Dinner-table talk provided the ingredients for Joe Potchen\u2019s eventual career path, serving up topical debates and fresh perspectives as a staple of mealtimes with his parents and siblings.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found great joy in learning about new ideas and trying to understand other points of view,\u201d said Potchen, an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan and a visiting professor at\u00a0Michigan State University\u2019s Eli Broad College of Business<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cMy family background and the enjoyment I derive from discussing issues made the law a seemingly natural fit,\u201d he said. \u201cI saw it as an opportunity to enhance my skills at debating issues and formulating arguments, which are basic tools for lawyers.\u201d<\/p>\n After earning his law degree from Loyola University Chicago, he joined the Attorney General\u2019s Office in his home state. He has held various roles in the nearly 25 years since then, including serving as chief of the Corporate Oversight Division, handling banking, securities, antitrust and other white-collar cases.<\/p>\n In the mid-2000s, Potchen began teaching a business law course for MBA students at Michigan State, where he had earned his bachelor\u2019s degree. He now teaches the graduate-level course Creating an Ethical Organization, part of the curriculum for the\u00a0Master of Science in Management, Strategy and Leadership<\/a>\u00a0program offered 100% online.<\/p>\n The Potchen family\u2019s East Lansing roots run deep.<\/p>\n Three decades before Potchen was an undergrad on campus, his father, E. James Potchen, earned his undergraduate degree from Michigan State. The elder Potchen was appointed the first chairman of MSU\u2019s then-new Department of Radiology in 1975, retiring from the university nearly 40 years later.<\/p>\n Two of Joe Potchen\u2019s siblings are MSU grads and his daughter is studying arts and humanities there.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re huge Spartan fans,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n We spoke with Potchen about his work as a Michigan State visiting professor, the role his courtroom experience plays in shaping his classroom methods and the importance of fostering ethical decision-making.<\/p>\n Q. Can you tell us about your background and how you developed an interest in the legal profession?<\/strong><\/p>\n I come from a family that prioritizes learning. My father is a doctor, lawyer and has a master\u2019s degree in business. My brother and sister are doctors and my other sister is a lawyer. My parents did a great job showing us the importance of a good education while giving us the tools to excel. They continuously stressed the importance of expanding our worldview and thinking about how we can help others. At the dinner table, we often debated issues and discussed current events. I found great joy in learning about new ideas and trying to understand other points of view. Now I have a wonderful wife and three fantastic kids. I\u2019ve tried to instill these same ideals upon them.<\/p>\n Q. You have spent more than a decade as a visiting professor at Michigan State University, your alma mater. Can you tell us about the courses and the\u00a0students you teach?<\/strong><\/p>\n I began teaching at Michigan State for the weekend MBA program in 2005. My first course was business law. Most students in the program have full-time jobs and the average age is around 30. I immediately enjoyed the experience. Class discussions were lively and informative since many students brought their various backgrounds and perspectives into the mix.<\/p>\n