Michael Bednar

Michael Bednar is an Associate Professor of Business Administration at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Gies College of Business. He serves as the Academic Director of Experiential Learning and holds the Robert & Karen May Faculty Fellowship. His research focuses on corporate governance, executive leadership, and the interplay between organizations and media. Bednar joined the university in 2008 after earning his PhD in strategic management from the University of Texas at Austin (2008) and a BS from Brigham Young University (2002, cum laude).

Bednar's research highlights media’s role in corporate governance, CEO influence on corporate reputation, and board dynamics. He has published extensively on topics such as director compensation, stakeholder management, and governance controversies. His work bridges organizational behavior, strategic management, and institutional theory.

He has received multiple teaching awards, including the Gies Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award (2019) and Dean’s Impact Award (2018). Bednar actively serves on the editorial review boards of the Strategic Management Journal and Academy of Management Journal, contributing to academic discourse in management studies.

His advising and grants focus on experiential learning initiatives at Gies College of Business. Bednar’s research and teaching emphasize real-world applications of governance principles and leadership strategies.