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Business Honor Society Inducts New Members and Awards Scholarships

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Beta Gamma SigmaThe University of Connecticut chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, the nation’s oldest and most widely known business student association, will celebrate its 55thanniversary this year. To commemorate the occasion and in keeping with the society’s mission of recognizing and encouraging academic excellence, the UConn chapter will conduct its annual induction ceremony on April 25, 2014, as part of the larger School of Business Academic Honors and Awards ceremony.

One hundred and forty-three (143) students have been invited to become members into the Society by the BGS faculty committee and School of Business Dean John Elliott. The guest speaker this year will be Marcia Marien, a Partner and CPA at O’Connor Davies, LLP. Scholarship awards also will be presented to rising seniors who have compiled particularly distinguished academic records. The 2013 Beta Gamma Sigma scholarship recipients Jasmine Lui and Marc Schuman comment on their experience:

“It was an honor to be awarded the Beta Gamma Sigma Scholarship last year. We have always felt that the business community at UConn has supported us, but this scholarship was a form of tangible support, for which we are very grateful. Beta Gamma Sigma had many bright and talented inductees last year, so we are honored to be recipients out of such a qualified group. This scholarship has inspired us to give back to our community, and we hope that one day, as successful professionals, we will be able to help others as Beta Gamma Sigma has helped us.”

Only the top 10% of 6th semester juniors and top 10% of seniors are eligible to join Beta Gamma Sigma. Being invited to join Beta Gamma Sigma is a sign of excellence. Receiving a BGS Scholarship in addition indicates that a student has earned the right to be considered as best of the best at one of the world’s finest business schools.

Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma provides recognition for a lifetime. This lifelong commitment to its members’ academic and professional success is defined in the Society’s mission: to encourage and honor academic achievement in the study of business, to foster personal and professional excellence, to advance the values of the Society, and to serve its lifelong members.

The Beta Gamma Sigma designation sets an individual apart from the crowd. Corporate recruiters actively seek individuals who have been elected to membership into Beta Gamma Sigma. Benefits of membership in the Society can continue long after graduation and professional life. Programs such as the BGS CareerCentral job board, BGS On-Line Community and the Alumni Network offer alumni members opportunities to stay connected and benefit from their commitment to academic excellence.

Beta Gamma Sigma was founded as a national organization on February 19, 1913. The first national honor society in business was a merger of three separate societies established to honor academic achievement in business at the University of Wisconsin, University of Illinois and the University of California. BGS celebrated its 100th anniversary last year.

With collegiate chapters on five continents, Beta Gamma Sigma today is truly an international society that remains dedicated to recognizing the most outstanding students of business and management. The Society serves business schools accredited by AACSB International in the 21st century knowing that its membership of more than 625,000 comprises the brightest and best of the world’s business leaders.

Online Accounting Certificate Program to Debut Fall 2014

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Attractive Bridge to MS in Accounting Degree. The UConn School of Business Accounting Department is pleased to announce the launch of the new online Accounting Certificate Program (ACP) commencing fall 2014.

The new program is specifically designed for college graduates and working professionals with non-accounting backgrounds who are interested in acquiring fundamental accounting knowledge. For those individuals wishing to pursue UConn’s MS in Accounting Program, which requires the same prerequisite accounting courses, the certificate provides an attractive bridge for meeting the degree’s entry requirements.

“UConn’s ACP program has broad appeal in the marketplace, especially given the online format,” says Amy Dunbar, professor and program director. “Already leaders in online accounting education with our highly successful online MSA program, we’re pleased to leverage our expertise in developing a quality online certificate program that addresses the needs of two unique constituencies – individuals who simply want more accounting education than they currently have and those who would like to use the accounting courses as a bridge to an MSA program.”

The ACP comprises four comprehensive accounting courses covering financial reporting, assurance services, and taxation. The program runs through the fall and spring semesters, culminating in the completion of the certificate in May.

Applicants for the new certificate program must have an undergraduate degree (any major) and have completed introductory financial and managerial accounting courses. After completing the ACP, individuals can apply to UConn’s MSA program and receive credit for two of the ACP courses.

The Accounting Department has seen significant interest in the MSA program from individuals in the work force, as well as from UConn students in other graduate degree programs, who generally don’t have the undergraduate accounting background required for admission.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had to decline a majority of students interested in the MSA program over the years because they simply didn’t possess the prerequisite undergraduate accounting courses,” says Mo Hussein, professor and department head of Accounting. “The next question generally asked was whether we offered the required courses here at UConn. Now, we are able to say ‘yes!'”

