Teacher, coach, mentor, author and “champion.”
These are just a few ways to describe Professor Terri Champion, who joined Niagara College in 1994 after a career in sales, marketing and small business consulting, and has been a cornerstone of the School of Business and Management ever since.
As program coordinator for the two-year Business – Sales and Marketing and three-year Business Administration Marketing programs, Terri teaches courses in Integrated Marketing Communications, Consumer Behaviour, Management Principles, Sales and Marketing Strategy, and Entrepreneurship and New Venture Development, inspiring budding industry professionals through her engaging approach.
She has co-authored multiple textbooks (Small Business Management – Launching and Growing New Ventures in Canada; Business Plan to Business Reality – Starting and Managing your Own Business In Canada; MGMT Management Principles) and strengthened NC’s reputation by partnering with local businesses for course-based learning projects, and through her involvement with the Canadian Professional Sales Association and the Retail Council of Canada.
Terri is also a passionate advocate for enhancing student learning through case competitions. As an active member of the Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition (OCMC) planning committee and dedicated student coach, she has led NC teams to incredible success over the years, achieving 21 gold, 25 silver, and 28 bronze medals. She has also coached NC teams for the National Vanier Marketing Case Competition and an international business case competition Budapest, Hungary, where NC placed third overall and was the only college competitor.
Last December, Terri was honoured with NC’s 2025 Faculty Award of Excellence for her dedication to teaching. Learn more about her below.
What does it mean to you to be recognized by your colleagues and the College with this award?
TC: This award is particularly meaningful because it comes from my peers and the NC community that I have been part of for many years. Teaching can sometimes feel like a behind-the-scenes effort, so to have that work acknowledged by peers who understand the challenges and the passion behind it is truly special.
What inspires you most about teaching the next generation of business-marketing pros? How do you empower student success?
TC: What inspires me most is watching students discover their potential -it’s so rewarding to see the transformation that occurs when they begin to build their confidence and start to use the skills and knowledge they have been learning in a professional environment.
I empower student success by creating real-world, experiential learning opportunities that push them outside their comfort zones – whether it’s through client-based projects, marketing presentations, or case competitions. The goal is to provide students with the opportunities to apply their learning to realistic marketing situations – not just read about or memorize terminology or recite theories.
How have your teaching methods evolved over the years? What aspects of your style have remained the same?
TC: Marketing is a fast-moving field so I make it a priority to stay current with industry trends and what leading companies and brands are doing so I can bring current and relevant examples into the classroom. To that end, the continued integration of technology has made the most difference – being able to go online and pull up a website, show current marketing campaigns, videos and social media content in real-time has made the classroom a much more engaging and interactive environment, and aligns much more with how marketing happens today.
What has stayed the same is my belief that if students are engaged and even entertained in the classroom, they learn better. Information alone isn’t enough – great teaching brings concepts to life.
You are known to go above and beyond to support those around you, coaching students to help them feel confident in their abilities and mentoring new and existing faculty. Why is this approach important to you?
TC: I’ve always believed that education is about people first. Whether it’s students or colleagues, everyone benefits from having someone who believes in them, supports them, and helps them navigate challenges. Coaching and mentoring is all about trying to create a positive learning environment and is the best way I know to pay forward the support and mentorship I’ve received throughout my career.
Looking back on your teaching career so far, are there any highlights that stand out as especially meaningful to you?
TC: Having had the opportunity to coach marketing students for case competitions over the years has been incredibly rewarding and a real highlight for me. The experience is consistently transformative and really inspiring – in the months leading up to a competition you see students begin to build their confidence, sharpen their skills and grow in professionalism and maturity. Having competed in case competitions myself during my academic career, I know firsthand the impact they can have on learning and personal development.
Niagara’s marketing competition teams have achieved great success over the years – consistently earning top rankings at provincial and national competitions – something that continues to be a source of pride for me.
In 2024, I accompanied a team of four Niagara College students to our first international business case competition in Budapest, Hungary where Niagara was the only college competing among 16 prestigious universities from around the world. After earning first place in their division for the 24-hour case, and second place in the 7-hour case, our Niagara team advanced to the final round, competing against top teams from University of Melbourne, Chinese University of Hong Kong, University of Minnesota and University of Sydney. When the awards were handed out, Niagara won an impressive third-place overall, a moment I will never forget. What our students achieved is a powerful reflection of the exceptional learning, mentorship and experiential opportunities that are part of Niagara College.
What hobbies do you have outside of work?
TC: My favourite activities outside of work centre around travel, pickleball, and cheering on the Buffalo Bills.
