IBM, developer of the “Watson” computing system best known for beating human contestants on the TV game show, “Jeopardy!” has turned to student teams at the University of Connecticut School of Business’ Stamford Learning Accelerator for ideas on turning data among Watson’s vast inventory of unstructured information into purpose-based recommendations.Continue Reading
Stamford
MBA Students Welcome President of Bigelow Tea to Stamford Learning Accelerator
Cindi Bigelow, president of Bigelow Tea in Fairfield, Connecticut, the #1 market leader of specialty teas in the United States, spoke to 45 MBA students recently in the Stamford Learning Accelerator (SLA) Rotunda at the University of Connecticut’s Stamford campus. Also present from Bigelow Tea were Lauren Westbrook, Brand Manager, and Patrick Rowan, Sales Representative.
Cindi was invited by Brian Brady, director of the SLA and faculty Instructor in Residence for “Thinking, Acting and Managing Entrepreneurially” in the Management Department, one of the MBA classes Bigelow addressed. Additionally in attendance were Professor Wynd Harris of the Marketing Department and students from her MBA course, “New Product and Management Innovation.” Also attending was Professor Tim Dowding of the Operations and Information Management Department and Associate Director of the International Business Accelerator at UConn Stamford.
Under Cindi’s energetic leadership, Bigelow Tea has embraced social media and continues to expand a product line that now includes over 120 varieties of black, green, decaffeinated, herbal and iced teas. The company produces over 1.6 billion tea bags annually.
Weeks prior to Cindi’s visit, the MBA students conducted research on tea drinkers and shared their findings with Cindi who led an interactive discussion on what it’s like to be the third generation running a family business, staying ahead of the competitive tea industry and why Bigelow Tea’s over 300 employees are like family. Cindi also engaged all of the students in a hands-on Earl Grey tea cutting demonstration, comparing Bigelow Tea’s brand to major competitors.
Photos from the event can be viewed at
To learn more about the Stamford Learning Accelerator, please visit http://sla.business.uconn.edu/
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
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.
Update: Webcast Recording Available for “Town Hall” Meeting on U.S.-China Relationship
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
Innovation for Business Growth in Fairfield County
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.
Risk Management: New Challenges and Opportunities Conference
The University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Business announced today it will host the inaugural Risk Management: New Challenges and Opportunities Conference on Friday, Nov. 9 in Stamford, Connecticut.
James B. Comey, Jr., former U.S. Deputy Attorney General and general counsel, Bridgewater Associates LP, will deliver the keynote address.
“Following recent economic turmoil, the finance and accounting sectors are taking a more proactive role in risk management, as well as adjusting to more rigorous requirements and regulations within the industry,” says Jud Saviskas, Executive Director for the School of Business at UConn-Stamford. “The Conference will bring together financial and accounting professionals, faculty and graduate students to discuss key issues and challenges in risk management.”
Sessions emphasize the common forces affecting a wide range of institutions, including banking, insurance and investment management, as well as regulators, industrial firms and accounting/consulting firms. The event is organized by the Master of Science in Financial Risk Management program at UConn.
The event is from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., and topics include:
- Measuring and Managing ERM Effectiveness
- New Perspectives on Risk Appetite and Hedging Policies
- Moving Towards a More Integrated Approach to Risk Management
- Risk Management from a Legal/Regulatory Perspective
- Risk Management: Advancing Multiple Stakeholder Mandates
- Emerging Risks – Identifying and Managing Over-the-Horizon Risk Events
Registration is $200 and includes all sessions, breakfast and lunch. To register, visit business.uconn.edu/riskconference. For more information, contact Chinmoy Ghosh at chinmoy.ghosh@business.uconn.edu or Jud Saviskas at jud.saviskas@business.uconn.edu.
The Master of Science in Financial Risk Management (MSFRM) program at the University of Connecticut School of Business is a 15-month program offered on both the Hartford and Stamford, Conn. campuses. The program is designed for business professionals who want to enhance their careers by fully understanding how to identify and manage various types of risk faced by multinational firms. Learn more at msfrm.uconn.edu.
