 |
||||
 |
 |
|||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
· News · Events · Info Sessions |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |||||||
|
News & Notes Archives :2006-2007
UAlbany Maintains AACSB Honors The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business has granted the School of Business maintenance of accreditation after a successful peer review. The University at Albany transitioned its business education program to a traditional school of business in the 1960’s. The school has maintained its AACSB accreditation since it was first granted in 1974, and was the first school in the world to be recognized by AACSB at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Less than 10% of schools of business worldwide can boast the AACSB distinction, the highest achievement in business school accreditation. Initial recognition is a three to seven year process involving meticulous review during which schools implement a plan to meet the 21 AACSB standards, including stringent faculty criteria. Thereafter, accredited schools must complete an extensive peer review every five years to maintain accreditation. Boston University and Brigham Young are among the schools that renewed their accreditation alongside UAlbany this year. Founded in 1916, the AACSB is the longest serving and largest global accrediting body for business schools, and the gold standard of undergraduate and graduate business education. 6 th Annual Professional MBA Research Forum The School of Business held its 6 th Annual Professional MBA Research Forum on Wednesday, May 9 th at the University at Albany’s NanoTech complex. Evening MBA students shared poster presentations of their research with students, faculty, and staff from the University community, along with members of the School’s Advisory Board and local business leaders. Students’ topics ranged from wind energy finance to entrepreneurial leadership to development of a golf practice facility in the capital Region. A select group of students who recently completed adjunct professors’ Fred Buse and Bob Schwartz’s Creativity & Entrepreneurship course also received the best business plan award and presented their findings to Forum attendees; members of the winning team include Patrick Sorsby, Jim Golembieski, Adam Geyer, Suvarna Cherukuri, and Matthew DeKay. The Research Forum was held with support from SEFCU, First Niagara, G2 Consultants & GHI, and the University Graduate Student Organization.
Forensic Accounting comes to UAlbany This fall, the School of Business will launch cutting-edge courses in Forensic Accounting. According to Jagdish Gangolly, Chair of the Department of Accounting and Law, recent scandals such as Enron and the resultant Sarbanes Oxley Act have changed the accounting landscape, and accountants are now called upon to detect suspected fraud, devise procedures to prevent it, and handle the consequences. As a result, forensic practices are the fastest growing areas in accounting firms. The school expects to offer classes at the undergraduate as well as graduate level. By the fall of 2008, students will have access to a series of classes providing a well-rounded background in the discipline. Students Add Style to Nursing Home "Gals" By Vincent Reda (February 28, 2007) As a junior at Townsend-Harris High School in Flushing, Queens, Alexandra Eaton would visit her grandmother regularly in a nearby nursing home, a place where many residents typically receive few visitors at all. "I know how lonely it can get there," said Eaton, now a UAlbany sophomore. She jumped at a chance to join her high school's chapter of GlamourGals, a then two-year-old national nonprofit organization begun by a Long Island high schooler. The chapters, organized at high schools and colleges, dispatch troupes of female students into nursing homes to provide facials, manicures and makeovers to elderly women residents — and, just as important, to interact. "For me, back home in high school, it became a way not only to be close to my grandmother during the GlamourGals visits, but to give back to the community," said Eaton. As a freshman at UAlbany last spring, Eaton, along with her three Indian Quad suitemates and fellow Presidential Scholars, began to formulate a campus chapter. Temporarily recognized by the national organization, about a half dozen GlamourGals made their first visit to the Daughters of Sarah nursing home on Washington Avenue, and were welcomed heartily. "They are a wonderful group of young ladies," said Shannon Lawler, Daughter of Sarah's director of recreation and volunteers. "The residents absolutely love it because the students spend the one-to-one time with them and — well, the residents just love to be spoiled. And they love to meet somebody young and get to talk with them — that's so special too. "The students also take photos and make cards from them as gifts. Both the residents and the residents' families comment on how wonderful that is." All the community-oriented GlamourGals find their own rewards in giving to the residents. "In my case, my grandmother is now three hours away," said Eaton. "But I am always thinking of her when we make our visits here." Municipal Finance, Yoga Boot Camp and Managing UBS Boston On the evening preceding the biggest winter storm of 2007, Stacy Kanter ‘79, Partner, Skadden hosted the 3rd Women’s Networking Reception at their 37th floor offices overlooking Times Square, complete with a view of the Empire State Building bedecked with purple and gold lights, UAlbany’s colors. Kimberly Welsh ‘89, Managing Director of UBS Investment Bank Municipal Securities Group made the trip from Boston to speak to 60 alumnae on work/life balance, dealing with changes in upper management and her recent trip to Yoga Boot Camp in Costa Rica. The three women student leaders in attendance, undergrads Stacey Lancia, Debra Ruiz and Aleidy Diaz, were quickly drawn into the group. Ruiz noted, “It was great to see women who have done amazing things and empowering to hear Kimberly talk about having the courage to follow your path.” Lancia added, “It was a privilege to speak with Stacy Kanter. I am so glad I was able to hear alumnae advice on being a woman in the business world today. You have to work harder to get to the top. A feast of food and international business tips welcomed first year MBAs back to campus after semester break. Foreign students shared information from their respective countries; domestic students researched cultures not represented. The students learned:
