Monica B. Fine, Ph.D., is the Associate Dean of Student Success and Professor of Marketing at the Wall College of Business, Coastal Carolina University. Born the youngest of four girls on a farm in Moulton, Iowa (population 525), Monica learned early the value of hard work and entrepreneurship while helping in her father’s tankwagon business.

After earning her Associate’s degree while working full-time, she transferred to Northwest Missouri State University (NWMSU), where she completed both her undergraduate degree and MBA. Her first teaching role in NWMSU’s marketing and management department ignited a passion for higher education that led her to Florida Atlantic University, where she earned her Ph.D. in Marketing. Her dissertation focused on marketing-related post-IPO performance indicators.

Monica joined Coastal Carolina University in 2011 as an Assistant Professor of Marketing. She later served five years as Department Chair of Marketing and Hospitality before stepping into her current role as Associate Dean of Student Success in 2020. In this position, she leads the Wall Center for Advising and Career Services, oversees first-year experience programming including UNIV 110B and Wall Succeed mentoring, and serves as the college’s liaison for international students and those on academic probation or suspension. She also assists in curriculum development, process improvement and graduate assistant mentoring—ensuring students receive holistic support to thrive academically and professionally.

Her teaching is deeply experiential. Monica believes that education should be student-centered, inclusive, and grounded in real-world relevance. Her teaching approach emphasizes active engagement, encouraging students to connect course concepts to their personal and professional goals. In marketing classes, for example, she invites students to analyze campaigns from brands they admire, fostering critical thinking and creativity. She also incorporates experiential learning opportunities, such as semester-long consulting projects with business leaders and local alumni, to help students build confidence and apply theory in practical settings. These real-world experiences enhance student résumés and deliver meaningful value to local organizations.

Beyond the classroom, she is the faculty advisor for Coastal’s chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA), where she helps students connect with industry professionals and coordinates weekly speaker events with local leaders. Dr. Fine also plays an active role in the Wall Succeed mentoring program, where she supports new business students through structured mentorship, professional development activities, and community-building events designed to promote long-term academic and career success.

In 2012, Monica founded B. Fine Consulting, advising small- to medium-sized businesses across the South in industries ranging from construction and healthcare to nightlife and retail.

Monica is a graduate and alumni member of Leadership Grand Strand Class 37, organized by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, and remains active in the Myrtle Beach community. In her free time, she enjoys tennis, beach volleyball, CrossFit/bootcamps, and spending time with her husband, family, and friends across the country.