Mays Impacts

The Department of Management recently honored 16 undergraduate scholarship recipients at a recent banquet. The students have an average grade point average of 3.8 and are very involved on campus and in the community.

This year’s recipients are pictured with academic advisor Kristi Mora (far left). They include (second from left): Chad Eckermann, Ryan Reynolds, Erin Pounders, Sarah Neely, Nathan Piwonka, Julia Belyavskaya, Cherisse Robinson, Carol Treece, Katrina Saugier, and David Russell. Not pictured are: Kelle Ammerman, Brandon Crisp, Derek Franks, Elizabeth Priolo, Heather Thornon and Ryan Tooley.

In a shrinking universe, the world is your backyard, and the first rule of being a good neighbor is to get to know the neighborhood. And, through the Mays College’s Center for International Business Studies (CIBS) 38 MBA and master’s students will do just that this summer.

“Globalization is the current watchword,” said Julian E. Gaspar, director of the center. “The world is becoming increasingly integrated, and although globalization has always existed, it’s increasing at a faster pace. Trade and investment barriers are being brought down as more and more countries throughout the world embrace free trade and the free enterprise system.”

This movement opens tremendous opportunities yet poses incredible challenges for business, Gaspar added. That’s why it is imperative Mays students are exposed to the world business scene — in order to gain respect and adapt to different cultural, economic and political environments.

Making the world their classroom, the graduate students will study international business as part of one of four programs in Germany, France, and India. The four international experiences scheduled for this summer share a focus on educating American graduate students about the cultural, political and economic factors that make each country’s business environment different and about effective strategies for conducting operations in each setting.

“The Mays College encourages as many students as possible to participate in these opportunities to study abroad,” Gaspar said. “Employers today are looking for people who can work in diverse environments, and these overseas educational programs give students a chance to dip their feet in international waters.”

Marketing professor Bill Pride was recently honored for his dedication to teaching, as the Southwest Federation of Administrative Disciplines presented him the 2002 Outstanding Marketing Educator Award.

Pride, whose research interests include promotion, advertising and marketing education, has authored two introductory textbooks, “Principles of Marketing” and “Principles of Business.”

Each year the college recognizes outstanding doctoral students for their contributions in and out of the classroom. Receiving the award for teaching this year include: Gia Chevis, accounting; Bongsug Chae, information and operations management; Todd DeWitt, management; and Eileen Wall, marketing.

Students recognized for their outstanding research contributions include: Andrew McClelland, accounting; Soo Min Toh, management; Julie Guidry, marketing; and Funda Sahin, information and operations management.

The college’s Center for International Business Studies (CIBS) has received a four-year grant worth nearly $1.5 million to fund activities designed to foster the nation’s capacity for international understanding and economic enterprise.

CIBS is one of a network of Centers for International Business Education (CIBERs) created in 1988 and administered by the U.S. Department of Education. This is the fifth CIBER grant CIBS has received.

Funds from the grant will be used to develop new courses for students, facilitate overseas study, support faculty research related to American economic security, assist small business firms in developing foreign sales, and help public school teachers introduce international studies into their classrooms.

“Together, the CIBERs form a powerful force focused on improving American competitiveness and providing comprehensive services and programs that help U.S. businesses succeed in global markets,” says Kerry Cooper, executive director of international business programs for the Mays College.

Keeping tabs on the opinions of today’s college students is important for many retailers. They are after all the next generation of big spenders. More importantly, they are tomorrow’s workforce.

Chain Store Age magazine recently followed several Mays marketing students, giving them the opportunity to voice their opinions on the state of retailing today. The cover story featured retailing students Ryan Silvashy, Tracy Shaw, Allyson Sanchez, Robyn Bairrington, Jason Stewart, Kenny Kwong, Tamim Chuodhury and Eileen Yu.

The group was quick to comment on which retailers have really hit the mark and those that have lost sight of things like customer service and differentiation. The students also discussed why they love retail — it offers the chance to solve problems, be creative and compete.

The article also highlighted the college’s Center for Retailing Studies and the success it’s had in educating future retailers in the classroom as well as through its student organization, the Retailing Society.