The event was a fun way to kick off the spring semester at the internationally savvy School of Business. Students apply global concepts throughout their MBA program, but focus exclusively on international business concepts in an intensive simulation this semester. Professor Delivers Keynote Address at NATO Workshop Assistant Professor Sanjay Goel recently delivered the keynote address: A Process for Developing a Common Vocabulary in the Information Security Area at the NATO-Russia Advanced Research Workshop in Moscow. Goel was the sole U.S. representative with experts from Belgium, Poland, Great Britain, Russia and other countries in attendance. At the meeting, the group examined the terminology used in information technology worldwide and they found dissimilarity. Dr. Goel said that the international IT community needs to agree on the terms used, “Since computer crime does not follow geographic barriers, international cooperation is essential. Without consensus on the syntax and semantics in the security vocabulary, communication becomes difficult.” As a result of the meeting, The Information Technology Management professor will work with an international group of colleagues to create a Russian-English glossary of information security terms. The result will be used as a model for other bilingual projects, and is the first step towards the groups’ ultimate goal: an international multi-lingual glossary The Big Four Mentor UAlbany Students The new Student Professional Mentoring Program is up and running, with 54 accountants already signed on. Most of the mentors hold senior manager or partner positions with the Big Four: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, Deloitte, and KPMG. Many are UAlbany alumni. Typically, Big Four clients spend $500 or more for an hour with these highly sought after professionals. Our students get their expertise and support for free. Why do they take the time? Jagdish Gangolly, Chair of the Department of Accounting and Law said, “Mentors gain an appreciation for the kind of education we provide, and a measure of satisfaction that they are playing a crucial part in the development of future professionals.” Students are excited about getting career advice from seasoned pros, “Thank you very much! I think this is a very good opportunity to communicate with professionals,” said Meng Na Wang, a junior accounting major. Juniors and graduate students starting the two year MS Accounting are involved in the Student Professional Mentoring Program to help focus their professional plans. It is not an opportunity to ask for a job. Veena Srinivasan, Director of Accounting Programs said, “Students are encouraged to contact the mentors with questions about career choices, business etiquette and firm culture.” For more information, please contact Srinivasan at (518) 442-4983 or vsrinivasan@uamail.albany.edu. The Student Professional Mentoring Program complements the School of Business Career Services Mentoring Program. School of Business Joins Tula Alliance This fall, Dean Paul Leonard and Assistant Dean Linda Krzykowski visited Albany’s sister city, Tula, Russia as part of the Albany Tula Alliance, a group formed in 1991 as a humanitarian effort. Dean Leonard said, “It was an educational trip. We saw what was going on outside of the central Moscow area – few tourists see that. We saw exactly what the real Russia is and the nature of business there. We saw first hand the change from a communist centrally-controlled government towards a free market environment. They have a ways to go.” Beyond getting a feel for the current business climate, Dean Leonard went in search of potential projects for the School of Business, “We wanted to ‘kick the tires’ for faculty research collaborations, student exchange programs and the feasibility of a Weekend MBA trip.” The Tula infrastructure won’t support bringing our students there: hotel accommodations are inadequate and other amenities are lacking, but there are opportunities for the School of Business. According to Krzykowski, “It was a fascinating trip. The fact that we were part of a team, and not just academics, made it more interesting. It is very clear that the Tula Alliance is doing some very good things there and having a real impact. A small amount of money can have a significant and immediate effect.” The School of Business is considering offering $2,000 in grant money, to fund proposals for student-to-student projects with Tula State University ands Tolstoy Pedagogical University. Professors earn $85 per month teaching, so $1,000 represents a year’s salary – a significant amount. Dean Leonard said, “Ideally students could work on improvement processes for Russian companies that would like to do business in the U.S. They understand about being entrepreneurs and starting business and are hungry for knowledge.” Freshmen Welcomed Into School Of Business Family School of Business Dean Paul Leonard, Assistant Deans Albina Grignon and Susan Maloney, the Dean’s Leadership Council and a multitude of business and accounting professors greeted the class of 2011 at a reception held last month. Dean Leonard welcomed the group, the first group of freshman to enter the School of Business, “We’re making this a worthwhile experience and have planned a series of activities outside the classroom to make you feel a part of our family. We’ll give you information first hand on different areas of business.” He added, “Much of our success is due to our graduates. You will benefit from students who came before you and are giving back.” Grignon echoed the family theme, “You represent a unique and special group. We’re glad that you’ve chosen Albany. We want you to become part of our family.” Maloney offered advice, “Think about why you are interested in business. There are a lot of choices to be made. Seek out the faculty and others involved in the School of Business.” The freshmen come from all areas of New York State and have different reasons for majoring in business at UAlbany. Here are some of the students who attended the reception: Stefani Baker, Port Jervis, NY Daniel Goldfarb, Fishkill, NY Daniel Handshaw, Miller Place, NY