including joint efforts with the departments of Computer Science, Biology and Language. Pray says the new programs are being developed to accommodate the growing demands of student interests.

While she may never have a top-of-the-chart single in the country music world, Pray is sure to continue making friends and watching them get to high places.