For more information, contact:
Jud Saviskas, UConn School of Business, Executive Director
(203) 251-8442 or jud.saviskas@business.uconn.edu
Chinmoy Ghosh, Professor and Department Head of Finance
(860) 486-4431 or chinmoy.ghosh@businesss.uconn.edu
Michael J. Deotte, UConn School of Business Director of Marketing
(860) 486-4478 or mdeotte@business.uconn.edu
The Stamford Learning Accelerator Summer Launch
After an Open House held on April 25th for all UConn Stamford Faculty, Students and Staff, the new Stamford Learning Accelerator launched three student projects this summer during its Summer Orientation, less than one month later, on Tuesday, May 29th. Two projects are for the new International Business Accelerator (IBA) and one is for the formation of a new Student Advertising Agency in Stamford, in conjunction with UConn’s Digital Media Center.
19 students and six faculty mentors across multiple school disciplines such as business, chemical engineering, physics and economics are participating in the projects. While the student teams are based in Stamford, some students are participating from both the Storrs Campus and the Graduate Business Learning Center (GBLC) in downtown Hartford. Students include undergraduates and graduates, as well as one Ph.D. Faculty include Fred Carstensen Professor of Economics and Director of the Center for Economic Analysis at UConn; Robert Johnson, Associate Professor in Residence of the Operations and Information Management Department; Dr. Richard Parnas, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Mike Roer, Adjunct Professor and President of the Entrepreneurship Foundation.
The International Business Accelerator is run under the direction of Dr. Tim Dowding, Professor in Residence of the Operations and Information Management Department in Stamford. The UConn Student Agency is the brainchild of Tim Hunter, Director of UConn’s Digital Media Center and Professor in the Schools of Business and Fine Arts. It is being run in conjunction with Brian Brady, Director of the Stamford Learning Accelerator and Instructor in Residence in the School of Business.
The first project involves creating a computer model to determine the optimal revenue generated from processing seaweed (macro algae) into a series of commodities like biofuels, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. In addition, since seaweed absorbs nitrogen from the water, this model will also estimate the commercial value of nitrogen removed from Long Island Sound based on the State of Connecticut Nitrogen Credit Trading Program. The second project is for the development of a proposal to establish an EB-5 Regional Center at UConn Stamford as part of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which is designed to encourage foreign investment in U.S. companies in order to create jobs. The EB-5 Regional Center would be a joint venture between UConn and the Business Council of Fairfield County.
Finally, two full-time MBA students are working with Professors Hunter and Brady in developing the structure, operations model and branding for UConn’s own Student Advertising Agency, which will be working with both internal and external clients on a variety of digital and marketing projects.
The Stamford Learning Accelerator is actively looking for students to participate in projects for the Fall. Please contact Brian Brady, Director of the Stamford Learning Accelerator, at brian.brady@business.uconn.edu for details.
2011 ACFE Educator of the Year Award Recipient
The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (AFCE) is proud to recognize Dr. Richard Hurley with the 2011 ACFE Educator of the Year Award for his outstanding contributions in fraud examination and curriculum development.
Dr. Hurley developed and teaches an MBA course in “Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination” at the University of Connecticut at Stamford. He is currently developing a course in “Accounting and Securities Fraud.” He authored the “FraudEDge” column from 2008–2010 and is currently the co-author of the “Global Fraud Focus” column.
Business Briefs (Fall 2010)
This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 2, Issue 1 (Fall 2010)
Forbes Ranks UConn MBA Program 12th Among Public Business Schools in United States
The University of Connecticut School of Business’ Full-Time MBA Program was ranked in the top 50 U.S. MBA Programs in Forbes’ 6th biennial MBA Program ROI rankings. Among public institutions alone, UConn ranks 12th nationally and is ranked 27th among all U.S.
institutions. UConn’s MBA Program is ranked #1 for ROI among public business schools in New England and is one of only five business schools in New England to be ranked in the top 30 nationally, along with Dartmouth, Harvard, MIT and Yale.
Undergraduate Program Ranked in Top 25 Public Biz Schools by US News & World Report
The UConn School of Business received high rankings in “America’s Best Colleges 2011” by US News & World Report, breaking into the top 25 among public business schools for the first time. The School is now ranked #24 among all public business schools, an increase of 3 spots over last year’s ranking. The School is ranked in the top 50 at the national level, and the Real Estate specialty is ranked at #9 in the nation. UConn
remains the #1 public university in New England.
Master of Science in Financial Risk Management (MSFRM) Program Launched at Stamford Campus
The School of Business officially launched its new program that offers a Master of Science in Financial Risk Management. Referred to as the MSFRM, this Stamford campus degree was several years in development and reflected corporate input which resulted in the program’s unique focus on the practical vs. the theoretical.