Jason Wachtler, Lindenhurst, NY 32 Years: The Delta Sigma Pi Career Fair Life was different in 1974, the first year of the Delta Sigma Pi Career Fair: data entry required punch cards not spreadsheets, Kojak and the Brady Bunch were on TV, and School of Business Dean Paul Leonard was an undergraduate student of finance at UAlbany. But some things stay the same. In 2006, the fair remains a successful way for a student to get her foot in the door of a variety of companies. The well-attended event is planned and executed by Delta Sigma Pi, an international coed professional business fraternity. Coordinators of the 2006 fair: Deb Ruiz, and Olivier Lindor started working on the event in May, mailing invitations and following up with phone calls. The undergraduates were involved in every step including arranging the tables the night before the fair and arriving by 7:00 am to greet the corporate recruiters. Olivier noted that the event is the fall counterpart to the Job & Internship Expo sponsored by the University at Albany Career Development Center each spring, “The one in the spring is more geared toward internships. This one is geared toward fulltime (work).” Though Deb is a junior in the market for a summer internship, she jumped at the chance to be involved with the Job Fair, as did Olivier, a senior accounting major. He took a break from his coordination duties to talk to some of the representatives, explaining, “I interned with a finance firm and am looking at the Big Four.” Ernst and Young, Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG were in attendance, as were Lockheed Martin, Morgan Stanley, Grant Thornton and 65 other companies. MBA Students Climb the Rope of Success Before they climb the ladder of success, University at Albany MBA students learn how to ride the rope of success. On separate team building days in September, incoming classes of fulltime and Weekend MBA students got the chance to work with their peers. They swung on a rope, jumping over a sea of “lava” onto a hula hoop island; balanced their entire group on a teetering “boat;” and freed their colleagues in a game of mosquito tag. The fulltime students, a diverse group, many of whom came to the MBA program straight from their undergraduate work, got to know each other better on a rainy September morning. After his 20 person team squeezed itself into a hula hoop, Shahrukh Sultan said, “I feel a lot more comfortable with the other students.” Kwaku Essel thought it was a good approach to bring the new class together, “It was fun way to evaluate team collaboration. It exposed our strengths and weaknesses.” It was more than fun and games. The graduate students learned skills they’ll need in the next 2 yea The solutions to the physical challenges weren’t always evident. Hyun Park observed, “You have to change your way of thinking and the solution is there.” The diversity of the fulltime MBA class is reflected in the ethnicity and undergraduate educations of the students: Hyun is from Korea and holds a BS in business from Korea University and an MS in accounting from the University of Delaware. Shahrukh, a native of Pakistan has a degree in computer science from UAlbany. Kwaku also graduated from UAlbany, but hails from New Rochelle, New York. Jenn lives in Clifton Park and holds a dual major in Government and History from St. Lawrence. The following countries are also represented in the class of 2008: Romania, Russia, France, Greece, Ghana, Taiwan, China, Pakistan, India and Iran. When the working professionals beginning the Weekend MBA program particip President’s Award for Leadership More than one-quarter of the 94 recipients of the 18th Annual President’s Award for Leadership were from the School of Business. Management Professor wins International Award The International Association for Human Resource Information Management recently presented School of Business Professor Mickey Kavanagh with the 2006 Excellence Award for his long service to IHRIM, particularly his commitment to student activities. After joining IHRIM in 1984, Dr. Kavanagh served as Vice‑President and on the national Board of Directors. He founded an Albany chapter of IHRIM and organized seminars to educate and update professionals and students on human resource information systems. He currently serves on the Board of Directors as treasurer and is student outreach chairperson for the new chapter. For 22 years, Professor Kavanagh has encouraged student involvement in IHRIM, frequently accompanying them to programs in New York City and sponsoring special events in Albany. Dr. Kavanagh said, “I have always felt students can learn a great deal outside of the classroom and faculty have an obligation to help them find those opportunities. School of Business Professor Wins Award for Excellence in Teaching Assistant Professor Sanjay Goel was one of four full-time University at Albany faculty honored for Excellence in Teaching this year. Dr. Goel started teaching at UAlbany in the fall of 2001, a week before the World Trade Center attacks. He said, “Going through this experience with the students created a bond with them that has greatly influenced my teaching. I not only had to be their teacher, but also a mentor and a guide to whom they looked to for support during troubled times.” “I’ve learned how to teach through interaction with my students. My main contribution is to develop their minds and inculcate a quest for learning. If we inspire them enough, they’ll seek to learn themselves.” Goel was recognized for high standards of performance, based on student evaluations and other criteria. The Information Technology professor is in good company. Recent winners include business professors David Smith, Paul Morgan Jr. and Paul Morgan Sr. Did pesofication case the collapse of the Argentine economy? What is Mercosur? What happens when a U.S. company enforces OSHA standards on foreign soil? What is an asado? Why is Argentine wine so good? (Answers below.) UAlbany Weekend MBA students learned the answers to these and other questions during an 8 day trip to Buenos Aires in July. They started by learning Argentine culture and familiarizing themselves with the Pampas region, first touring Buenos Aires and then heading to Santa Susana, a gaucho ranch. After two days of getting the lay of the land, they dove into Argentine business.
