Donor Appreciation (Fall 2012)

November 14, 2012

OUR_MOMENT

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 3, Issue 1 (Fall 2012)

The UConn School of Business would like to gratefully acknowledge the following alumni and friends who made gifts to the School of Business during fiscal year 2011-2012.

We value every gift and extend our heartfelt thanks to all who gave so generously of their time and support to aid in the enhancement of our academic programs.

See also About Giving to UConn

$50,000+

James V. Agonis ’71
Christopher J. Balfe
Bank of America Corporation
The John and Sally Fodor Family Foundation
The New York Community Trust
Syracuse University
Daniel D. ’87 and Tresa Toscano
Wendy R. ’74 and H. Thomas Watkins

$25,000 – $49,999

Jonathan E. ’76 and Susan B. Beyman
Myron ’61 and Barbara ’61 Dickstein
EBV National
Gwo-Duan D. ’89, ’92 and Ai-Ju F. ’90 Jou
Michael G. ’78 and Shari K. Koppel
Theodore R. Rosenberg ’55 and Mary F. McVay
S. Brian ’60 and Beth N. Simons
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

$10,000 – $24,999

Altria Group, Inc.
Mark A. ’82 and Pamela J. ’82 Beaudoin
Selma Cagatay-Searfoss ’94 and David W. Searfoss ’76*
Christopher A. ’95 and Larissa K. ’93, ’95 Chapin
Connecticut Attorneys Title Insurance
Zelda Cooper
Mark P. ’79 and Lynda C. ’80 Coville
Gerald D. ’82 and Katrina DesRoches
Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust
Craig A. ’77 and Marilyn P. ’77 Douglas
Mark E. Freitas ’81
Clinton G. ’77 and Karen A. ’77 Gartin
David B. ’84 and Cheryl Greenfield
Robert C. ’92 and Barbara D. ’93 Hughes
Norman W. ’72 and Celestine K. ’99 LaCroix
Peter C. ’63 and Judith R. Larson
Liberty Mutual
The Malfettone Family
Gene ’87, ’89 and Renae S. ’89, ’95 Martin
Michael E. ’81, ’94 and Barbara A. McPhee
Patricia L. ’78 and Gordon C. Mochel
Laurie A. Paternoster ’82 and Michael A. Paternoster, Jr.
PepsiCo., Inc.
Prudential Financial, Inc.
Mark R. ’65, ’07 and Rosalind E. Shenkman
Ambassador Paul W. ’69, ’72 and Renee J. Speltz
Tyco International US Inc.
United Technologies Corporation

$5,000 – $9,999

George R. Aylward, Jr. ’88
Stephen M. Wood and Gail E. Barley
Frank W. Carmon IV ’06
Guy F. ’64, ’66 and Donna S. Caruso
Cigna Corp.
Crane Co.
Dymax Corporation
Fidelity Investments
Grant Thornton LLP
Joseph M. ’71 and Cheryl W. Grisé
Joseph A. ’91 and Joann Guay
Matthew J. Halprin
Leo B. ’81 and Janet M. ’78 Hansen
Lisa R. Klauser ’90 and Richard T. Klauser, Jr.
Frederick J. Klorczyk, Jr. and Lynne S. Klorczyk
Brian P. ’84 and Lorraine E. ’84 McKeon
Deborah M. Reif ’95
Edwin G. ’75 and Karen L. Reif
Sean R. Riegler and Jill Tomlins
Arnold M. ’63* and Rochelle M. Robin
Edward M. Satell ’57
Samuel L. Schrager and Terry L. Gellin
Douglas R. ’79 and Barbara J. Seymour
TopCoder, Inc.
United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut
Christopher M. ’87 and Brenda Wilkos
Frank C. Wuest ’82