For more information, please visit http://msaccounting.business.uconn.edu/

Newly Redesigned Business Data Analytics Major Announced

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The School of Business is pleased to announce the newly redesigned Business Data Analytics undergraduate major, currently known as Business and Technology, which is offered at UConn’s regional campuses. The redesigned major was officially approved by the Provost’s Office on February 10, 2014, after being unanimously approved by the business school’s faculty body earlier in the month. Continue Reading

2013 Ph.D. Awards

Posted on by Brian Kelleher

Congratulations to doctoral students who have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in research and/or teaching:

2013 School of Business Hall of Fame Award

  • Marketing – Hang Thu Nguyen

Dean’s 2013 Pre-doctoral Fellowship

  • Accounting – Erin Henry, Elizabeth Kohl
  • Finance – Tingyu Zhou
  • Management – Margaret Luciano, Lauren D’Innocenzo
  • Marketing – Jeffrey Carlson
  • Operations & Information Management- Mark Schneider, Gang Wang

2013 Departmental Outstanding Ph.D. Student Scholar Awards
(*Nominated for Program-wide Outstanding Scholar Award)

  • Accounting – Erin Henry*, Biyu Wu, Valerie Tellez
  • Finance – Tingyu Zhou*, Charles Clarke, Steven Rush, Steven Kozlowski
  • Management – Margaret Luciano* (Congratulations to Margaret for also winning the Ph.D. Program-wide Outstanding Ph.D. Scholar Award)
  • Management – Brian Fox, Hyoun Sook Lim
  • Marketing – Jeffrey Carlson*, Shan Lin, Selcan Kara, Anna Vredeveld, Bin Li
  • Operations & Information Management – Mark Schneider*, Gang Wang, Lei Wang

2013 Departmental Ph.D. Student Teaching Awards

  • Accounting – Elizabeth Kohl
  • Finance – Tingyu Zhou
  • Management – Lauren D’Innocenzo (Congratulations to Lauren for also winning the Ph.D. Program-wide Teaching Award)
  • Marketing – Jeff Carlson
  • Operations & Information Management – Gang Wang

John Fodor Named 2012-13 Outstanding Alumnus

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John FodorStorrs, CT – John Fodor ’85, executive vice president, sales & distribution, The Capital Group/American Funds, has been named the 2012-2013 Outstanding Alumnus for his exceptional support of the Marketing Department, including the recent establishment of the Fodor Family Scholarship Fund. Fodor, an ’85 graduate of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and varsity-letter football player (receiver and safety) wanted to align his commitment to both academics and athletics through this endowment. The Fodor Family Scholarship will be awarded annually to varsity student-athletes pursuing a minor or certificate in Professional Sales through the Program of Sales Leadership, who have a demonstrated financial need, and who are engaged in a University community service or community outreach program.

In a recent conversation, John Fodor offered, “I wish they had this program when I was at UConn. In all my years in business, I have seen that those that have the ability to ‘sell’ themselves, which can present, motivate and persuade others, achieve the most success in their careers. This holds true across all vocations, not just professional salespeople. An accountant, marketer, really anyone who aspires to lead an organization needs to master these skills. The unique experiences and skills gained through the UConn Program for Sales Leadership will enable graduates to be more marketable in today’s competitive job market, and prove invaluable as they venture out in the business world. Who wouldn’t want to help support that?”

At American Funds, John is responsible for broad distribution efforts, including Non-U.S. Retail, Separately Managed Accounts, Insurance, and a host of other Capital Group solutions. Prior to joining American Funds in 1993, he was a senior account supervisor for CIGNA Group Pension. John is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority; he sits on the Board of several charitable organizations, including The Foundation for Financial Planning, an industry group committed to delivering pro bono financial planning to those in need.

John lives in Southborough, MA with his wife, Sally, and their two daughters, Sarah and Jessica.

Planning for Connecticut’s Economic Future: UConn goes to Israel to expand academic partnerships

Posted on by Michael Deotte

“STORRS – A delegation of UConn’s top administrators visited Israel for 10 days in late October and early November, to explore ways to expand partnerships and collaborations with the country’s leading academic institutions.

The trip is especially timely as the state launches Next Generation Connecticut and Bioscience Connecticut, two collaborative initiatives with UConn aimed at building the state’s economy through educational opportunities, research, and innovation in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and bioscience.”