The students, who work for a variety of Capital Region companies, including Key Financial Services, Plug Power and G.E., visited the U.S. Embassy, the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Trade, American companies Ampaset and Deloitte and Touche, cell phone company Moviestar, and Wines of Argentina, a trade association. Each day, Argentine business was handily dissected by UAlbany Professor Emeritus Christian Buss. The UAlbany School of Business has ties to Universidad Del Salvador in Buenos Aires, where Dr. Buss and other Albany professors have taught, including Dean Paul Leonard and Assistant Dean Linda Krzykowski, who accompanied the group on the trip along with Lynda Holt, Assistant Director of the Weekend Program. During one class, Dr. Buss’ students from USAL presented their plan for exporting Havanna alfajores, gourmet Argentine cookies, to Starbucks. The UAlbany students also worked on team projects introducing Argentinean products: wine, empañadas and alfajores.
The trip wasn’t all business. Students had opportunities to travel to Uruguay, Iguazú falls and a leather factory. They learned to tango, sampled Argentine wine, visited a Buenos Aires disco into the wee hours and attended a house party in their honor.
The professionals enrolled in the Weekend MBA program come from a variety of industries and backgrounds. Finance, human resources, operations, marketing and other crucial areas of business are taught by University at Albany faculty. Weekend MBA classes meet on alternating weekends: Friday afternoon and all day Saturday, at the off-campus Executive Education Center. Approximately 25 participants are admitted each year. Tuition includes textbooks, all course materials and meals, and of course, an international trip. Each year, Weekend MBA students experience the globalization of business through the week-long international trip built into the program. Students meet with executives, examine international leadership styles, study trade issues, research strategic alliances and return with a truly global perspective to their classes, their organizations, and their careers. Did pesofication cause the collapse of the Argentine economy? Depends on who you ask. What is Mercosur? The customs union that serves as the South American equivalent of NAFTA. What happens when a U.S. company enforces OSHA standards on foreign soil? Plant managers have to enforce a no smoking ban on freely smoking Argentineans. What is an asado? Argentine barbeque. Why is Argentine wine so good? The Malbec grape. Its thick skin keeps tannins out of the wine.
Fifth Annual Professional MBA Research Forum “For students, it’s a real high. It is invigorating for them to showcase what they are working on. For the community – they go to the Research Forum and learn something. It’s an opportunity for local businesses to share ideas,” said Dr. Gary Goldstein ’01, GHI Dental Director and endodontist for First Advantage Dental who supported the 5TH Annual Professional MBA Research Forum through his firm, G² Consultants LLC. Capital Region business leaders, many of whom, like Goldstein, are graduates of the Evening MBA program, maintain involvement with the UAlbany School of Business through the Research Forum. SEFCU President Michael Castellana ’84 received his MBA from the University at Albany alongside Linda Krzykowski, the Assistant Dean of Campus MBA Programs. Castellana and Goldstein support UAlbany through the Capital Region MBA Advisory Council and funding of the annual Research Forum. Castellana said, “The Research Forum is an excellent display of the hidden talent at 1400 Washington Avenue. The University has to be at the center of the community and a catalyst for growth.” Peter Cosgrove ‘98, Senior Vice President of Corporate Banking at First Niagara Bank, has been a member of the Capital Region MBA Advisory Council and financial supporter of the forum since he graduated from the UAlbany program. He said, “It’s important for the students to showcase the work they’ve done, and create a means for the School of Business to make a connection between the business and academic communities.” This year, fifty MBA students showcased their final research projects on a wide range of topics, including business, management, finance, marketing and information technology management. Projects ran the gamut from effective managerial behaviors to hedge funds to data modeling. Sabrina Waldo, an IT project managerin the pharmaceutical industry, researched Information Technology Regulatory Impact on the Pharmaceutical Industry, focusing on FDA regulation 21 CFR Part 11, which provides companies a structure for securing their data. According to Waldo, the regulation was very strictly written prompting a backlash from the drug companies because of the high cost associated with meeting the directive. To remedy the situation, she created a compliance model. Finance was Anand Sharma’s topic. The data analyst for St. Peter’s Hospital evaluated the performance of bond funds, evaluating how size and maturity affect