$1,000 – $4,999

Rogaia M. Abusharaf ’88, ’94 and Mohamed E. Hussein
David Acampora ’79 and Margaret M. Landrey ’79, ’83
Aetna Inc.
Jack T. Ampuja ’80
Craig C. ’89 and Kimberley A. Anderson
Bruce C. Angevine ’78
Aon Corporation
John P. Barniak ’75
Timothy J. Bell
Prashant A. Bhatia ’92
BlumShapiro & Co., PC
Christopher F. ’85 and Samuel Brandt ’50
Melinda T. Brown ’77, ’85
Anthony J. Campanelli ’59
Robert A. Canyock, Jr. ’80, ’86 and Deborah L. Canyock
Mark A. Caplan ’84
Carrie Casciani
Donna E. Cashman ’96
Christopher J. ’89 and Sherri S. ’90 Cesare
Edward J. Chanda
Jeffrey R. ’83 and Lori T. Charlton
Colliers International
William E. Congdon ’75
Connecticut Association of Realtors, Inc.
The Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants
Timothy J. Curt ’84
Thomas M. ’86, ’91 and Karen O. Curtin
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
George M. ’54 and Phyllis A. Demko
Douglas G. ’83 and Pamela J. ’85 Denyer
Robert A. ’89 and Victoria H. DiMella
Lawrence S. Doyle ’65
Nicholas ’66 and Arlene O. ’67 DuBiago
Fiondella Milone & LaSaracina LLP
First Congregational Church of Waterbury
John J. Fitteron ’67
Gary W. French ’70
Jason A. ’97 and Lesley A. ’91, ’98 Fronio
William B. Geary, Jr. ’57
Andrew P. Giangrave ’92
Lawrence J. and Cathy K. Gramling
Peter P. Gwiazdowski III and Deborah J. Gwiazdowski
Lawrence D. ’67 and Sharon ’68 Handler
George S. Harrison ’74 and Charlotte Pier
The Hartford CFA Society
Glenn R. ’83, ’95 and Susan Heiser
Richard M. Hisey ’80, ’82 and Linda J. Vice-Hisey ’79, ’84
Stuart C. Hochberger ’80
Martha M. ’79 and Philip J. Hoffman
Rob and Mary H. Hoskin
H & R Block, Inc.
Indus Capital Partners, LLC
J. H. Cohn LLP
Susan D. Jackson
James M. Alexander Trust
Mathew C. James ’95
Harry M. and Lynn A. Johnson
Martin P. ’86, ’88 and Jocelyn R. Kane
Robert T. Kaufman ’74
Thomas P. ’77 and Deborah S. ’78 Kelley
Warren E. ’78 and Denise Klein
Richard F. and Margaret J. Kochanek
Ilene D. Kohlun ’94
Jean M. LaVecchia ’81
Raymond L. Lewis, Jr. ’83 and Ellen T. Lewis
Jerry ’69 and Eileen Lieberman
Mary D. Lindsay
Theodore F. ’92 and Melissa J. Lunney
Christine M. Lussier ’89 and Robert Hamill
S. John Malinowski ’54, ’61
Raymond J. ’78, ’81 and Lynn M. ’80 Malone
Robert L. Manfreda, Jr. ’84, ’94 and
Carolyn C. Manfreda
Marcum, LLP
James E. ’82 and Sonya Masur
Marshall L. ’68 and Deborah M. Matz
John P. McCarthy, Jr. ’83 and Monique A. McCarthy ’90
Nicholas R. Morizio ’74
William M. ’57 and Diane E. Morlock
Charlie Murrin ’10
Jay S. ’82 and Catherine S. ’85 Nickse
David M. ’68 and Linda A. Nolf
NorthMarq Capital
Thomas J. O’Brien, Ph.D.
David J. and Priscilla H. Papandria
Pepperidge Farms
John D. Phillips and Amy E. Dunbar
The Phoenix Companies, Inc.
George A. Plesko and Martha D. MacMillin
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
Pullman & Comley, LLC
Paul T. ’84 and Christine Quistberg
Michael R. and Mary J. Redemske
The Riverside Company
Robert ’77 and Deborah A. Rodin
Carlos A. Ruisanchez ’92
The Ruth Ann Stevens Living Trust
Peter D. Schaffer ’83
The Schwab Fund for Charitable Giving
Edward S. Scovel, Jr. ’51 and Gladys Scovel
Matthew D. ’66 and Carol A. ’66 Shedd
Linda Storhoff
Richard D. ’62 and Judith B. Suski
Richard J. Tavolieri, Jr. ’89 and Dawn Tavolieri
Diana L. Timlin
Towers Watson
UConn Alumni Association
United Health Group Incorporated
United Way of Greater New Haven, Inc.
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
Webster Financial Corporation
John W. ’80 and Suzanne K. Welch
James F. Whalen, Jr. ’82 and Diane L. Conley

$500 – $999

James D. ’82 and Diane J. ’81 Ahearn
Mona H. Baird ’89
Christopher L. Bell ’88, ’95
Laura A. Bieling ’89
David H. ’84, ’88 and Cynthia J. ’88 Burkard
Yi Cao ’07
David A. ’75 and Nancy M. Carlson
Ronald J. ’76 and Sandra J. Casner
Laurence J. Cass, Jr. ’86 and Charlene M.
Cass ’86
Michael P. Cassidy ’02 and Diane S. Dagostino
Michael B. Cohen ’81
Michael D. Della Fera ’80
Jane S. DeMaio ’83, ’92
Thomas J. Dixon ’06
Richard E. Eldh, Jr. ’81
Peter I. ’65 and Elaine Elinsky
Jennifer O. Estabrook ’05
Richard L. Evans ’77
William F. Farren ’78
Thomas J. ’78 and Madelyn R. ’80, ’82 Filomeno
Global Impact
H. Kent and Penny C. Goetjen
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
Frank G. ’86 and Francesca Hauser
Paul ’95 and Rene M. ’95 Holle
Atul Jain ’01
Ravindra and Saras Jain
Jennifer L. Jordan ’94
Peter J. and Donna M. Karl
Peter E. Keene ’79
Sean W. ’82 and Grace M. ’82 Kelly
Robin L. ’01, ’10 and Robert L. Knowles
Michael P. Krol ’74, ’87
Christopher R. Kunz ’02
Paul D. Larson, Jr. ’95 and Pamela C.
Larson ’93, ’96
Anna P. Liamzon ’00
Frederick T. Liu ’98
Tim and Kate Love
Susan Mackiewicz ’85
Manchester Memorial Hospital
Raymond J. ’77, ’81 and Susan L. Martino
Anne E. McAloon ’74, ’80
Jamie B. ’84, ’93 and Pamela A. Meyers
Mark J. ’84 and Corliss J. ’86 Montesi
James J. Moravecek ’01
Munich Reinsurance America, Inc.
William J. Newman
Northeast Utilities
Northwestern Mutual Financial
David W. Pate ’94
Pitney Bowes, Inc.
PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP
Mary A. Reichlen ’81
Jerry J. Rosenstock
Daniel C. Rossi ’03
John P. ’00, ’07 and Serafina A. ’01 Salemi
Sheldon D. ’59 and Susan S. ’82 Schneider
John E. Schramm, Jr. ’59
Matthew R. French ’91 and Lucille Sheng-French ’91
The Simsbury Bank
Henry C. ’50 and Barbara E. Smachetti
Keith P. Suchy ’88
Robert T. Sullivan ’77
Scott A. ’82 and Cynthia B. Trenholm
United Way of North Central MA, Inc.
Allan J. Vartelas ’80
Robert J. Wade ’68
Lynn Waibel ’80
Howard S. Weinberg ’95, ’02
Wellspeak Dugas and Kane, LLC

