Steven B. Corbin

As an undergraduate at the University of Northern Iowa, Steve Corbin experienced mentorship and support from a faculty member — and it transformed his life. 

That mentor was Leonard Keefe, professor of marketing. “Professor Keefe took me aside and gave me instructions as to how to mature and make something of myself,” Corbin recalled. 

Keefe's advice led Corbin to a distinguished 37-year career as a professor and 17 years as the head of the marketing department at UNI. Steven B. Corbin, Ph.D., now professor emeritus, is widely recognized and remembered for his excellence in teaching, scholarship and service contributions in addition to his dedication to his students and to the university.

Build good relationships and the profitable transactions will follow. - Steve Corbin

Steve thoroughly enjoyed teaching; he credits much of his philosophy to advice he got while at Virginia Tech: "Those who only know the what and the how will always work for those who know the why. Your purpose in teaching is to make sure your students know the why." He always did his best to make sure his students knew all three. Steve retired in 2013 and is enjoying retirement immensely, but he does miss the classroom.

Steven B. Corbin Endowed Fellowship in Professional Sales

In honor of Steve Corbin, the UNI College of Business is seeking your support to establish the first named faculty fellowship in the Department of Marketing & Entrepreneurship.

Named fellowships and professorships are prestigious recognitions given to faculty members based on their professional contributions, activities and achievements. Named positions attract and retain these exceptional faculty. In addition, funds that come with the named position support their teaching, scholarship and service efforts. 

Steve Corbin left an incredible legacy at UNI with an exceptional sales program. This fellowship is named in his honor. The fellowship will be used to recognize a faculty member in the department of marketing and entrepreneurship who engages in activities that support the department's professional selling program, including the activities of its associated student organization, Pi Sigma Epsilon (PSE), and builds on Professor Corbin's legacy of excellence.

Ongoing gifts to this fund will be used to elevate the named position from fellow through chair and eventually will name the Center for Professional Sales Excellence in honor Professor Corbin.

Center for Professional Sales Excellence

By supporting this campaign, you help the college retain and recruit talented faculty members who will build upon Professor Corbin’s legacy of sales and teaching excellence. Current and future students who wish to develop their professional selling skills and prepare for the challenges and opportunities in their careers will benefit from an active and growing Center for Professional Sales Excellence staffed by exceptional faculty members.

The University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Professional Sales Excellence offers programs to support, deliver, and enhance premier sales education across the upper Midwest. Based in the Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship in the College of Business, the center brings faculty and industry partners together to offer cutting-edge, research-based curriculum, proven best practices in training and development, and contemporary principles of sales professionalism.  

The center is conveniently located in the Business and Community Services building, a short distance from the Curris Business Building, and easily accessible to visitors from the business community. The state-of-the-art facility offers classroom and workshop space for critical role-play and competitive activities with video and audio recording capabilities.