returns. Jermaine Privott studied gender differences in leadership. After creating a survey assessing management styles, he distributed it to managers and their subordinates from a variety of organizations. Traditionally, women have been seen as collaborative leaders, while men use pressure to get the job done. Privott’s research found that male and female managers view their own management styles as conforming to gender roles. Interestingly, their subordinates did not note gender-based management differences between their male and female supervisors. Now part of the Research Forum, the Best Business Plan Competition started almost two decades ago. In 1992, Castellana won the award for his design of a SEFCU subsidiary corporation initiating brokerage and insurance. He notes that the company remains alive and well. In 2006, the outstanding strategy was Quality Care Professionals, a website-based health care employment firm piggybacking on the immigration issues currently in the news. Joe Willis, spokesperson for the group said that the plan was based on immigrant workers getting guest worker status and filling nanny jobs, “It is unlikely that the government is going to kick out a million people.” The company did not plan to impose a placement fee, but charge the hiring family 10% to 20% over the nanny’s salary and offer a benefit plan directly to the worker. The plans were evaluated by venture capitalists coordinated by the Schwartz Heslin Group Inc. Fred Buse, SHG Managing Director, said, “The plan identified a real need and a logical way to fill that need. A key event made the plan work – guest workers. If congress throws out all the undocumented workers, the plan won’t work. And they admitted that.” The forum was presented with support from First Niagara, SEFCU, G2 Consultants and the University at Albany Graduate Student Organization. Assistant Dean Linda K. is a Woman of Excellence Krzykowski’s leadership, mentoring and ethics helped her win out over a large slate of nominees. Linda K., as she is fondly known, said, “I’m shocked. I’m very honored and very humbled to have been chosen.” The mathematics and economics major worked in sales, marketing management, management development and training for Xerox before she earned her MBA in the UAlbany evening program. Thankfully, Linda K. did not leave after graduation. She started teaching, then took the reins of the Evening MBA and eventually all UAlbany MBA programs. Krzykowski will be honored at the 15th Annual Women of Excellence Luncheon hosted by the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce on June 29. The School of Business will host a reception in her honor at the Fort Orange Club on June 28.
The Weekend MBA program found a way to mix business with pleasure. Shortly before graduation, the class of 2006 met at Purdy’s Wine and Liquor in Saratoga Springs for a wine tasting and discussion of the global wine industry. Wine merchant Gail Purdy and her staff discussed distribution channels and the rules governing old world versus new world wines. The class tasted and learned. It’s a suitable undertaking for the cohort of local executives who spent the previous 22 months looking at business strategically, adding to their knowledge of accounting, statistics, organizational behavior, marketing, operations, finance and information technology. A new Weekend MBA class starts in September. Cheers. Siena Students Welcomed to UAlbany School of Business Siena College students interested in earning a graduate degree in business or accounting used to be on their own since their alma mater does not offer either program. An arrangement with the UAlbany School of Business has changed all that. Through an affiliation agreement between the schools, Siena students can apply to UAlbany for the fifth year of accounting education required for CPA licensure as per revised New York State requirements. Siena grads also have the opportunity to apply to UAlbany’s MBA program. “This is a win-win for both institutions and ultimately our students who seek to fulfill the state’s CPA licensure requirements,” said UAlbany President Kermit Hall. “UAlbany filled a need that Siena had and students on both campuses benefit.” Mike Olsen ( Siena ‘01, UAlbany ‘06) said, “I chose Siena for undergrad because it was far enough away from home (Poughkeepsie) and it was small. I went to a small high school and wanted a small college. UAlbany was an easy adjustment because the grad program is small. There were about 20 students in my accounting classes.” The details are simple. Accounting undergrads meet the New York State CPA 150 hour education requirement with a one year graduate program in accounting or taxation at UAlbany. Students do not need an undergraduate degree in accounting for the two year MS in accounting, which also meets the CPA education requirement. An undergraduate degree in business is not necessary for the two year MBA program, with concentrations in Information Technology Management, Information Assurance and Human Resource Information Systems.