$250 – $499

John Allis III ’75
Niels D. Andersen ’86
John A. Barbosa, Jr. ’76, ’80 and A. Linda Barbosa ’80
George A. ’87, ’89 and Carol M. ’88, ’97 Barrios
Diane M. ’77, ’80 and Thomas Beck
Daniel L. Bedard ’90
Edward R. and Kathleen W. Binder
Timothy P. ’83 and Claudia Block
Katherine L. ’02 and Peter Borofsky
Patrick M. ’79, ’81 and Susan R. Brand
Lt. Co. Robert L. Brandt ’65
Ronald F. Brien, Esq. ’56
Jeffery F. Brill ’84
Robert D. ’77 and Joan C. Britt
Brothers Oil Company
Rita F. Bruce ’90
Harold L. ’53 and Lillian S. Brundage
Susan A. Buffum ’80
Lawrence J. Carboni, Jr. ’86 and Kathleen A. Carboni
David J. Casey ’74
Stephanie A. Charbonneau ’05
Jesse A. Chen ’05
Michael J. Cichon, Jr. ’81 and Marilee K. Fox-Cichon
Stephen R. Connelly ’74
Mark J. Cowan ’91, ’04
Michael C. Daly ’84
Joseph J. DeMaio ’81 and Cecelia McCulloch
William P. ’71 and Rachel M. Desautelle
Carmen Desiato ’93
Ernest A. DiMattia, Jr. ’81 and Susan S. DiMattia ’81
Dene A. ’82 and Eileen M. ’82 Dobensky
Marshall N. Dudley, Jr. ’83 and Jane H. Dudley
Stephen and Susanne Dyke
Charles R. ’69, ’73, ’74 and Carmel B. Eastwood
William R. ’77 and Joyce A. ’76 Finlayson
Mary Jane B. ’86 and Victor Fortin
Bertram Frankenberger, Jr. ’54 and Harriet Frankenberger
Kenneth R. Fredette ’08
Paul J. ’80 and Cathy M. ’78 Fucci
Dominick J. ’06, ’10 and Kristi E. ’95, ’00 Galletti
Alan ’62 and Janice L. Glaubinger
John D. ’94 and Elizabeth A. Godin
Terry L. Greene ’00
James A. ’75 and Kathleen S. ’75 Greenleaf
Joyce M. Harrison ’83 and Paul J. Swanke
Linda A. Herzog ’03
Sid and Ruth L. Horowitz
JoAnn Huczko ’86
Marc A. Jeffreys ’01
Kathryn J. Jervis, Ph.D. ’97
Alice E. Johansson ’90
Fred C. Kile ’54
Aris S. Koutouvides ’00 and Carol Aldave
KPMG International
David J. Landers ’91
Michelle M. Lapides ’80
Terry A. ’74 and Lisa Lashin
Marc A. Levine ’88
Neil M. ’80 and Martha Levine
Liberty Bank
Melvin ’53 and Lillian ’53 London
Kevin M. Magee ’81
E. Jon Majkowski ’74
Michael S. Manning ’81 and Sharon Hoffman-Manning
Elizabeth D. Mariner ’81
Debra O. ’80 and Franklin D. Marsteller
Cheryl L. ’03 and William C. McBeth
Patricia E. McGowan ’89
Bruce B. ’76 and Joanne Monahan
John W. Moran ’59, ’63
John G. and Diane K. Mott
Gerard J. Mucha ’82
Dorothy B. Neely ’58
John M. ’74 and Darlene A. Oblak
Elizabeth A. O’Brien ’93
Robert A. Ostertag, Jr. ’72 and Barbara Ostertag
Daniel T. Pentek ’91
James E. Plourd ’82, ’93
Sherrie P. ’83 and Michael J. Price
David R. Prunier ’77
William E. ’66 and Doris A. Roberts
Thomas L. Rollins ’80 and Lisa Cassidy-Rollins
Brenda H. Rouse ’82
Pranav Sambamurti
The San Francisco Foundation
Edward V. ’77 and Peggy P. Sands
Judson P. Saviskas
William E. Schmidt ’59
Jonathan M. Schofield, Jr. ’62 and Beverly A. Schofield
Charles E. ’94 and Deana M. Shirley
Gregory A. Silva ’73
Timothy J. Smith ’96
Karl ’69 and Ingrid F. Svendsen
Stuart C. ’93 and Kristin Sziklas
Talcott Realty Investors
Barbara J. Theurkauf ’83
Gregory W. ’86 and Elizabeth E. Thom
Benny O. Torres ’97
Michael J. Trevelyan ’89
William L. Trubeck ’76
Mark A. Tschiegg ’06
Gerald K. Tsui ’01
Alex Urquhart, Jr. ’88 and Judy C. Urquhart
Thomas D. Walker ’95
William H. Watson III and Ruth M. Watson
Patrick J. Wellspeak ’85 and Ann M. Macaione ’06
Chris S. ’90 and Eileen A. Westfahl
David J. Whitehouse, MBA MD Ph.D. ’95
Michael J. Whyte ’97
Joseph A. ’68 and Sue A. Zaccagnino
Dean H. Zirolli ’87

* Deceased


   

Teaching. Research. Outreach.

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 3, Issue 1 (Fall 2012)

Dr. Karla H. Fox Reflects on Past Success, Contributions, and Continued Service

Karla Fox A distinguished educator and administrator at the University of Connecticut since 1976, Dr. Karla H. Fox retired from her faculty position as of August 1. Here, she reflects on her time serving the University and the School of Business, sharing some of her continuing projects and activities in her new position as Special Assistant to the Provost.

Teaching and Research

Reflecting on the past three decades, Dr. Fox proclaims, “[the University of Connecticut] is a dramatically different school than when I started [working here]. UConn has transformed into a truly research-focused institution. We’ve reversed the “brain drain” of 30 years ago, and now we’re a top school of choice for many students.”

In the 1990s, the School of Business made a strategic decision to become a technology leader among business schools nationwide. “It shows,” says Dr. Fox. “We’ve become much more professional in the way we present teaching and instruction, partly because we have access to the latest technologies.” During her time as Interim Dean, Dr. Fox contributed to this availability by implementing the latest in conference technology, enabling meetings or classes to run across campuses and to better link the undergraduate and MBA programs in Storrs, Hartford, Stamford, and Waterbury.

“Building upon the School’s history of excellent academics, we now have an expanded emphasis focused more on research and outreach,” Dr. Fox notes. Securing the approval of then Provost Peter Nicholls, Interim Dean Dr. Fox led the School in hiring 24 new faculty and staff members last year. “Hiring was critical; it enabled us to bring up new programs and strengthen others, such as the Master of Science in Financial Risk Management (MSFRM) program [in Stamford], which we were able to expand to Hartford,” she notes.

