In addition to his academic responsibilities, Professor of Practice Raj Singh had to navigate funding challenges while he was a college student. “I experienced financial difficulties while pursuing my undergraduate studies,” he says.

“Based on my experience teaching at UCR for more than 20 years, I have found that many of our students need help financially, and that interferes with their positive educational experience.

“So, my family decided to establish a scholarship to support our students.” The Singh Family Endowed Fund will provide financial assistance to undergraduate students who need help meeting basic needs, such as books and supplies, housing, transportation, and personal expenses.

During his decades teaching at the School of Business, Singh has frequently dipped into his own pocket to assist students. When asked what drives him to do so, he said: “I have offered because I have found our students are hardworking, intelligent, and devoted to excellence in their studies.

“I am moved to support our students because they are highly motivated to pursue higher education and come from diverse backgrounds.”

Singh was the first in his family to attend college, and he says he empathizes with his students. “It’s fantastic to be with them, and many are first-generation students, and I can understand the challenges they are going through.”

A popular professor in the classroom, his students have repeatedly declared their admiration for his genuine interest in the people he teaches and his technique in the classroom. Most recently, he was recognized with the student-voted 2022-2023 Shulman Endowed Excellence in Teaching Award. The accolade was established by an alumnus and his wife to honor David Shulman, a retired economics professor, and annually rewards an exemplary business professor who embodies teaching excellence just as Shulman did.

“Dr. Singh arrives to the classroom ready and enthusiastic to teach students,” wrote one of the students who voted for Singh to receive the award. “He genuinely enjoys teaching; that’s evident in the way he engages us.”

Singh also received the student-voted accolade, the Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence 2016 (two Golden Apples in one year), 2019, and 2021 for providing the best overall classroom experience for learning engagement, teaching style, and innovative teaching methods.

“I try to connect with students, monitor their progress, watch facial expressions, make lectures
interesting, and always be kind and respectful,” he says.

The lessons Singh shares are also informed by a long and successful career: “I spent many years in engineering, management, and government,” he says. “This helps when I teach subjects such as labor relations, employee benefits, or human resources management. That’s how I’m able to connect real examples with the theory that I’m teaching in the classroom.”

Said another student while nominating Singh for the Shulman Award: “He cares for his students. It is a pleasure to be around someone so positive, intelligent, and amiable.”