Joseph Patalano, who provided the student remarks for the School of Business Undergraduate Recognition Ceremony, said that his time at UAlbany was, “An adventure that made me who I am, where I stand today.” As Joe stood at the podium, he was not alone. In full regalia, on one side of the RAAC stage were UAlbany President Kermit Hall, School of Business Dean Paul Leonard, faculty and staff. On the other half of the platform were keynote speaker Party Secretary of Jiangsu Province, Li Yuanchao and his delegation. And if that wasn’t enough, twenty-three members of Joe’s family were cheering in the bleachers. Dean Leonard congratulated the students, “It is a great honor to stand before the class of 2006 – a class that personifies two of the university’s most important ideals: the pursuit of knowledge and a commitment to the larger interests of society.” He noted that the students have not only achieved academic excellence, 67% graduated with Latin honors, but have also contributed thousands of hours of volunteer work to a wide range of community organizations. Also last weekend, students receiving graduate degrees were feted by their programs after a university-wide ceremony. MBA, MS Accounting and MS Taxation grads celebrated with their classmates and families, many of whom had taken up the slack at home while their loved ones studied and attended class. Some graduates publicly expressed gratitude to their families. MBA grad Ruphence Kichinda thanked her husband Avery, “For installing my computer software, giving me space to work and bringing me food. Celebrating Student Success: 22nd Annual Student Awards The UAlbany School of Business community: students, faculty, staff, family and friends were on hand for the 22nd Annual Student Awards Ceremony in the Campus Ballroom last week. The students’ accomplishments are truly inspiring. Lauren Wainer, a Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities, and past winner of the Danko Golden Rule Award, the John S. Levato Award, and the President’s Undergraduate Leadership Award for Community Service, received the prestigious Wall Street Journal Award for her grade point average and community service. A recent volunteer trip to Ecuador provided her with new inspiration. She said, “Regardless of where I work and where I go, I will work from justice and for the good of others.” Hongbing “Jerry” Shang was presented with the Graduate Academic Achievement Award for the Two-Year Masters in Accounting Program. Here’s what Jerry said about his time at the University at Albany, “After spending almost two wonderful years of life at UAlbany, I can honestly say that my graduate education really opened the door of a whole new world for me. It is a world of knowledge, professionalism, critical thinking, outstanding people and opportunity.” Returning student Patti Schachter, the recipient of the Dean’s Award for Distinguished Academic Achievement by a Returning Undergraduate Student, is not only confident in her own abilities, she is proud of her younger peers. She said, “The most surprising thing I have developed in college is a very deep respect for the young people coming out of school today. I think that I had become a bit cynical with regard to this generation. I assumed that they didn’t work very hard and took the easy way out of most situations. I was very pleasantly surprised to see the diligence and sense of responsibility they possess. Since discovering a new found sense of affinity for this generation, I am more confident in the future of business; having come to know so many of tomorrow’s business leaders.” A Tax Program for the Rest of Us Since 1987, the MS Tax program at UAlbany has provided accountants with tax expertise. Starting this summer, the MS in Tax Practice presents an option for those without an accounting background. Until now, attorneys, financial advisors, government agents and private industry professionals audited our tax classes looking for the tax information necessary to do their jobs. Now they can earn a degree. According to Tom Collura, the CPA and tax attorney who coordinates UAlbany’s tax programs, “It is impossible to provide accounting or financial advice without understanding potential tax ramifications.” UAlbany is the only school in the Northeast offering a graduate degree in tax for non-accountants. Applications are being accepted for the summer and fall semesters. Lynda Holt named a 40 under Forty Lynda Holt, Assistant Director of the UAlbany Weekend MBA program has been named a 40 under Fortyby the Business Review. No one deserves the 40 under Forty more than Lynda. She recruited one of the largest Weekend MBA class in the history of the program, moved the students to a new Executive Education Center in Clifton Park and will take them to Argentina this summer to study in-depth in a truly global environment. Lynda’s program offers students a superb curriculum, unparalleled professors, AACSB accreditation and the opportunity to network with other rising executives. Congratulations to our own successful professional – Lynda Holt! Insiders Guide to Interviewing Wes Holloway, Vice President of Diversity for Price Chopper, will share his experiences and insight as a minority candidate and recruiter in a School of Business program titled Insiders Guide to Interviewing for Minorities. Holloway will explain how to stand out in the crowd of job candidates, including interviewing strategies and writing a better resume. Holloway started his career at IBM in 1966, after passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting discrimination in public facilities, government and the workplace. He held several management positions and also worked for IBM as a lobbyist before retiring in 1992. At Price Chopper, he stimulates corporate diversity initiatives, directing support to underserved communities. He also serves as a Human Rights Commissioner in Schenectady County and sits on several boards. This program will be held on Monday, May 1 from 6:30 – 8:30 in room 349 of the