Outreach and service have entered the forefront in the last five years, according to Dr. Fox, who plans to continue efforts in this area.

Outreach: Stamford Initiatives

Dr. Fox’s involvement with the Stamford campus has come full-circle. She was one of the main individuals responsible for developing the new Stamford Downtown Campus in the mid-1990s. “That was really exciting!” she exclaims. “I can’t help but reflect on this—fast forward 25 years later, and here I am, working on the expansion of programs offered on that very campus.”

During the transitional period while she was Interim Dean, one of the initiatives Dr. Fox engaged in was the renewed emphasis of activities on the Stamford campus, including the establishment of the Stamford Learning Accelerator, new academic programs, economic development initiatives, and relationships with Fairfield County leaders. She has also dedicated time to the Digital Media Program both in Storrs and Stamford, putting the program on secure footing to facilitate approval from the Board of Trustees in 2011. Dr. Fox will continue to foster and develop these initiatives in her ongoing role.

“We minimized the vacancy of the former UConn/GE edgelab space in Stamford to just 4 months. The repurposed facility is now vibrant and thriving as the Stamford Learning Accelerator (SLA),” says Dr. Fox. “Although the funding to build out edgelab came from GE, it was originally conceptualized to be what the SLA now is—a learning accelerator where the triumvirate of students, faculty, and businesses work together on real-life projects.” She adds, “We’re now able to work on several projects for leading corporations and potential entrepreneurial ventures.”

Dr. Fox will help to implement an expansion plan at the Stamford regional campus in the areas of business and digital media. A new major in Financial Management, to begin the fall of 2013, will be considered by the UConn Board of Trustees at its November meeting. Future projects under discussion include offering undergraduate business programs in the areas of risk management and global business; increasing the academic presence of digital media; and expanding certificate programs in business and digital media.

In addition, Dr. Fox will continue to serve as Interim Director of the Connecticut Information Technology Institute (CITI) program in Stamford, which offers certification or education for both businesses and individuals in business-related technologies or specialties such as project management.

Dr. Fox will work to support academic initiatives in the University’s emerging plan for economic development with Mary Holz-Clause, UConn’s Vice President for Economic Development. She is also working very closely with The Business Council of Fairfield County and the Stamford business community. Dr. Fox concludes that “the issue now is economic development, providing good jobs for everyone in Connecticut so we can get our educated graduates to stay in the state.”

Karla H. Fox

Among her many involvements at the University of Connecticut School of Business, Dr. Karla H. Fox—professor of Business Law with specializations in the Uniform Commercial Code, employment law, and business ethics—has served as Executive Director of the Full-time MBA Program, Associate Dean, and Head of the Business Law program. Dr. Fox most recently led the School of Business through an exciting year of growth as Interim Dean.

Dr. Fox has also served as head of the Music Department in the School of Fine Arts from 2008-2010, Associate Vice President for University Affairs from 1999-2004, and Executive Director of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. A recipient of the 2010 American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Service Excellence Award, she is also a member of the Connecticut and North Carolina Bar Associations, and is a past president of the University of Connecticut chapter of the American Association of University Professors, as well as a former member of the University Senate and Senate Executive Committee.


   

Investing in Students

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 3, Issue 1 (Fall 2012)

The Travelers EDGE Program Builds UConn’s Business Leaders of Tomorrow

investingAs Armando Jimenez sees it, his first lucky break coincided with some bad news for his hometown of Hartford. That was the year his high school lost its state accreditation and Jimenez received a scholarship to attend Salisbury School instead.

Located in the Northwest corner of the state, the private school offered Jimenez the chance to participate in his first entrepreneurship program and be exposed to what he describes as a “different world” than the one from which he came. More importantly, though, it gave him a reason to work hard.

“I made Dean’s List every semester,” Jimenez said. “I wanted to make sure they knew their investment in me was good.”

Jimenez has spent the last few years making good on that initial investment as a student in UConn’s Travelers EDGE diversity initiative program. A management major now in his senior year in the UConn School of Business, Jimenez is one of 23 students currently receiving a four-year scholarship, mentoring, and internship opportunities through the program.

Being accepted into Travelers EDGE, Jimenez said, was his second lucky break.

“It’s an amazing program. The interesting thing about Travelers is that this is a company that’s really investing in the career of the student,” said Jimenez, who has completed two summer internships, at Travelers Companies Inc. and PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), through the program.

Tara Spain, vice president of the Travelers Foundation, said the program began in 2007 with a directive from the company’s board of directors.

“They wtravelersEDGE-Venture-UCONN-2011anted us to do something that was good for the community, but also good for the company,” Spain said. “We feel like we get a lot out of it. It has helped to broaden our pipelines into the company for diverse talents and we’ve been able to strengthen the Travelers’ brand on college campuses. It’s great for the company, great for the brand, and great for our employees.”

The program targets underrepresented groups or first generational college students with the goal of making them more competitive in the business world. Jimenez, who is the first person to attend college in his family and a minority who was raised by a single mother in Hartford, fits both criteria.

“Neither of those factors alone would have gained him entry into the program, however, if Jimenez hadn’t displayed the kind of motivation and commitment to his education that earned him a place on the Dean’s List at Salisbury School,” said Seanice Austin, the director of Diversity Initiatives for the School of Business and manager of the Travelers EDGE program.

“We receive about 30 to 40 applications every year and we take five,” said Austin. “It’s very competitive.”

Students accepted into the program must participate actively and maintain a 3.0 GPA, Austin said. The average GPA of the students currently enrolled is 3.3, she said.

“We want students to be able to tell their own stories,” Austin said. “Once they are accepted, I work very closely with them to make sure they have all the resources and support they need.”

Jimenez agreed, and said he is already trying to give back a little bit of what he’s received. “I grew up in the Boys and Girls Club so I know that a simple “Hi” goes a long way, especially when someone is struggling,” he said.

For that reason, Jimenez started a program his freshman year, called Brothers Reaching Our Society, that provides peer mentoring and help with academics to other male students. “The idea is to do the same for those who come behind you as those who came ahead did for you,” Jimenez said.


