McCombs Magazine Fall 2015

M c COMBS: FROM THE DEAN

Believing and Doing

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WAS RECENTLY asked to recall a memorable lesson from my father, and my thoughts turned to a plainly worded principle that has guided my life and career. He always told me that with enough effort I could do or be anything I desired.

Most of us in the McCombs community believe similarly and can point to the hard work, investments, and choices we’ve made in pursuit of our dreams. Educational institutions also must follow the same pattern to achieve their missions.

If you’ve visited the campus recently, you may have seen the awe-inspiring construction underway for the new graduate business building. Peruse this magazine’s photo essay, “Rowling Rising,” to understand the grand scope of this project. Greatness requires a great venue, and Rowling Hall, made possible through donations from the Rowling family and other generous donors, will provide a place for faculty and students to achieve all of which they are capable. In addition, the future renovations to our current buildings, which will become Mulva Hall, thanks to the donations of the Mulva family, also will be central to advancing the McCombs School of Business. Such significant plans are made possible because of our community of faculty, alumni, students, staff, and supporters who believe this school has the ability to change the world, influence business thought, and educate generations of leaders.

Alumni and supporters are key to our community, and this magazine is created expressly for you, and those like you, whose lives have been positively affected by the school. I hope you will enjoy this freshly redesigned biannual offering with the absolutely simple yet distinctive name: McCombs.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

We sought out the magazine’s namesake on the 15th anniversary of his $50 million gift to the school and found the prolific entrepreneur at work as usual. Spend “A Day at the Office with Red McCombs” to discover what keeps him energized at age 88 and to meet the members of his close-knit inner circle.

For insights into how alumni support drives positive outcomes, read our cover story, “A Wall Street State of Mind.” A group of alumni, students, and faculty members have joined together to form Wall Street for McCombs, which has revitalized our job-seekers’ efforts and success in entering the formidable world of the New York investment community. Financial

markets need our graduates’ skills and talent now more than ever.

And finally, with the departure of Dean Tom Gilligan for his new position at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, you may be wondering how the school will go about the process of choosing his successor. (Hint: I will not be a candidate. I agreed to take the role for a short period with the understanding that I could get back to teaching and research when we find a great new dean.) In “Searching for a New Dean,” we map the steps that lead to becoming dean of one of the most prominent business schools in the world. The pursuit is underway.

In this issue you will see that progress never ceases on campus, our professional alumni network has never been stronger or more engaged with the school, and big dreams are being pursued with hard work. My father would be pleased.

LAURA T. STARKS Dean ad interim and Charles E. & Sarah M. Seay Regents Chair in Finance

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PHOTOGRAPH BY AMY MIKLER