Meet Jennifer Poulton

What do you teach? What is the top learning goal for that class?

I teach the special topics course SI 311.021 Intro to Project Management. The top learning goal for the course is for students to: have an awareness of core project management methodologies (like waterfall and agile), while also having an awareness of hands-on project planning techniques that can be leveraged to help teams define project requirements (the why, what, when, who, how much, and what if).

How and when did you start teaching at UMSI?

Fall 2024 is my first semester teaching at UMSI and I’m absolutely thrilled to join such a welcoming and impressive community of staff, educators, and students!

What’s your favorite thing about working with UMSI students?

I’m so impressed by the rich experiences the UMSI students have shared with me! Their involvement with university clubs and organizations, summer internships, study abroad, and a wide array of classroom curriculum has provided a strong and diverse foundation for them to build upon.

What’s your deal?

I’m originally from Saginaw, Michigan but have called Royal Oak, Michigan my home for the past 20-years. I’ve worked for over 20-years in the field of project management, including positions in video production, print production, event management, automotive digital advertising and marketing, and automotive product development. Since 2018, I’ve worked at General Motors in Warren where I’m a Group Program Manager in the Software & Services Design Ops organization, leading a team of program managers. Outside of work and teaching, I enjoy running, traveling, and of course, spending time with my family!

What’s something you want folks at UMSI to know about you?

I’m so thankful for this teaching opportunity with UMSI! Sharing my experience and passion for project management with students, and helping them build a framework around key project management principles and techniques that can be leveraged for success in both their academic and professional careers, has been a dream of mine!