Menlo College Magazine: Summer 2022

Menlo College’s Evolving Business Program

In this Issue

Business in the United States and across the globe is undergoing seismic shifts, from the increasing use of cryptocurrency to disruptions in trade exacerbated by the pandemic. Meanwhile, economics as a field is a continual work in progress, as we can see in the renewed debate over how to achieve equilibrium with supply and demand. At the same time, changes in how we define and organize the workplace have dramatically transformed organizational culture, the job market, and employee expectations.

In this issue, “Menlo College’s Evolving Business Program,” we show the ways that our students are learning to confront the reality of our changing economic times through a powerful renewed business curriculum. New courses give students the opportunity to learn technical, analytical, and quantitative skills, while others examine issues in ethics, equity, and the intricacies of management — complex questions that our students will have to negotiate as they take their places as future business leaders. Immersive experiential learning opportunities provide a classroom without walls, while plans for new degree programs promise to expand the Menlo College community.

On the pages that follow, hear student perspectives on the post-Covid job market (see p. 5) and the challenges of returning to the classroom after the pandemic (see p. 39). Learn about Menlo’s evolving curriculum, including exciting plans to develop graduate programs in Information Systems and Sports Performance Psychology (see p. 35). And see how Menlo is taking advantage of loosening travel restrictions with a new Academic Global Immersion program (see p. 9) and new directions for study abroad (see p. 38).

Business Dean Mouwafac Sidaoui says, “Menlo College is quick and adaptable; we have the ability to introduce our students to the leading edge of global economics.” This issue highlights the ways the College leans to the future, teaching students new ways to critically analyze the world they are stepping into.

Pamela Gullard, Editor in Chief

Dr. Lisa Villarreal, Senior Editor

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Pamela Gullard

SENIOR EDITOR

Lisa Ann Villarreal, Ph.D.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Erik Bakke

Ryan Barnett

Jessica Berger

Anders Baumann ’22

Ashley Brankovich

Austin Bumpus

Caroline Casper

Max Gold

Emma Gordon

Michaela Haynes ’22

Dylan Houle

Ali Kashefian Naieni

Helene Kim

Jakob Kotas

Roxane Marenberg

Melissa Michelson

Jessica Nguyen

Jonathan Reichental

Mouwafac Sidaoui

Lisa Villarreal

Steven Weiner

DESIGN

Marsha Gilbert

PHOTOGRAPHY

Crystal Cebedo ’20

Miranda Dutton ’24

Douglas Peck

Lisa Ann Villarreal

EDITOR

Tricia Soto

PRESIDENT OF MENLO COLLEGE

Steven Weiner

CHAIR OF THE BOARD

Micah Ka - ne ’91

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Thomas (Tom) Byers

Alma Clayton-Pedersen

Andrea (Andy) Cunningham

Howard (Howie) Dallmar ‘74

James (Jim) Davlin

Chris Garrett ‘94

J. Michael (Mike) Gullard

Joe Hurd

David Irmer, Sr. ’58

Kathryn (Kathy) Jackson

Helene Kim

Jordan Long ’09

Larry Lopez ’84

Roxane Marenberg

Zoanne Nelson

Colin O‘Malley

Fran Schulz ’85

Roger Smith

Shireen Udenka

Benjamin (Ben) Wagner

EMERITI

John Henry Felix ’49

Julie Filizetti

Charles (Chop) Keenan III ’66

T. Geir Ramleth ’87

From the President

When Menlo College first introduced the four-year School of Business Administration in 1949, we offered one degree: business! Fast forward to 2022, business students at Menlo can now select among ten different majors: accounting, business analytics, entrepreneurship and innovation, finance, human resources management, international management, management, marketing, real estate. and sports management. Fully half of those programs were added over the course of the pandemic.

To evolve from offering one or two classes on a subject to a full degree option requires a thorough understanding of the discipline, the identification of the course material students need to cover, syllabi, and more. I tip my hat to our faculty and the leadership of our academic administration for their thorough review of our business curriculum – even as the pandemic raged around us. The array of disciplines we now offer reflects the increasing specialization required to compete in the twenty-first century business world.

We will continue to marry the expansion of the frontiers of knowledge and business practices with the diversity that is the hallmark of today’s Menlo College. Embracing diverse people, cultures, and ideas ultimately produces more responsible –and transformational –business leaders. But we can’t stop there. We are dedicated to helping our students understand the world in which we exist, but also to developing the insights and confidence to imagine the world of the future. Much as that future continues to evolve, so will our curriculum. The business world was a simpler place in 1949. In order to compete now, our students need to be plugged into the global economy and develop ever-more sophisticated skills. By doing so, Menlo graduates will not only meet the challenges of the twenty-first century workplace, they’ll solve them.

Steven Weiner Menlo College President

Photo: Crystal Cebedo ’20

A few comments on the last issue!

Being an old Menlo guy, I am very curious about what is being reported in your magazine. The issue celebrating the 50th anniversary of women was truly amazing to go through, page by page. I grew up in Spokane, Washington, and after high school, in ‘58, did my first college year at Stanford. Stanford did not work for me so, after that first year, I went to Menlo College for a year of undergraduate work, and then a year in the business school. At that time, Menlo didn’t admit women; a friend and I spent time driving over to Mills where a couple Spokane classmates were going. It was truly wonderful to read the story of the women at Menlo, and to learn about all that they have done and are doing. Fun to see, too, that Menlo draws women from all over the world. Great job on editing the magazine.