Business Administration building. MBA students present paper at EAM Conference It was an experiment. Professor Wendy Becker knew it was a long shot when she suggested that her first year MBA students submit their papers to the Eastern Academy of Management -- faculty and PhD candidates have a hard time getting their papers accepted. “I threw down a challenge,” Dr. Becker said. She noted that the optional assignment upped the value of the course, “It is more than a grade in a class. It’s an opportunity for a professional experience.” Of the ten teams in her class, five submitted papers, which were evaluated by the international EAM team on the basis of five factors in a blind peer review. MBA students Charles “Chuck” Quadrini, Kristen Harris and Dan Peat’s research on Global Challenges in Human Resource Management was chosen. Why was this paper accepted? Dr. Becker said, “It’s timely. They did a really good case study. They gathered great data.” “It’s a coup for us. It’s quite unusual for MBA students. This is unprecedented. There is not even a category for MS students to register. Kristen, Dan and Chuck had to register (for the conference) as PhD students.” Will Professor Becker submit students’ papers next year? She said, “Absolutely. I think it raises the bar. It’s saying to the students, ‘Do a good job and it will help you professionally.’” Dr. Becker’s first year MBA class in Human Resource Management gives students a taste of HR in their first semester. Human Resource Information Systems is one of three technologically based concentrations available in the fulltime MBA program. The others are Accounting Information Systems and Information Technology Management. Freshman Admit Starts September The School of Business is looking for high school students with exceptional grades and SAT scores to join its freshmen class this fall. Until now, students had to wait until their junior year to be admitted. The direct admit program provides an academic home for freshmen, with the School of Business supplying advisement and special sections of lecture courses. The students will be integrated into the school through educational and social functions, membership in business and accounting fraternities and mentoring by the Dean’s Leadership Council. UAlbany Teams Tackle Cyber Security of North Sea Oil Platforms School of Business assistant professor Eliot Rich is researching ways to prevent cyber attack on offshore oil platforms. Professor Rich is working with Rockefeller College professors David Anderson and George Richardson on a Norsk Hydro research project funded by the Norwegian Research Council. Norsk, a Fortune 500 energy supplier, is transitioning the management of their oil platforms from the sea to the shore to decrease cost and risk. Reducing the number of employees on the platform will decrease operating costs from 30 percent to 40 percent, extending the lifetime of the oil platform by five years. At $1 million in oil a day, the numbers add up quickly. The stakes are high in offshore drilling. It’s a dangerous, high risk environment. In addition, companies are reluctant to report attacks on their computing infrastructure because it makes them vulnerable to future assaults. Rich’s project will help to ensure the security of these remote sites. Not all threats are external. Employee resentment and anger can turn employees into security risks. Safeguards must be employed. Rich explained, “In a company, you trust your bookkeeper, but you have an auditor to make sure the bookkeeper isn’t running away with the store.” Norsk Hydro learned of UAlbany’s specialized cyber-security skills through the Security Dynamics Network (SDN), an international consortium. The UAlbany School of Business has been at the center of this international network, which includes Carnegie Mellon University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute , Agder University College in Norway, TECNUN, University of Navarra in Spain and two US government research centers, Sandia National Laboratories and Argonne National Laboratory. In January, the School of Business sponsored a conference of an arm of the SDN at the University at Albany. Rather than focus on presentations, the consortium holds working meetings combining academic and practical research; this conference focused on research designs incorporating psychological factors and motivations. The work continues. This spring, a doctoral student from Agder University will be working with Professor Rich to develop an SDN project preparing computer models of insider threats to information systems . In May, Rich will travel to Norway to work with Norsk for two months.An Economist, an Entrepreneur and a Business Woman who has it all Economist Hugh Johnson, Chairman of Johnson Illington Advisors, was the first of three business stars to speak at the UAlbany School of Business this month as part of the inaugural Dean’s Leadership Council Speaker Series. If you would like to listen to Hugh Johnson's podcast, click here. The next speaker in the series is Josh Shaw (’97), the multimillionaire alum who appeared on Donald Trump’s The Apprentice last fall. The UAlbany School of Business alum got his start in business while still in school, establishing Student Advantage, a multi-media marketing services company, at colleges throughout the Northeast. Shaw currently serves as Chief Operating Officer for GoSMILE. Entrepreneurship will be his topic on Friday, March 10 at 2:00 pm in the Recital Hall at the Performing Arts Center.
Jennifer MacPhee, Regional President, Bank of America will cap the series, speaking on her successful career path. MacPhee is the corporate face of Bank of America in the Capital Region, providing business, civic and philanthropic leadership for the bank. The 40 under Forty honoree sits on the boards of the Center for Economic Growth, the New York State Museum and St. Peter’s Hospital. She holds a CFP and a CPA. Hear the young leader on March 29 at 4:00 pm in the Recital Hall at the Performing Arts Center.