The focus on the practical application of existing theories also drove the planned unique classroom experience, which relies to a great extent on “Professionals in the Classroom”. This group of about 15 senior executives in the financial industry will appear in classrooms to add relevant, concrete examples of the application of theory to real world situations.
Designed as a part time, evening program so executives can attend while maintaining their positions in the financial industry, the program takes 15 months to complete and must be taken “lock-step.”
The focus on the practical application of theory, coupled with the involvement and guidance of GARP (Global Association of Risk Professionals), has resulted both in corporate interest in providing projects to students as well as prospective employment opportunities to program graduates. For more information, please visit msfrm.uconn.edu.
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration to be Offered at the Regional Campuses
The University of Connecticut School of Business announces the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA), a new undergraduate degree program offered at the Hartford, Stamford, and Waterbury campuses. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) provides a general business major to regional campus students.
This interdisciplinary general business major will provide another option for regional campus students interested in a business major. Previously, only a Bachelor of Science in Business and Technology (BSBT) was available to undergraduate students at the regional campuses. Although the core business curriculum of the BSBA is similar to the BSBT, the BSBA requires additional work in marketing, finance and management.
The primary goal of the proposed BSBA is to prepare business leaders who are effective general managers. Therefore, this major will prepare students for broad based careers in nonprofit and public sector organizations as well as for profit businesses. Regional campus students, faculty and staff, community college faculty, high school guidance counselors and the Connecticut business community overwhelmingly support the addition of the new general Business Administration major at these regional campuses.
Well over 90% of students surveyed at the Hartford, Stamford, and Waterbury regional campuses responded positively to the proposal of offering a general Business Administration major as a second option in addition to the Business & Technology major. Over 90% of Connecticut community college respondents also supported this degree.
Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, students are well prepared for professions requiring general management competencies and knowledge. “Graduates earning business administration/management degrees saw a 4.7 percent increase to their average salary offer, raising it to $45,887. These graduates are also consistently high in demand,” according to responding National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE) Job Outlook 2009 employers. Business administration and management is also ranked top 5 in demand according to this research. For more information, please visit The Office of Undergraduate Advising.
MBA Program Redesign Features a Career-Centric Curriculum
The School of Business is launching its highly anticipated redesign for the full-time MBA program in Storrs this Fall. The new structure features a more personalized, career-centric curriculum that gives MBA candidates a larger say in their academic plan.
Designed over a two-year period, the new curriculum will restructure traditional concentrations such as finance, management, marketing, information technology and real estate, allowing students to develop more individualized plans of study within those broader disciplines.
The underlying principle of the redesign is to have students more closely tailor their course work to their long-term career paths, preparing for a job market where increased cross-specialization is becoming more prevalent. The concept of individualized concentrations is on the cutting edge of MBA curriculum design and is currently rare among MBA programs across the country.
The new design also requires students to participate in experiential learning projects in one or more of the Business School’s learning accelerators. Not only does the new curriculum keep UConn’s MBA education relevant and fresh, but it also significantly differentiates UConn MBAs in the marketplace – providing them with an extra edge for professional success. For more information, please visit mba.uconn.edu.
The UConn School of Business Institutionalizes Strategic Global Partnerships
The University of Connecticut School of Business has been working to solidify strategic global partnerships with international business schools. Although the School has enjoyed
relationships with international schools in varying capacities, this past year, the School has taken the important step in institutionalizing the partnerships to further gain international recognition, generate top-quality academic research on global business problems, and have a real-world impact on business practice and education worldwide.
The School currently has official partnerships with the following institutions:
- Australian National University
Canberra, Australia - Beijing Jiaotong University, School of Economics and Management
Beijing, China - Indian Institute of Management
Lucknow, India - Management Development Institute
Gurgaon, India - National Taiwan University
Taipei, Taiwan - Sabanci University, Faculty of Management
Orhanli-Tuzla, Istanbul - Shandong University, School of Management
Shandong, China - S.P. Jain Center of Management
Dubai, Singapore - United Arab Emirates University, College of Business and Economics
Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
UConn Unveils Degree of Risk
Stamford Advocate
With the public skittish about the the nation’s financial markets, the University of Connecticut believes the time couldn’t be better to introduce its new master’s degree program in financial risk management. The UConn School of Business this fall will start offering the 16-month program at the Stamford branch through a series of night and weekend classes. The UConn-Stamford campus hosted a reception to unveil the program Wednesday evening. READ MORE