Ed Huneke ’61

Spokane, Washington

More News from the 1970s

Well done!

I enjoyed seeing how Lisa Villarreal brought our conversation about the course and Dinner Party project to life. It was a great pleasure to collaborate with you.

Mark Hager, Professor of Psychology, Menlo College

Atherton, CA

What a work of art you produced in the recent Menlo College Magazine. It is outstanding. Every article is engaging and so well written. The graphics are compelling!

Roxane Marenberg, Menlo College Trustee

Atherton, CA

William Putnam Dunham ’70 and Bryan Kemnitzer ’70 have kindly stepped in to identify the men on the cover of our Winter 2022 issue of Menlo College Magazine. They were residents of Howard Hall pictured in the yearbook Stepping Stone, vol. 4, 1970. They are, left to right, Brian Kemnitzer, Dan Ogg, David Hackett, Bryan Rogan, and Ed Grasty (sitting on the pipe).

We also send greetings to Cary Clark, who was in the original yearbook photo.

The women on the cover of the Winter 2022 issue are Russel Abigail “Abby” Roxas ’22 (seated) and Miranda Canniff ’22 (standing).

I’ve just finished reading the Winter 2022 edition of Menlo College Magazine cover-to-cover. Outstanding! It paints a wide picture of presentday campus life at Menlo (including women, LGBTQ+, many diverse students, campus twins, and others). And all with approximately 800 very involved students and faculty. Can’t wait for the day when Menlo reaches 1,000 enrollment and myself @ age 100. Ugh. Great issue!

Dave Sperry, SBA ‘61 Sacramento, CA

I’m amazed. Each issue of the magazine gets better and better. Tell the magazine team that they do great work. I worked closely with Fran Lunger (Schulz ’85) on one of her medical IPOs. It was great to see her smile again in the magazine feature. I also enjoyed learning more about her back story. Please send her my best! Finally, I am impressed with the students’ accomplishments—both academic and athletic. What a crew!

Tom

Scannell

Cupertino, CA

Excellent magazine as always! Thank you for putting all the hard work that goes into publishing a great piece!

Chris Garrett ’94, Menlo College Trustee San Carlos, CA

More Twins on Campus!

The Winter 2022 issue of the magazine included a feature, page 45, on four sets of twins at the College. Just as we went to press, twins Maxime and Maarten Hilbert ’25 arrived from Germany. Welcome! You’ve brought your strong academics—and improved our impressive twins to singles ratio even further.

It was a great pleasure to read the Winter 2022 edition and its dedication to the first class of female students. I was a freshman in the fall of 1971; one of my work-study scholarship duties in the admissions office was to meet new students and show them where they would reside. I was amazed at students coming from all over the planet and choosing Menlo as their introduction to higher education. The administration under president Richard O’Brien and the professors made for an exceptional educational environment. After obtaining my AA degree, I transferred to Stanford and completed my BA degree in studio art and economics. I attribute my success in the visual arts to the higher education I received at both institutions.

Thank you for commemorating the 50th anniversary of the admission of the first female class—a fundamental change—and how the women contributed to making Menlo College an outstanding experience for all who attended.

John Spears, class of ‘73 Flemington, NJ

Editor’s Note: To learn more about John Spears’ career in art, please turn to the inside back cover of the magazine.

Where and How We’ll Work

Preparing for the Workforce – Post-Covid

Over the past two years, Menlo students have watched as the industries they were preparing to enter were dramatically transformed. Six students share their perspectives on the changes–their expectations, their concerns, and their hopes for these reimagined workplaces…

Carl Helmertz ’23, Finance and Entrepreneurship major

One thing I’ve learnt during my time at Menlo is that the field of business is in constant change. Technological innovation such as automation, AI, and blockchain is rapidly changing business models and career paths which makes it harder for graduating students to find a long term, stable job. I don’t think it’s possible for us to work the same job for 20-25 years like our parents could. For example, only in the past year, I’ve seen DeFi solutions reshape the financial services sector, which impacts me as a finance major. However, for people with an entrepreneurial mindset, this new paradigm is exciting since it opens the door for unconventional career paths and new roles in non-traditional companies. Also, I believe that we have to be prepared to continuously educate ourselves and build our knowledge throughout our careers in order to keep up with the needs of the market. In that sense, I think it will be important to maintain a love for learning and to not become complacent. I’ve been fortunate enough to have had the experienced faculty at Menlo who have taught me how to better adapt to the challenges of the future.

Celina Husung ’23, Marketing and International Management major

If you had asked a graduate from five years ago, in 2017, whether they would like to work from home after graduation or commute, they would have looked at you funny. Asking your employer for a hybrid position or time to work from home is nothing unusual anymore. Combining your home with your work space became so normal to us that going back to an everyday commute seems like a redundant expectation. The graduating class of 2022 has learned that they can now demand time to work remotely. I have worked remotely since the summer of 2021 and, having been offered a full-time position from the company where I interned, I will now work 90% remotely for the next year. This gives me a lot more freedom when it comes to looking for housing. Not only am I able to live farther away from my company’s headquarters, I can also save a lot of time and money by not commuting twice a day. Many companies nowadays do not have the privilege to demand that employees be on-site five days of the week. That is why the hybrid or remote work models have become so dominant and a big decision factor for many graduating students in 2022.