Being a Minority in Corporate America Rodney Smith (MBA ’05) is a success by many standards. He locked up a great job at Golub Corporation, sits on the boards of two human service organizations and provides football commentary alongside Roger Wyland on WOFX am for the UAlbany Great Danes football team. The Baltimore native moved to Albany in 1991 to play fullback and linebacker for the Firebirds in the arena football league. As his football career ended, he started work for Ayco, a Goldman Sachs company headquartered in Saratoga Springs. After completing his MBA at UAlbany, Golub hired him to work in minority recruitment. Rodney said, “It was an opportunity to work in diversity recruitment and have a black mentor, and to work with a big corporation and do something different.” The alum will share his experience and insight in a program titled, Being a Minority in Corporate America on Wednesday, March 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 in the Campus Center. Zina Lawrence, Director of Graduate Student Services, will round out the program with information on undergraduate and graduate opportunities in the School of Business. Refreshments will be served and there will be an opportunity for networking. Albina Almost Retires, Zina Rolls up Her Sleeves Albina Grignon has retired from the University at Albany after 35 years, 19 in the School of Business. At her retirement party, Albina was praised by President Hall and Dean Leonard for her exceptional devotion to students. Her warmth, knowledge and zeal will not be leaving the University. Albina said that she couldn’t completely retire, “I enjoy working with the students too much.” She will continue part-time, guiding undergraduates in the School of Business new Freshman Admit program. Albina explained, “It will provide a wonderful opportunity for the School of Business to get the very best students for our school.” A UAlbany alumnus, Zina Lawrence, has replaced Albina as the Director of Graduate Student Services. She was Director of Graduate Admissions for the Sage Colleges and held positions in industry at Thomson Delmar Learning and SUNY Press. Besides earning a BA in Political Science from UAlbany, Zina holds a master’s degree in the same discipline from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she completed the bulk of her Ph.D. studies. Zina, whose energy and enthusiasm rivals Albina’s, has already begun counseling students, “I love the interaction; our students are really engaged in their academic programs. I appreciate that Albina has left me a great legacy – students have expectations that they will be helped.” She has discovered a warm environment in the School of Business, “It’s something that you don’t expect from UAlbany, based on its size. It’s extraordinarily collegiate.” Join us in welcoming Zina Lawrence to the School of Business. To kick off the first day of the spring semester, first year MBA students shared an international meal while discussing business customs throughout the world. At the annual Global Business Customs and Food Tasting, students from Italy, South America, Haiti, France, India, Mexico and Taiwan provided food from and reported on business practices in their home countries, while domestic students researched food and customs of other locales. Here’s what they found: In most of the world, it’s pleasure before business. You need to eat and drink with your hosts before discussing the deal. Don’t rely on Emily Post or Miss Manners for proper dining etiquette, as acceptable social behavior varies from country to country. For instance, in Italy, a meal can last two to three hours. If you’re in a hurry, ask to go out for coffee, so you can get away in less than an hour. In Ireland, Taiwan, South Korea, Russia and many other countries, you’ll need to raise a glass or two. If you don’t drink, let your hosts know up front, but they may ask you again. And in when in Greece, you do what the Greeks do. You smoke. The students advised that a guest accept a proffered cigarette and smoke it. The event was a fun way to kick off the spring semester at the internationally savvy School of Business. Students apply global concepts throughout their MBA program, but will focus exclusively on international business concepts in an intensive simulation during the last five weeks of the first year of their program Katrina Rebuilding Efforts Utilize ITM Know-how Over January break, second year MBA student Tara Rainstrom put her Information Technology Management (ITM) skills to the test, volunteering for the rebuilding effort along the Katrina ravaged gulf coast. Working with three computer science students from UC Berkeley, she converted a paper system and a myriad of spreadsheets into a user friendly database to manage the hundreds of projects underway in Biloxi, Mississippi. MORE>> Field Project Helps the Community Books, cases and lectures are only part of the UAlbany MBA experience. Field projects are built into the fulltime curriculum, offering students a real-world opportunity to put their knowledge to work. The 2005-2006 HRIS (Human Resource Information Systems) field project sites are SAP, Albany International, IXIS, Trans World Entertainment, Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan and Living Resources. MORE>>
Sleep or study? Approximately 100 undergraduate business students chose to study at all night session sponsored by the Dean’s Leadership Council in December. Many were preparing for finance finals held the following morning. The student initiated and organized event offered coffee, donuts and a location to get together. No word yet on whether it helped their grades, but the DLC plans on coordinating another finals week event next semester, and possibly one during midterms.
|
|
||||||
rs of school and later in the workplace. “We need strategy and communication. When our team wasn’t using strategy it was disastrous,” advised Jenn LaBarr, “we’re young and think we have all the answers, but we have to be able to sit back and listen.”
ated in their team building day, the weather cooperated so that the students, an older group with work experience, could perform high ropes activities in addition to teambuilding games. Jumping off a 16 foot telephone pole, tethered to a spotter, mimics the way students must jump into their intense cohort program bolstered by their fellow students. Assistant Director 
rofessions by the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce. Only one woman per year receives this award.
|
Contact UAlbany |
Directories |
Calendars |
Visitors |
Site Index |
Search
Admissions | Academics | Research | IT Services | Libraries | Athletics |