Snapshots: Molly Burchett

Molly Burchett, Smyrnios Family Sales Professor

 

By Micaela Myers

 

In 2025, alumnus Dimitrios Smyrnios’ major gift, doubled by state matching dollars, created the Smyrnios Family Sales Professorship at the University of Wyoming.

“I am very impressed with the commitment of the UW College of Business to teach and develop sales skills in our future business leaders,” says Smyrnios, a 1998 UW College of Business graduate who recently retired as CEO of Schwan’s Co. “I believe that sales skills are needed regardless of the role or career that a student chooses. It’s a privilege to support students on their sales journeys, and it’s personally rewarding to be able to help the dean and faculty of the College of Business.”

Molly Burchett holds the inaugural position. In addition to bringing industry experience, she has earned numerous research, teaching and service awards. 

“I am deeply committed to stewarding Mr. Smyrnios’ vision by equipping students with the sales, communication and leadership skills they need to succeed across careers through practice-driven experiential education,” she says. “Mr. Smyrnios also shares a deep commitment to advancing the foundational vision of Frank Mendicino, whose leadership and generosity helped establish the Center for Professional Selling as a program grounded in research excellence and academic rigor — principles that continue to guide how we educate students, engage industry and elevate the sales profession.” 

Burchett’s research, teaching and service are tightly integrated around the Center for Professional Selling’s mission, including publishing research in leading journals to strengthen UW’s national presence in sales scholarship; engaging in disciplinary leadership via conferences, presentations, workshops and panels; offering her time as the adviser to the Sales Club and supporting student development through competitions and community-impact initiatives; and, in the classroom, using experiential high-stakes learning that builds confidence, professionalism and ethical judgment through real selling experiences. 

One standout example is collaborating with Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Service Chair Kent Noble and the UW Ethics Club for her Selling for Impact course and its centerpiece project, SparkTank.

“This advanced experiential course immerses students in real-world sales execution and ethical influence through a semester-long fundraising campaign culminating in SparkTank — a student-run Shark Tank-style competition supporting essential nonprofits in Albany County,” Burchett says. “Students prospect, conduct outreach, lead sales meetings and close real donations — building confidence, professionalism and communication skills through high-stakes purpose-driven selling.”

Since 2018, SparkTank has awarded $743,000 to local nonprofits, generating an estimated $3.22 million in total economic output, which includes $1.42 million in GDP contribution, $1.11 million in labor income and 30 jobs created. 

As Burchett grows these experiential models, she also plans to deepen industry partnerships and continue elevating UW’s national reputation in professional selling.

“I view the Smyrnios Family Sales Professorship as both an honor and a responsibility,” Burchett says. “It represents a shared commitment — between the Smyrnios family, UW and the Center for Professional Selling — to invest in people: students, faculty and future leaders. I am deeply grateful for that trust and fully committed to stewarding the professorship in ways that sustain excellence, expand opportunity and create meaningful student impact for years to come.”