Rita Abdel-Malek ’22, Psychology major

With the pandemic and shelter-in-place orders, employers and employees had to become flexible and adaptable. Even though things are opening back up and mask mandates are being lifted, employers are still looking for candidates who possess that same level of adaptability that I believe they weren’t prioritizing to such an extent before. It’s something I experienced in the process of finding my first full-time job as a Field Representative for a State Assembly member. Now more than ever, employers want people who can change in parallel with the rapid changes of the pandemic so that they can fully rely on their employees.

Zandanbal Arslankhuyag ’23, Finance major

The pandemic forced the adaptation to new ways of working and fundamentally changed the way we look at productivity. As a finance student, I think my field is flexible with remote working, however, most of the big financial firms are encouraging their employees to work from the office. As a junior, I did a year-long internship at Ard Financial Group in Mongolia, and I experienced firsthand the transition between the office and remote working experience. Productivity-wise, the stand-out issue for me was good communication with other employees who may or may not be at the office.

“The graduating class of 2022 has learned that they can now demand time to work remotely.”

Alan Arreola ’23, International Management major

The way we conduct interviews and present ourselves to employers is just one of the many elements that has pivoted during the past several years. Five years ago there was still a great emphasis on face to face communication, but now our online profiles are significantly more crucial than before. It seems like having a stacked resume trumps any other attributes that could be exhibited through an in-person interview. At the same time, part of that digital shift includes the benefit of extending your job search to geographic locations that were once out of your reach, so even though job hunting might be a bit more competitive than before, opportunities for employment will expand for some job seekers.

Basil Merk ’23, Entrepreneurship and Innovation major

Many experts predict that the changes in the working culture caused by the pandemic, such as the increased number of professionals working from home, will stay long after Covid is over. While I can’t predict the lasting effects in the management consulting industry, I find it very interesting to observe them and especially to see how employers are adapting. One of the questions I asked during my job interviews was about the company’s plan to keep employees engaged and interested in the company and its values when everyone is working from home. I believe this is going to be a major challenge for many companies and as I enjoy working in a team environment and making meaningful connections at the workplace. I hope that most employers will establish some form of hybrid model.

“Now more than ever, employers want people who can change in parallel with the rapid changes of the pandemic so that they can fully rely on their employees.”

Emerging Norms Changing the Workplace

By Emma Gordon, Ph.D. / MBA, Senior Adjunct Professor of Human Resources | Senior Director, Learning & Talent Development, Residential and Dining Enterprises at Stanford University

In 2021, many people expected the world—and the workplace—would return to “normal.” In fact, work in 2021 was more volatile than anyone could have predicted, with new Covid-19 variants, major divisions around vaccination, a massive war for talent and quit rates reaching an all-time high. What changes can we expect in 2022 and beyond?

2020 raised awareness of racial relations with a laser-focus on organizational strategies in support of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives and programs. The number one priority for 2022 and beyond is for organizations to address how they manage DEIB initiatives across an increasingly diverse workforce to attract and retain the right talent to remain competitive, locally and globally.

Generation Z’s expect social responsibility and ethical leadership from their employers. They also demand workplace flexibility, employee voice, and career mobility in exchange for the talent they bring. Generation Z will make-up more than 50% of the global workforce in the next few years, so employers that don’t offer flexibility will continue to see increased turnover as employees move to roles and organizations that better align with their values and priorities.

Employees are now finding that they can leverage their transferable skills to pivot to new roles and explore new opportunities; skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, public speaking, professional writing, teamwork, digital literacy, leadership, professional attitude, work ethic, career management and intercultural fluency, when combined with technical skills, increase a job seeker’s marketability and contribute to overall career success. Recruiters in 2022 are recognizing the value of candidates with skills that contribute to healthy workplace relationships and high performance teams which can achieve organizational goals.

In fact, overall the pandemic seems to be giving workers more power than they’ve had in a very long time. Organized labor has been gaining strength and visibility. Nationwide, there is a greater demand for unionization. Starbucks and Amazon workers recently unionized to demand fair and equitable wages combined with safer and healthier workplaces. In October 2021, more than 100,000 workers in the United States either participated in, or prepared for, strikes; “Striketober“ became one of the largest increases of organized labor in the twenty-first century. This power shift will continue well into 2023 with employees gaining leverage in negotiating more competitive salaries, creative benefits, and workplace health and safety programs.

Menlo students today will likely find that when they graduate they are entering a workplace with dramatically expanded possibilities where they can exercise greater self-determination.

Global Immersion Students Experience Global Business Firsthand in Dubai

During Dr. Mouwafac Sidaoui’s childhood in Lebanon, his mother, Nawal El Mel Sidaoui, would tell him to close his eyes and dream, dreams come true. Her words were his first step in becoming a global citizen. When he was almost eighteen, his dreams led him on a flight to Logan International Airport to embark on his U.S. college education. He says, “I was determined to make a great contribution to American society while staying connected to my roots.” The Academic Global Immersion program he started at Menlo College offers students the international experiences that will help them dream big.