   

UConn in London

busnmag_uconn-in-londonThis article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 3, Issue 1 (Fall 2012)

Summer 2012 in London was a remarkable place to be—a time and place where hopes and aspirations were fulfilled for many a member of the UConn family. Among the UConn contingent in London this summer were 40 undergraduate students studying abroad, international alumni ambassadors, visiting alumni, faculty, staff, athletes, fans, and friends, who were drawn together by the Olympic games.

The School of Business is proud to have been globally represented by such an extraordinary delegation of students, alumni, and Husky Olympians, including Asjha Jones ’02, USA Women’s Basketball; and Chinyere Pigot ’15, Suriname Flag Bearer during Opening Ceremonies and Swimmer (50-meter freestyle).

Summer Olympics Study Abroad

Forty undergraduates ranging from sophomores to seniors in a variety of majors spent six weeks in London this summer learning about complex global issues ranging from gender iniquities in sports to urban poverty. The students took courses through the Florida State University (FSU) Center in London, studying “London and the Olympics, a Cultural History,” “Shakespeare in a Global Context,” “New Media, Politics and Society,” “Literary London,” and “London’s Global Geographies.” In addition to coursework, an internship component designed to enable the students to learn about community building placed them in London schools, inner city youth projects, and the local women’s basketball center where they coached local kids in basketball fundamentals.

The students also found time to enjoy the Olympics and to experience some of London’s cultural activities. In addition to reading Shakespeare plays for class, they also saw live performances at The Globe Theatre. Each student was provided with tickets for two Olympic basketball games and attended an event featuring Geno Auriemma and the UConn alums on the U.S.A. women’s national basketball team.

“These students exhibited a great deal of enthusiasm, passion, and excitement about UConn and about being in London,” remarked School of Business Dean John Elliott, who spoke with some of the students at the event in London.

International Alumni Ambassadors

As part of a program started by the University of Connecticut Alumni Association in 2008, International Alumni Ambassadors serve as a point of contact for information about their countries of residence for UConn alumni, faculty, or students who may be traveling to that region. Elizabeth James ’08 and Alejandro Blanco-Moreno ’07 currently serve as ambassadors in London.

Elizabeth James ’08

londonElizabeth (Liz) James, a 2008 graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Business, is an International Alumni Ambassador, fundraising volunteer, and a 2012 Olympic Torchbearer. A Greenwich, Connecticut native, James was a Marketing and Professional Sales major at the School of Business and a member of the National Honor Fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi. Commenting on her undergraduate experience, Liz says, “The UConn Business School laid the foundation for my business knowledge and pushed me to achieve more than I ever thought possible.”

Liz was hired by the Nielsen Company after graduation as part of their Emerging Leaders Program, which moved her from Tampa to San Francisco, Chicago, and

New York. After working on some sports-related projects, she was asked to go live and work in London in 2010 in preparation for the 2012 Olympics.

Six months before the Olympic Torch Relay, Liz was nominated by her peers and selected by a panel of senior managers at the Nielsen Company to be a Torchbearer. “I was flattered to be selected out of 1,500 candidates in our UK offices!” exclaims Liz. One of nearly 8,000 torchbearers to carry the Olympic flame during its 70-day journey across the UK as part of the ancient Olympic Torch Relay tradition, Liz carried the flame through the London Borough of Bromley on July 23. “It was amazing to meet my fellow torchbearers on my route (there are 30 people per route) and to be around such wonderful, selfless people. When I got off the Olympic bus to start my 500-meter run, I was greeted by about 40 family members, friends and work peers! Everyone had either an American flag or a UConn flag to show their support… I ran as slow as I could with the torch, so I could soak up every moment of it! This is an experience I will never forget.”

Now that the Olympics are over, Liz is preparing for her next adventure. Will it be Rio for the next Olympics, or perhaps back home to the United States? Says Liz, “Our company is in over 150 countries, so the possibilities are limitless!”

Alejandro Blanco-Moreno ’07

Alejandro (Alex) Blanco-Moreno, is a 2007 graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Business and has been living in London for over five years, where he also serves as an International Alumni Ambassador.

Originally from Spain, Alex enrolled at UConn through UCAELI, a program for international students to learn English and qualify to attend universities in the United States. When asked why he chose UConn, Alex responds, “Most of my relatives have studied abroad in different countries, and I did quite a lot of research. I was looking for a school in a rural setting that had a good balance between sports and academics. [The UConn School of Business] was starting to greatly improve its position nationally, thanks to the big investment taken not only to provide its students with brand new classroom facilities, but also to greatly increase its staff and broad offer of available majors and study programs. That was the final reason that made me leave Spain and start my new life in Storrs.”

A couple of months before graduation, Alex accepted a job offer that would return him to Europe. Joining structured credit brokerage OTX, a start-up company in London at the time, Alex rose through the ranks quickly, eventually taking on the role of CFO. Commenting on the experience, he notes, “The fact that we started trading right in the middle of a global financial meltdown only helped to put into practice everything that I learned back in the classroom, and combine it with all the non-textbook experience that you gain in an economic event with such huge international consequences as the one we have gone through the last few years.”

On hiatus this summer, Alex spent time with many notable UConn friends in London, among them alumnus and donor Mark R. Shenkman ’65, who was elected to the UConn School of Business Hall of Fame in 2002 and has endowed the Shenkman Family Chair in E-Business for the business school. Mr. Shenkman is founder and president of Shenkman Capital Management, Inc., a registered investment advisor with offices in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut. “Of course it was a great honor to be able to meet Mark Shenkman and his family during their stay for the London 2012 Olympics. Mark is not only a very important and generous alumnus to the University, but also an extremely nice and approachable person,” mentions Alex. When Mark and his family needed advice on directions or things to do in London, Alex was happy to share his knowledge about the city.