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Professor Jain, Recipient of 2013 AMA Global Marketing Award, Retires

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Professor JainProfessor Subhash C. Jain received the 2013 Significant Contributions to Global Marketing Award, honored by the Global Marketing Special Interest Group (SIG) of the American Marketing Association for his preeminent contributions advancement of global marketing and thought. The award ceremony occurred during the American Marketing Association 2013 Summer Educators’ Conference in Boston.

Professor Jain joined the faculty at the University of Connecticut in 1976,after completing graduate work at the University of Oregon, Stanford University, and the University of Rajasthan, India. He has served, with distinction, as Professor of Marketing and Department Head of the Marketing Department. Since 1995, Dr. Jain was Director of the UConn CIBER(except in 1999),and also served as Director of the GE Capital Global Learning Center, School of Business. His teaching, consulting, and research activities included marketing strategy and multinational marketing. Dr. Jain is the author of more than 100 publications, including articles in Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Marketing, Journal of International Marketing, Journal of Economic Abstracts, Long Range Planning, Journal of Applied Psychology, and Columbia Journal of World Business. He is the author of several books, including Marketing Planning and Strategy, 9th edition (South-Western), International Marketing Management, 7th edition (South-Western), Export Strategy (Quorum Books), and Market Evolution in Developing Countries (Haworth Press).

Dr. Jain has served on the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of Marketing, Journal of International Business Studies, and Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, and a number of other international journals. He is an active member of a number of professional organizations, including the American Marketing Association and the Academy of International Business. In addition to the American Marketing Association’s Global Marketing Special Interest Group’s 2013 Significant Contributions to Global Marketing Award, he has been honored by the Swiss Management Association for his life-long achievements. Dr. Jain has presented seminars in the United States and abroad, and has frequently served as a consultant to foreign government agencies on their trade problems, as well as to organizations such as Xerox Corporation, General Electric, GATT (now WTO), and United Technologies Corporation.

Dr. Jain has been active in the community as a Treasurer of the Mansfield Democratic Party, and has served on the Boards of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and Windham Hospital. In 2005, he was appointed as a member of the Connecticut District Export Council by the Secretary of Commerce. In 2006, Dr. Jain was honored by Governor Jodi Rell as a worthy immigrant to the U.S. and a fine representative of the State of Connecticut.

Professor Frank Franzak, Secretary of the Global Marketing SIG, Virginia Commonwealth University; Robin Coulter, Department Head; Subhash Jain, Former Director of CIBER.

MBAs Continue to Collect Competition Honors

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For the second year in a row, UConn MBAs won first place in the APICS Northeast Supply Chain Business Case Competition held this year February 7-8, 2014 in Albany, NY.

The winning “Grand Champion” team, comprising Jaimin Bhatt ’15 MBA, Mohit Ganotra ’15 MBA, and Bhupender Singh ’15 MBA, will represent the Northeast District in APICS International Student Team Competition scheduled for October in New Orleans. Continue Reading

UConn’s CFA Research Challenge Team Advances to Americas Regional Competition

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CFA Institute Research ChallengeHartford, CT – The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition that provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis. The Hartford CFA chapter hosted the local CFA Research Challenge competition for the first time this year. By participating in this competition, students gain real-world experience as they assume the role of a research analyst and are tested on their ability to value a stock, write an initiation-of-coverage report, and present their recommendations.

We are pleased to announce that with the assistance of the CFA Society Hartford Industry Mentor Leslie White and Finance Department Professor Michael Oancea, the CFA Research Challenge team representing the University of Connecticut School of Business was victorious in completing the research challenge for the local Hartford region and are moving on to the Americas Regonal finals in Denver this March. UConn’s CFA Research Challenge Team consists of the following MBA students: Kamran Momenzadeh, Pornpong Lueang (Omo), Jon Singsen and Jeff Makray.

This global competition tests university students’ skills on equity research and valuation, investment report writing and presentation skills. The competition consists of a written investment research report on a single, publicly traded company and a 10 minute presentation to the judges. The winning team is selected based on the thoroughness of the equity analysis and full research report as well as the overall knowledge of the company. Last year, over 775 universities in 54 countries participated in this global challenge.

From Left to Right: Leslie White – CFA Industry Mentor, Kamran Momenzadeh, Pornpong (Omo) Lueang, John Singsen and Jeffrey Makray