By Mouwafac Sidaoui, Ph.D., Dean of the Business School

As a College dean, I want every student to feel they are a global citizen in a world that has shrunk, with boundaries that have dwindled. The Menlo College Academic Global Immersion program (AGI), instituted this year, gives students firsthand experience of other cultures, including personal interactions with business leaders from around the world. Study after study proves that experiential learning builds strong analytical skills (see Hanc, John. “Building Skills Outside the Classroom.” NYTimes. 5 April 2018). Students who participated in the inaugural two-week, January 2022 AGI trip experienced the varied cultural practices followed by locals and expatriates in the United Arab Emirates. The students’ exposure—living in and studying local lifestyles and business norms—promises to remain in their minds for years to come.

In Dubai students met executives from a green energy company, participated in a workshop on developing a strong brand presence, and met with several teams at the Bühler Group who are working on healthier and safer solutions to problems in the world economy. They visited corporate headquarters and manufacturing facilities for meetings with executives and government officials. All these activities were designed for our students to experience the ultimate learning ground, making the world their classroom.

A new global shape is emerging as technology, trade rules and practices, and political climates dramatically shift. In this interconnected world, our students need to have the ability to communicate cross-culturally, adapt to evolving business environments, and manage all the risks and benefits of operating on a global scale. AGI gave students practice in all these areas.

Students Chara Higaki ’22, Alex Santillan ’24, Samuele Mian ’22, Joshua Villalva ’23, Erika Greco ’24, and Dennis Vanin ’24 join Professor Mouwafac Sidaoui as they embark on the first Academic Global Immersion experience.

11 days in Dubai, 17 companies, an endless learning experience

“It was truly an amazing experience to travel across the world and meet so many great people who in their respective fields have made a mark in the UAE. The AGI is an opportunity worth going after.”

Alex Santillan ’24

Enthusiasm for building bridges was reciprocated by those they met. His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Member of the Emirates Cabinet, explains, “I am happy to see the commitment of our friend Dr. Mouwafac Sidaoui to providing education with a global mindset for all students, both male and female.”

He adds, “It is our responsibility in both public and private education to equip graduates with the tools and work attitudes enabling them to be productive in their field.”

Today we help create tomorrow’s leaders. At Menlo College, we continue to reinvent our curriculum to fulfill the College mission of educating the whole person. Our curriculum teaches whole leadership, including social and emotional learning activities designed to sharpen each student’s empathy, interpersonal communication skills, and clear decision-making.

JAN 10

Dubai Chamber of Commerce

Green Energy Solutions and Sustainability

Dubai Future Acceleration

JAN 11

MBLM Bühler Group

JAN 12

Emirates National Oil Company Limited (ENOC)

Emirates Digital Wallet

JAN 13

UAE Ministry of Economy

Sheik Sayed

Grand Mosque

Visit with

H.E. Nahyan

Bin Mubarak

Al Nahyan

JAN 14

Bloovo (recruitment company)

Wallis Group

Global Village

“Like so many other aspects of life, being in a position of unfamiliarity helped me to see the world as a global citizen. The AGI program taught me that the limit is beyond our imagination; resilience and professionalism will get you places that you never imagined.”

Zandanbal Arslankhuyag ’22

The Academic Global Immersion program is a testament to what we believe in; every student shall have the opportunity to have a global perspective critical for today’s leaders. Question-based learning creates new perspectives. Students in AGI asked questions of the leaders they met and of themselves. That ability will help them solve 21st-century challenges and prepare them for an uncertain future.

“The Academic Global Immersion brought a new lens into my life. I saw a world that accepted different religions and cultures as they are. The UAE has strict laws against drugs and taxes on things like alcohol to serve the mental health of its people. Dubai gave me a new perspective on life. I found my calling to be a voice for change and a voice for women. I feel more equipped to take advantage of my education and know that this will be a great tool to use for the rest of my life.”

JAN 15

Wild Wadi JAN 17 PwC (business management)

DP World (logistic company)

Dubai Expo

JAN 18

Pepsi Cola Dubai

Giesecke & Devrient (banking supplies)

JAN 19

Dar Al Sharia

Islamic Finance

Secureworks (information security)

January 20

HCT/CERT (college testing)

Weber Shandwick

Chara Higaki ’22

block

What is It and Why are We Teaching It?

By Helene Kim, Menlo College Trustee and Adjunct Professor

of

Management

Blockchain and cryptocurrency are among the fastest growing industries in the world today, not only here in Silicon Valley but also in Europe, Asia and other regions of the world. Venture capital investments in these sectors totaled over $30 billion in 2021. Leading companies such as Visa, PayPal, Accenture, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, Nike, Facebook and others are making major commitments to blockchain industries.

As our students enter their professional careers, they will be stepping into a business environment revolutionized by blockchain. But what are blockchains and cryptocurrencies (which use blockchain platforms)? Is blockchain a techie fad that provides a solution to a problem we do not have? Or does it provide real answers for the business models of the future?