Serving as a local advisor and arranger, Alex provided many London visitors this summer with information on matters ranging from getting to the Olympic arena, organizing dinners at restaurants to satisfy all budgets and palates, and coordinating a tour of the city with plenty of interesting facts that are unknown even to many fellow Londoners. “As Alumni Ambassador here in the UK, I always try to assist any fellow members in anything I can… It is always very exciting to see how many proud Huskies are out there, even after having graduated many years or decades ago,” said Alex.

Reflecting on his UConn experience, Alex notes the importance of how international the School of Business is. “[It] fully represents the environment you encounter when you start working after graduation.”

Alex is now looking for a bit of a career change, with a continued focus on finance. He is also full of ideas for increasing alumni involvement in the UK. “I really hope that our network keeps growing at an even faster pace in the future, so we can show the huge international presence and importance that our students and alumni have all around the world today,” Alex says.

Alumni Event

In a celebration of the UConn family in London, nearly 250 alumni, students, faculty, family, friends and donors gathered at the Charing Cross Hotel on August 8 for an evening sponsored by the UConn Alumni Association, UConn Foundation, Office of Global Programs, and the School of Business. Highlights of the evening included welcomes by Lisa Lewis, Executive Director of the Alumni Association; Warde Manuel, UConn Athletic Director; and Team USA women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma. Recognized attendees included international alumni ambassadors, donors, and the athletes present, including Tony Hanson ’97, a former UConn Guard, and the 6 former huskies on the national team, including Asjha Jones ’02.

In a moving “special presentation,” Geno presented former men’s basketball coach (1969-1977) Donald “Dee” Rowe with an autographed basketball and game shirt. Rowe was unable to attend the 1980 Olympics as assistant coach of the U.S. team due to a national boycott of the Moscow Olympics that year.

Several alumni traveled to London just to attend the reception and to see the women’s basketball events, coming from across Europe and the United States. “We have a group of very dedicated alumni whose loyalty to UConn was strongly felt at this event,” commented School of Business Dean John Elliott. Deb Crary, Manager of Alumni Services at the UConn Alumni Association added, “Everyone left there feeling really proud to be connected to UConn.”


   

Business Briefs & Accolades (Fall 2012)

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 3, Issue 1 (Fall 2012)

busnmag fall 2012Business Briefs

Universitas 21 Doctoral Research Conference in Business

u21.business.uconn.edu

The University of Connecticut School of Business hosted the inaugural Universitas 21 (U21) Doctoral Research Conference in Business (DRCB) on April 10-13, 2012. PhD students from twelve U21 schools, including UConn, presented research and received feedback regarding their dissertations from their counterparts, faculty from the participating universities, and UConn faculty. The vision of U21 DRCB is to create a global learning and research platform to prepare the next generation of intellectual leaders.

UConn MBA Program Rises in US News Graduate School Rankings

mba.uconn.edu

The University of Connecticut MBA Program rose several spots in the US News & World Report’s 2013 Best Graduate School rankings. “It’s always flattering to be considered among the best graduate business programs in the country,” noted Michael J. Deotte, director of the Full-time MBA Program. “Positive rankings such as this, reflect our steadfast commitment to affordable, quality graduate management education.” UConn’s Full-time MBA Program ranks 61st (31st among public business schools); the Part-time MBA Program ranks 52nd among part-time programs.

CCEA Collaborates in Winning DoE Grant for
Solar Installations

ccea.uconn.edu

The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) is funding a variety of initiatives designed to reduce non-hardware costs for photovoltaic (PV) solar installations by 15-20%. The core objective is to develop innovative policies, models, tools, and data management systems that will deliver this result. The Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis (CCEA), now housed in the UConn School of Business, assembled a University team to analyze hardware and non-hardware costs for roof-top solar PV. The ultimate objective is to create a tool that would permit possible PV purchasers or vendors to evaluate the solar potential of the roof on their building.

CCEI Holds Annual University-Wide Business Plan Competition

ccei.business.uconn.edu

The Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI) at the University of Connecticut School of Business held its annual business plan competition in spring 2012. The interdisciplinary teams helped to bring a wide array of perspectives and ideas to any project. All submitted plans were reviewed by experienced entrepreneurs, investors and UConn faculty. Additionally, the CCEI hosted multiple workshops dedicated to helping teams improve and polish their plans in order to maximize their prospects for success.

MS in Accounting Does Well in US News Ranking

msaccounting.business.uconn.edu

The MS in Accounting (MSA) at UConn’s School of Business has received accolades for its online delivery in the U.S. News and World Report’s first annual rankings of online degree programs. The magazine’s latest ranking evaluated business programs in four categories: admissions selectivity; student engagement and accreditation; faculty credentials and training; and student services and technology. An overall ranking was not given. The University of Connecticut ranked seventh in the admissions area and 17th in student engagement.

  • Professor & Cizik Chair in Management John Mathieu was recently elected to and inducted as an Academy of Management Fellow.
  • Jeffrey Kramer, Emeritus Associate Professor-in-Residence and Director of Programs in Healthcare and Insurance Studies, received an award by the CT Chapter of American College of Health Care Administrators.
  • Gim Seow, Associate Professor of Accounting, was awarded a $10,000 grant by the PwC Foundation.
  • Professor Suresh Nair has been appointed the Interim Associate Vice Provost of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness in the Office of the Provost at UConn.
  • The Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Associate Professor Robert Bird to the Northeast Utilities Chair in Business Ethics.
  • Professors Michael Lubatkin, Zeki Simsek, John Viega, and PhD graduate Yan Ling received a Scholarly Impact Award by the The Journal of Management for their research.
  • In Fall 2012, the MS in Financial Risk Management (MSFRM) Program accepted its first class in Hartford, Connecticut.
  • The paper, titled “Why Give Away Something for Nothing? Investigating Virtual Goods Pricing and Permission Strategies,” co-written by UConn OPIM faculty members, Sulin Ba, Professor; Jan Stallaert, Associate Professor; Zhongju Zhang, Associate Professor; and Dan Ke; was nominated as the best ACM Transactions on Management Information Systems paper of 2010 and is also one out of five recipients of the Best IS Publications of the Year Awards 2010.
  • The Westchester/Greater Connecticut Chapter of the National Black MBA Association named the University of Connecticut School of Business the 2012 Educational Institution of the Year. This award recognizes organizations and businesses for successful efforts in encouraging the development of African American students.
  • The School of Business launched its MS in Business Analytics and Project Management (MSBAPM) in Fall 2011.
  • The School of Business Career Center (SBCC) celebrated its 30th anniversary.
  • The UConn PhD Program celebrated its 25th anniversary.
  • UConn’s EMBA Program celebrated its 20th anniversary.

