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2012 Risk Management Conference

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The University of Connecticut School of Business was proud to host our First Annual Risk Management Conference on November 9, 2012. Over 165 risk management and regulation professionals, faculty members, and graduate students in the Master of Science in Financial Risk Management (MSFRM) program gathered to discuss new challenges and opportunities in the field. Among the many notable guests in attendance were faculty members from several other universities, including Sabanci University in Istanbul, Turkey. Continue Reading

Risk Management Conference Draws Audience of 165+

Posted on by Claire Hall

The University of Connecticut School of Business was proud to host our First Annual Risk Management Conference on November 9, 2012. Over 165 risk management and regulation professionals, faculty members, and graduate students in the Master of Science in Financial Risk Management (MSFRM) program gathered to discuss new challenges and opportunities in the field. Among the many notable guests in attendance were faculty members from several other universities, including Sabanci University in Istanbul, Turkey. Continue Reading

Teaching. Research. Outreach.

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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

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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.


   

Message from the Dean (Fall 2012)

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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

Posted on by Claire Hall

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

Posted on by Claire Hall

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

Posted on by Claire Hall

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.

Innovation for Business Growth in Fairfield County

Posted on by Claire Hall

Over 110 UConn Alumni and business leaders from Greater Stamford gathered at the “Innovation for Business Growth in Fairfield County” event at the Stamford Learning Accelerator last Thursday. The event, hosted by the University of Connecticut School of Business and The Business Council of Fairfield, Connecticut, featured a panel discussion on topics such as new business growth in Connecticut and why companies are relocating to Fairfield County.

Moderated by Dean John Elliott of the UConn School of Business and Christopher Bruhl, President and CEO of The Business Council of Fairfield County, the panel was comprised of UConn alumni business leaders in the area as well as UConn faculty. Panelists included Tim Hunter, Professor and Head, Digital Media & Design Department, UConn Schools of Business and Fine Arts; Lincoln Millstein ’77, Executive Vice President, Deputy Group Head at Hearst Publications; Seth Ruzi, VP & Associate General Counsel, Starwood Hotels & Resorts; and Joseph Parsons ’79, Management Committee Member, Bridgewater Associates.

The interactive discussion was followed by a cocktail party and networking reception welcoming the new Dean, where attendees were also able to chat with panelists directly.

The Business Career Center Breaks the Mold on Career Fairs

Posted on by Claire Hall

On October 12, 2012, the School of Business Career Center hosted its inaugural Business Career Expo during which they welcomed over 480 registered business students and over 100 key corporate professionals to an invitation-only career event. The Expo, held on a Friday during the hours of 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., was marketed to employers and students alike as “Not your Classic Career Fair” and was the first event of this kind for not only the School of Business, but the University as well. Absent from the room were the long tables and employer banners which usually serve as the backdrop of career fairs and which can form a barrier to more personal conversations.

The day was structured around three components: networking, information sessions and personal career placement conversations. The main Expo room, set with bistro style tables, was filled with light and an open energy flow which resonated around both employers and students alike. In breakout rooms across the hall, 17 individual employer information sessions ran concurrent to the Expo and offered students the ability to learn more about individual companies and placement opportunities. “We designed the day in a setting that was intended to foster compelling, impactful conversations with a direct focus on student placement. Based on attendance as well as student and employer comments, the day was such a resounding success that we plan to continue the event in the coming years.” said Jim Lowe, Executive Director of the School of Business Career Center and Assistant Dean of External Relations and Outreach.

The day concluded with a private luncheon for our corporate partners hosted by the Business Career Center. Mary Holz-Clause, the University of Connecticut’s Vice President of Economic Development, and Jim Lowe spoke briefly at the luncheon to welcome and thank all of our corporate partners for their continued support of our students.