We are fortunate to have a legal and blockchain expert, Helene Kim, to answer these questions. She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School, and practiced corporate law in San Francisco and Asia for many years. She first became involved with blockchain in 2017 as a strategic advisor to one of South Korea’s largest conglomerates.

Professor Kim has also taught at UC Berkeley Law School, and served as the Executive Director of its international programs. She helped to establish and secure $1 million seed funding for Stanford Engineering School’s Digital Currency Initiative, where she served as Associate Director of Research from 2020-2021.

Please

explain

what blockchain is, and what subjects

are

covered

in your

blockchain

course. Blockchain is a foundational technology developed in 2008 by the Bitcoin developer community, but new ways to use blockchain are exploding across industries as diverse as supply chain management and investment banking. While cryptocurrencies have received a lot of attention, I teach the more fundamental concepts of blockchain and how it provides the building blocks for new business models.

A blockchain securely synchronizes the same information across a distributed ledger, using a decentralized network of computers. Each blockchain represents a business ecosystem that builds decentralized applications—called DApps—to operate on these distributed ledgers. My students learn how to evaluate and compare various blockchain networks and their DApp ecosystems.

DApps rely on Smart Contracts, which are sets of rules stored on the blockchain and executed automatically. Smart Contracts create, transfer and store two types of digital assets–cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This tokenization process is what gives rise to a host of new business opportunities, i.e., in domains ranging from sports management and real estate to wine distribution and art collection.

I teach my course from the standpoint of business model innovation. Developing professional skills such as analyzing business models and applying blockchain and Web 3.0 concepts to “real world” use cases is a large part of my classroom approach.

What is one notable case study from your class?

One inherent challenge of teaching an academic course on blockchain is the constant need to adapt classroom materials to the high rate of industry change. For example, last fall semester, my students conducted projects on Facebook’s Diem strategy, aimed at the $170 billion global stablecoin market (Diem’s stablecoin was pegged to the U.S. dollar). Less than one month later, in late October 2021, the U.S. Treasury Dept. announced new guidelines that make it virtually impossible for any entities other than licensed commercial banks to issue stablecoins.

Within days following that U.S. Treasury announcement, Facebook re-branded itself as Meta (its new official name); and instead, pivoted its corporate strategy to the metaverse, i.e., another aspect of blockchain. These industry changes are happening at lightning speed, and demonstrate the need to be agile and understand global regulatory trends to avoid business failure risks.

What inspired you to teach this blockchain course at Menlo College?

The global nature of the blockchain industry provides excellent career opportunities for our business undergraduates, especially international students. Blockchain is also having significant impact on the professional sports world through NFT branding strategies, which creates great opportunities for our student-athlete community. I have brought guest speakers from high-profile blockchain startups such as Anchorage Digital (which raised $550 million in venture funding), and a co-founder of Blockdaemon (which raised $400 million) to my classroom for guest lectures.

How did you and your students go about establishing the Blockchain Club?

I suggested to my students last fall semester to establish a Blockchain Club to provide hands-on experience in working with blockchain technologies. Consequently, my students worked with me over the winter holidays to establish the new Menlo College Blockchain Club (www.blockchain.menlo.edu), for which I serve as the faculty advisor. We have many activities underway, including the NFT Minting Day that our Blockchain Club hosted in early May, that allowed the Menlo community a hands-on opportunity to create their own NFTs.

How is Menlo College leading the way in blockchain curriculum?

As a small close-knit college, we have the ability to get projects implemented, which is important in a high rate of change industry like blockchain. Our agility and speed of execution is the key advantage that our Menlo community has over larger universities. I am confident that, in a few years’ time, our Menlo blockchain startup initiatives will make a name for our College in Silicon Valley.

Ethics in Real Time New Perspectives on Business Ethics

By Roxane Marenberg, Menlo College Trustee and Adjunct Professor of Management

After a long career as an attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, then partner at two law firms, Roxane Marenberg refocused her career on business ethics in Silicon Valley, first at Cisco and now as Chief Compliance Officer at Marvell Technology, Inc. She brings her experience helping firms clarify ethical issues to the classroom.

When the cashier at Safeway mistakenly returns change to you for a $20 bill rather than the $10 you gave her, your ethical compass probably points toward honestly alerting the cashier to her mistake rather than pocketing the extra change.

Most of us understand personal responsibility, but thornier ethical situations can arise when that responsibility is spread through a large corporation or in small increments over time. Students in my business ethics class look at these tougher dilemmas and discuss thought-provoking lessons to take with them beyond their time at Menlo College. So where can these thornier situations be uncovered?

“Ethics in Real Time” begins quite simply with picking up the Wall Street Journal or New York Times, or turning on a cable news station and learning how name brand companies or organizations and their executives run afoul of ethical norms.

Students hold lively discussions of widespread scandals like the one involving the recently convicted leader of the flawed blood testing equipment who misled investors and convinced them to invest millions of dollars. They ponder the mindset of the leader who recently created fraudulent financial statements to gain money that was to be provided to small businesses suffering from the financial effect of Covid-19; instead, he used the money to buy a villa in the Dominican Republic and several luxury vehicles.