In the Media

Have you seen us in the news? Look who’s talking about us:

Faculty Awards

Faculty awards are given annually by the UConn School of Business to recognize its faculty’s achievements.

Research

Best Paper: Sarah Rice and David Weber. “How Effective is Internal Control Reporting under SOZ 404? Determinants of the (Non-) Disclosure of Existing Material Weaknesses”

Runner up: Robert Day and Robert Garfinkel. “Integrated Block Sharing: a Win-Win Strategy for Hospitals and Surgeons”

Honorable Mention: Gregory Reilly. “Reconsidering Pay Dispersion’s Effect on the Performance of Interdependent Work: Reconciling Sorting and Pay Inequality”

Honorable Mention: Robert Day. “Quadratic Core-Selecting Payment Rules for Combinatorial Auctions”

Teaching

  • Research Excellence co-winners:Ram Gopal and John Mathieu
  • Graduate Teaching co-winners: Lucy Gilson and Kevin McEvoy
  • Undergraduate Teaching Co-winners:Mark DeAngelis and Mark Spurling
  • Teaching Innovation Award: Dmitry Zhdanov

Service and Outreach

  • David Papandria

Ackerman Scholars

The Ackerman Scholar award recognizes significant and continuing all around academic productivity among the faculty of the School.

Appointed for 2012-13 and 2013-14:

  • Jose Cruz, OPIM
  • Gary Powell, Management
  • Greg Reilly, Management
  • Ramesh Sankaranarayanan, OPIM

Continuing in their second year:

  • Sulin Ba, OPIM
  • Joseph Golec, Finance
  • John Harding, Finance
  • Suresh Nair, OPIM
  • Rexford Santerre, Finance
  • Zeki Simsek, Management.

Intrigued?

Read these articles and more at business.uconn.edu/pressroom


   

Message from the Dean (Fall 2012)

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 3, Issue 1 (Fall 2012)

Dr. John A. Elliott, 14th Dean of the University of Connecticut School of Business

Welcome to the 2012 issue of UConn Business. Following an exciting summer, we are pleased to share some of the intellectually stimulating activities taking place at the School of Business, a multitude of recent student and alumni accomplishments, and to keep you informed as we continue through the 2012-2013 academic year.

A Global Welcome

John ElliotI am delighted to join the University of Connecticut School of Business at such an exciting time. August 15, my first day on campus, was planned around the London Olympics. When I received the phone call last January and began to consider the Deanship at the School of Business, I had standing plans to go to London with my wife and son. So joining the School of Business ultimately followed our return from a remarkable experience in London. In this issue you will read about several linkages between UConn, London, and the Olympics.

While in London, I attended a UConn gathering featuring Geno Auriemma and the six UConn alumnae who were playing for the U.S. women’s basketball team. There, I found myself in the company of about 250 alumni, students, faculty, and friends who assembled in London on behalf of UConn. The group included about 40 students who were studying there for the summer. What a wonderful introduction to the UConn family. I was particularly impressed by the students. They were energetic, passionate, and excited young people whose commitment to UConn was inspiring.

The following evening, my wife, son and I were together with friends at the semi-finals when the USA women’s basketball team played Australia. If you recall, the first half did not go well. Toward the end of the third quarter, I heard a vocal fan behind me, whose voice sounded familiar. Wondering who it could be, I turned around to discover that, in one of those amazing happenstances, it wasWarde Manuel (our new Director of UConn Athletics) with prominent alumnus, Mark Shenkman ’65. Having secured our tickets separately, we were nontheless sitting front-to-back in this enormous stadium of people. Geno must have found the right words during half-time, because the women’s team went on to win. It was a great evening!

So, as it happened, part of my first “official” UConn activities with respect to UConn were abroad, in London, among the global community. The experience validated my sense of who the University is, who we want to become, and of the strong enthusiasm and commitment shared by alumni, students, and faculty.

The UConn Distinction

deanOne of the most common questions I hear is, “Why would you leave the largest business school in the United States to come to UConn?” The answer is evident in the level of commitment to education in Connecticut. One of the things that immediately focused my attention was what I heard about UConn President Susan Herbst and Governor Malloy, and about the commitment they were making on behalf of education as an engine that will drive the future of the economy in Connecticut.

What is going on in Connecticut, and what is happening at UConn made a strong impression. The search committee talked about it, and the people I interviewed with talked about it. I have happily been uniformly pleased that what I was told to expect is what I have encountered. There is exciting new activity; the faculty is ready to take on new challenges and create new opportunities. We are well poised to be an even better institution in five years than we are today.

I see a campus ready for the next phase. I see the state investing in that next phase. Everywhere I turn, I see people committed to the University. Students, alumni, and corporate leaders are all dedicated to their relationships with the School of Business and the University.

Initiatives such as UCONN 2000 and 21st Century UConn are enhancing academic and research activities on all of our campuses. UConn’s membership in Universitas21, an international network of leading research-intensive universities from 16 countries, is extraordinary. Only two universities from the United States (the other is the University of Virginia) are members of this exceptional network. These programs are indicative of a unique approach in Connecticut, where higher education is treated as a cornerstone of economic development.

Furthermore, the University’s commitment to hire new faculty without growing the student population demonstrates a forward-looking process focused on quality and improving the student-to-faculty ratio. It is exciting and refreshing to hear such commitments after encountering several years of draconian budget cuts and faculty losses. It’s also distinctive in the United States, where higher education is more often being cut and extreme tuition increases are common. At UConn, tuition increases appear to be modest and planned.