But the most heated debates involve brands or companies that remain appealing notwithstanding leaders who veer off the path of moral or compliant behavior. Imagine the look of surprise when students realize their favorite companies are not immune from this phenomenon. Students have had mixed reactions when they learned that the company that produced one of their favorite games, Call of Duty, had an alleged history of employee abuse and harassment and was facing numerous lawsuits as a result.

I ask them whether they would want to work for a business like that and how they feel about continuing to play a video game produced by a company that apparently doesn’t respect women in the workforce? Curiously, some students don’t care about the corporate culture if the game is still cool. Others appear surprised and concerned they’re supporting a company that doesn’t have a strong ethical culture and wonder what continuing to use the product may say about them as people.

In class, they untangle nuanced ethical issues. One student analyzed the former CEO of Bausch & Lomb’s decision to boost his resume by claiming he attended NYU’s Stern School of Business in order to secure his job. When his “embellished” background was uncovered, he was required to relinquish $1.1M of his bonus. The student said, “The consequences [are] too high for the crime.” Another student considered the Wells Fargo scandal in which the company and its employees created new accounts, and issued debit and credit cards to customers without their knowledge or consent. He wrote that Wells Fargo’s decision to fire the CEO and other employees and pay a $185M fine was not as harsh a penalty as he would have imposed.

The objective is for students to appreciate the important role they play as stakeholders in finding out as much as they can about a company, whether they’re considering investing in, applying to, working at, or purchasing the company’s product. Menlo College students are eager to strengthen their moral stances by questioning themselves and each other. I am happy to witness their intellectual integrity as they grapple with some of the most important issues of the day

Technoethics: A 21st Century Leadership Competency

By Jonathan Reichental, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor of Business Analytics

Having grown up in a household of technology hobbyists in the 1980s and then entered the industry in the 1990s, I’ve had a frontrow seat to some of humanity’s greatest digital technology breakthroughs. My life has been full of experiencing the impact of new technologies firsthand—both the overwhelming positives and of course, many of the unfortunate negatives.

Thirty years later, as a practitioner and educator, I am more excited and engaged in emerging technologies and their impact on people, organizations, and society than I was even all those many years ago.

In recent years, I’ve begun to notice the consequences of a world where abundant technology is creating new power dynamics. Big tech is increasingly dominating our hyperconnected lives and, despite a modicum of self-regulation, they operate in an unconstrained manner.

We don’t need to stop at big tech though. Anyone with a computing device and an Internet connection has the power to disrupt in both good and bad ways. With so much power at our fingertips, how might we address the complex ethical choices of our digital future?

In my view, the answer lies in a new 21st century leadership competency that deeply considers methods and models for decisions related to technology. It’s called technoethics

Those that understand this area and learn related skills, will be better, more ethical leaders. They may avoid the mistakes we’ve seen by major corporations in the past few years.

I’m delighted to bring the first technoethics class to Menlo College. In fact, it’s one of just a few colleges to offer this essential subject to undergraduates in the United States. Menlo students will be equipped with an expanded toolkit to address the ethical choices that technology presents as they become future leaders.

By the

Numbers:

The Mathematics Behind Business Operations

By Jakob Kotas, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Mathematics

Many people who have taken calculus in high school may have been led to believe that the subject is—at best—applicable for solving physics problems like the trajectory of a falling ball, and—at worst—entirely abstract and dissociated from reality. However, calculus is extremely useful in understanding the business world as well! In Business Calculus, a course that has been reintroduced at Menlo, students learn about traditional calculus topics such as the limit, derivative, and integral— but seen through the lens of business applications.

As an ex ample, one of the concepts traditionally covered in a calculus class is the notion of “continuity” of functions. A function is continuous if you can draw its graph in a single motion, without lifting your pen off the page; it doesn’t have any jumps or gaps. Some of the trickiest problems arise when the function is “piecewise,” meaning that it takes different shapes in different parts of the graph, and can be either continuous or discontinuous. In Business Calculus, students studied the federal tax brackets—a piecewise function—to dispel the commonly held idea that there is a large incentive to keep one’s income in a lower bracket. While many mistakenly believe that an increase in income will entail a sudden jump in tax rate—the behavior of a discontinuous function—students showed that the tax function is, in fact, continuous: since the tax brackets reflect marginal rates that apply only to the fraction of income earned above the threshold for the higher bracket, an individual’s overall rate of taxation actually increases incrementally in proportion to their income. This process gave us the opportunity to discuss the implications of its being continuous, and the IRS’s motivation in making it so.

I am particularly excited to be teaching Business Cal culus at Menlo because one of the core applied concepts of the course, optimization, is the area of my research interests as well. Optimization uses data and mathematical modeling, along with mathematical tools like the derivative and gradient, to predict the best possible outcome: the highest profit, shortest route, most efficient packing. In my most recent research project, published in the PUMP Journal of Undergraduate Research (2022), I collaborated with two of my former students to analyze the task of assigning instructors to teach particular sections of classes in a university. We were able to use optimization techniques to determine the best possible schedule, subject to the constraints on instructors’ availability and teaching preferences. In today’s business world, defined by efficiency, it is critical for students to understand how data can be used for optimal decision-making. In Business Calculus, students learn how to do just that.

New Courses in Business Analytics Getting Personal with Coding and Big Data

By Anders Baumann ’22

Last semester, I had the opportunity to take two courses that have just been introduced in the Menlo curriculum: Coding for Business Analytics Using Python with Dr. Jay Ghorbani, and the Art of Thinking Like a Data Scientist with Prof. Bill Schmarzo. I thought the Python class with Dr. Ghorbani was well structured, and I got a lot out of it. For the first couple of classes, we went through the fundamentals in Python, so that everybody could keep up. After that, we worked on our final project for the rest of the semester. We would meet up at the end of the week and the professor would guide or assist us if we had difficulties or questions regarding the code that we worked on between classes. The reason why I liked the class so well was that it was small, so everybody got the personal help they wanted, combined with a professor who was eagerly willing to help. I chose to work on a golf program for my final project that predicts a specific number of golf shots based on the previous golf balls hit. This program is now the main attraction for a website I developed that receives over 1,200 weekly requests.

Prof. Schmarzo’s class also helped me in getting a strong foundation in my data science career. His perspective on the economics of data and his emphasis on being value-driven and not data-driven was an eye-opener and changed my perspective on how to perceive data. We are living in the age of big data, so this course would in my opinion be important for every business major. I was very lucky to be in this course.

I’ve learned web development and SQL through online classes, but these online classes mostly only cover the essentials such as programming syntax. Even though these courses have been important in my progress, the personalized curriculum that this revised business analytics program has will help me much more in pursuing a data science career.

Anders graduated Menlo this Spring and is entering the M.S. program in Data Science at the University of San Francisco.

Educating a Machine

By Ali Kashefian Naieni, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor of Business Analytics | Software Engineer at Google

The amount of data generated per day is in quintillions. That is a one with 18 zeros following. This mind boggling number shows the potential that using the data has to offer.

Machine learning (ML) is a subcategory of artificial intelligence that enables the machines to learn from data. The explosion in the amount of available data and recent advancements in ML have impacted the world around us: from using smart speakers in homes to seeing empty cars on the road, the signs are everywhere these days. And it is just the beginning; ML has changed, is changing, or will change pretty much every industry in the coming years.

The goal of the “Intro to AI” course is to introduce the students to the possibilities that ML and AI have to offer so that they can leverage that knowledge in their careers. The course has a very practical tone and takes the students through the experience of an end to end project which starts from a business objective and goes through all the steps ML projects take toward delivering a fully trained and functional ML model. As the course progresses, students apply their learnings to their own projects which culminates in a final project presentation and delivery.

Recognizing Change as the New Normal, the Graduating Class of 2022 Embraces a New Path

By Caroline Casper, Senior Adjunct Professor of Literature and Humanities

On Saturday May 21, 2022, in Atherton, California, Menlo College celebrated its 94th commencement. The event, which was also streamed live on Menlo’s website, began with a serenade by the Prince Charles Junior Pipe Band. Grand Marshal Charles “Chop” Keenan III ’66 officially opened the ceremony, followed by a beautiful rendition of the national anthem sung by Maya Debnath, vocalist from Menlo School.

In his 10th Menlo College graduation ceremony, Steven Weiner wryly used the jumbo screen to his advantage with sentimental messages on cue cards: Congratulations. I’ll miss you. Have a great life and Thank you. Remarking that “new data suggests that only 37% of Americans today have a college diploma,” he offered an apology for what the students had missed along the way. “This

pandemic deprived you of the college experience I had wished for each of you,” he said. “I hope your years at Menlo were the best of your life so far, but my fondest hope is for even better years ahead.”

Only about a third of all schools in the country were able to fully reopen this year, due to the ongoing pandemic. For Menlo, President Weiner said, our reopening meant the students were able to compete in academic and research competitions around the world, and hold more than 90 events on campus. Menlo student athletes competed around the country. And this year, the women’s wrestling and golf teams secured conference titles, which President Weiner said was “something poetic,” since this is the also year the College is celebrating the 50th anniversary of women being admitted to Menlo.

“We can feel pride, much as I feel when I reflect on my good fortune to be part of a school that opens its doors to students from all across the globe, from all walks of life,” he said.

Micah Ka - ne ’91, Chair of the Menlo College Board of Trustees, spoke next to present his fellow trustees, David Irmer ’58 and James “Jim” Davlin V, (photo next page, lower left) with the award of the Menlo College Doctorate of Humane Letters. Ka - ne also introduced the Valedictorian Rufus Pappy and Student Government President Rasmia Shuman.

Rufus Pappy thanked his family and his friends before commenting on the constancy of change, something he and this graduating class have come to know well.

“I think we’ve already lived through two or three once-in-a-lifetime events,” he said. “Now, as we enter the working world and hold leadership positions, and gain the power to drive change, we must take the steps to fill the needs we see in this world.”

Rasmia Shuman delivered a light-hearted but important message on the power of acceptance and what it means to be an Oak.

“As a Muslim Arab American, I have faced adversity, but as soon as I got onto campus I was welcomed with open arms,” she said. “The feeling of being accepted is one that I wanted to impart on all the community.”

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Grande Lum thanked the Menlo faculty, recognizing the outstanding achievements of Professors Lan Jiang, Jessica Mean, Sean Pradhan, Dima Leshchinskii, and Michael Fitzpatrick.