The School of Business Today

Many changes have taken place at the School of Business over the past few years, and now is the time to evaluate those changes. We assigned a task force to evaluate the success of the Full-time MBA Program redesign of three years ago; to understand the nationwide decline in applicants and enrollment; and to identify new opportunities. A second task force has been assigned to the Executive MBA Program, now in its 20th year, to ensure that we continue to meet businesses’ most critical needs and to encourage and inspire more engagement and sponsorship of students.

Our graduate programs are expanding with the recent addition of two degrees. The Master of Financial Risk Management (MSFRM) is in its third year in Stamford. This new specialized master’s degree has attracted students internationally and is now also in its first year in Hartford. The Master of Business Analytics and Project Management (MSBAPM) is a timely, topical degree program supported by an advisory council and populated by professionals that find it is a perfect fit for their educational needs. Our ten-year old Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) has attracted excellent students and graduates and is the cornerstone and foundation of distance learning for the School of Business.

As the University positions itself to be an integral part of the state and its economy, there is significant room to expand our engagement with the business community in Connecticut. In Hartford, for example, we are working to increase our involvement with the MetroHartford Alliance to assist in the business and economic development in the capitol and surrounding areas. In Stamford, we are hosting several events to enhance the ongoing development of our relationship with the Stamford business community. In October, we hosted, in conjunction with The Business Council of Fairfield County, a panel discussion on Innovation for Business Growth in Fairfield County. It featured panelists from Hearst Publications, Bridgewater Associates, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and the Digital Media Center at UConn. In November, we will hold our first annual risk management conference in which the corporate community will participate. Sponsored in part by IBM and Travelers, featured conference speakers include representatives from UBS, Corporate Executive Board, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), IBM, Bridgewater Associates LP, Wells Fargo, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

One of the competitive advantages of the University of Connecticut School of Business is the role of active learning, of real world experience we provide students through our innovative learning accelerators. As we speak with the business community this fall, we are working on identifying additional programming which would be valuable for our community, including certificate programs and non-degree Executive Education.

In closing, I’d like to reiterate how pleased I am to join UConn and the School of Business. I look forward to working with our faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends in the months ahead as we embrace a future filled with boundless opportunity.


   

Update: Webcast Recording Available for “Town Hall” Meeting on U.S.-China Relationship

November 7, 2012

UConn-Stamford Joins 60-City Live Program with U.S. Ambassador to China

The University of Connecticut’s Stamford campus and the Business Council of Fairfield County are teaming to offer a unique opportunity to students, business leaders and other community members to learn about critical U.S.-China relations.

UConn-Stamford will be one of 60 venues nationwide offering the Oct. 29, 2012, presentation of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations’ sixth annual CHINA Town Hall. The live webcast event, “National Reflections, Local Connections,” includes a discussion and a question-and-answer session with Gary Locke, the U.S. Ambassador to China.

UConn-Stamford’s event starts at 7 p.m. and includes a presentation by China specialist Keith W. Abell, co-founder the Sungate Properties real estate investment company. His discussion precedes the webcast of the Town Hall, which starts at 8 p.m.

UConn-Stamford will present the discussion and live webcast in its Gen Re auditorium on the first floor of the downtown campus. Admission is free.

Ambassador Locke will deliver a special address to be broadcast live to audiences in the 60 cities and towns across the United States. He will then respond to questions from audience members nationwide in a discussion, moderated by Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations.

The presentation of the live webcast at UConn-Stamford is part of the University’s commitment to offering timely, compelling events and resources to students, the region and its business community.

“China is now part of Fairfield County’s daily reality. This event is an important investment in our region’s growing understanding of the US-China relationship,” says Christopher P. Bruhl, President and CEO of The Business Council of Fairfield County.

Ambassador Gary Locke has been U.S. Ambassador to China since August 2011. Previously, he served as the Secretary of Commerce from 2009 to 2011 where he was point person for achieving the President’s National Export Initiative, which achieved a thirty-two percent increase in exports to China from 2009 to 2010.

Before his appointment to the President’s cabinet, Ambassador Locke served two terms as governor of Washington, where he helped double the state’s exports to China, and as a partner in the Seattle office of the international law firm, David Wright Tremaine LLP, where he co-chaired the firm’s China practice.

The National Committee on United States-China Relations is the leading national, non-partisan public affairs organization devoted exclusively to building constructive and durable relationships between the United States and China.

For more information, contact:

Timothy Dowding, UConn School of Business International Business Accelerator
(203) 251-9582 or timothy.dowding@business.uconn.edu

Michael J. Deotte, UConn School of Business Director of Marketing
(860) 486-4478 or mdeotte@business.uconn.edu

Joseph Weed, Director of Communications
National Committee on United States-China Relations
(212) 645-9677, ext. 11 or jweed@ncuscr.org


   

2012 MBA Women International Conference & Career Fair

November 6, 2012

The 2012 MBA Women International (MBAWI) Conference & Career Fair was held October 18-20 in Phoenix, Arizona. Marlys Rizzi represented the University of Connecticut School of Business at the event and served on the conference planning committee. This year’s theme, “Leadership Trends, Achieving Peak Performance,” was designed to assist women, both students and professionals, as they continue along the journey to develop and enhance their leadership skills. Continue Reading

Finance Society Visits Morgan Stanley, Gets Inside View of Wall Street

November 1, 2012

In the early hours of Friday morning, October 26, 2012, eighteen members of the School of Business Finance Society embarked upon a trip into Manhattan to meet with Dan Toscano ’87, Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Leveraged and Acquisition Finance at Morgan Stanley. Mr. Toscano and his team hosted a Teach-In on Global Capital Markets for the business students. While learning about the inner workings of one of the leading global financial service firms in the world, the students followed up a question/answer session with a trip to the trading floor of Morgan Stanley’s world headquarters in New York.

During the afternoon hours, following a brief visit to the 9/11 Memorial Site, the students traveled to Wall Street to participate in the Wall Street Financial Crisis Tour which offered an insider’s view of the most significant financial event since the Great Depression. Also in attendance at the day’s events were Jim Lowe, Executive Director of the School of Business Career Center (SBCC) and Kathy Hendrickson, Program Manager of the SBCC.