In a keynote speech interrupted by applause, laughter, and more applause, alumnus Mark Speckman ’74 (see sidebar) explored three life lessons surrounding a common instruction that’s also the title of his book: Figure It Out.

“I had to figure out a lot of things,” he said. “The genius of my parents was that they never told me what I could do, but they also never told me what I couldn’t do.”

Many life skills that the rest of us take for granted, like riding a bike or greeting people with a handshake, Speckman had to re-imagine, and teach himself to do without hands. At the age of 14, he also had to “figure out” a way to defy his parents and the doctors at UCSF when he became the third youngest person in the U.S. ever to be fitted for metal hook prosthetic devices. He didn’t want them, and recalled saying no hooks to his parents and the doctors that day, a memory that led to his first bit of advice for the graduates: lead with your gut.

“The experts aren’t always right,” he said. “Sometimes your gut knows what’s right and you’ve got to go with that.”

Speckman said he’s proud of the ways he’s learned to compensate, but one skill he’s yet to master is tying. He’s never been able to tie anything, not his shoes nor the laces of his football uniform, which led to the second bit of advice he shared with the graduates: ask for help.

“On the first day of football practice at Menlo, I turned to the guy next to me and said, ‘Hey will you tie my shoes? (a skeptical look)... my girdle pads (an even more skeptical look)…my pants…my shoulder pads?’” he said.

He only had to ask once. From that day on, when Speckman entered the locker room before a game or practice, his teammates would begin tying his uniform. “Since then, there’s been a lifelong pattern of Menlo helping me in my life.”

Speckman’s third nugget of advice was there are lots of ways to figure it out, and he delivered this final lesson as a humorous, five-step

process of trial and error he called how to brush your teeth if you don’t have hands. “I watched my brothers put toothpaste on the toothbrush, which I couldn’t do, so I figured out how to put toothpaste on the counter, scoop it up and brush my teeth,” he said. “I was pretty proud of myself until my brothers complained that I was leaving a mess on the counter.”

So, he moved on to plan B, then plan C and plan D before finally settling on plan E, which satisfied everyone, and is the method he still uses today: “I hold the toothbrush in my mouth, add toothpaste…and, boom, I brush my teeth,” he said through a roaring ovation. “There are a bunch of ways to put toothpaste on a toothbrush, but we don’t think about it because we don’t have to,” he said. “Don’t stop, don’t quit. We all have the ability to figure it out.”

In closing, the members of the class of 2022 took to the stage to receive their diplomas from President Weiner. The ceremony concluded with a cap toss, a spray of confetti, and joyful shouts of congratulations from friends and family. As Grand Marshal Charles “Chop” Keenan III led the recessional, many of the graduates celebrated by dancing down the aisles.

Photos by Crystal Cebedo ’20, Miranda Dutton ’24, and Douglas Peck

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER Mark Speckman ’74, Coach Extraordinaire

Graduates of 2022 have spent most of their college career navigating the pandemic and other obstacles. They have sought models of perseverance; Mark Speckman ’74, the 2022 Menlo College commencement speaker, shows the way to use one’s strengths for a successful life.

With an impressive, 40-year coaching career in professional, college, and high school football, Speckman has excelled throughout with a physical disability: being born without hands.

As a student-athlete at Menlo College, he received second team allleague football honors for the Oaks in the Coast Conference. While earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences at Azusa Pacific University, he played football as a linebacker, then built a lifelong career in football, coaching at Menlo College and others. His experiences paved the way for an accomplished motivational speaking career and his own book: Figure it Out: How I Learned to Live in a Digital World Without Digits. At this year’s commencement, Menlo College students welcomed a coach who can coach us all. Mark Speckman returns the enthusiasm, saying, “This is a special place for me; Menlo took a kid with no hands and gave him a chance to go to college. Menlo educated me, employed me — and housed me. I am fired up to be back to speak to the members of the Class of 2022!”

A Pillar of Menlo College Retires

A college graduation is a milestone event celebrated with stirring music, beloved faculty in formal robes, bursts of confetti, and all the pageantry marking one of the most important days in the lives of the students. How does this all come about? Her name is Linda Teutschel, Director of Operations. On an ordinary college day, she can be seen in her signature golf cart zipping from the cafeteria to the fields to the administration office taking care of the thousand details that make events at the college run smoothly. At graduation, she’s near the stage, checking to be sure that each student on the cusp of graduation is ready to walk across the stage with confidence, their robe in order and their name ready to be called.

This commencement moment is just the tip of the iceberg. Leading up to graduation, Linda arranges everything from parking to robing for members of the Board of Trustees to bagpipers to photographers to all the rows of chairs for friends and family. This organization is accomplished with a smile and a check on her ubiquitous lists of even more details.

Linda first came to Menlo in 2003. Steven Weiner says, “I have worked with Linda for my entire presidency and, especially in the first years, she taught me so much about the inner workings of the College. She can find just the right tablecloth for a special dinner, fix the printer, straighten out a glitch in the cafeteria line, and provide excellent proofreading. She is retiring in 2022. The College will be losing a treasure.”

For her central role in making this year’s events – and all the many ways she has contributed over the years – we in the Menlo College community owe Linda our enduring gratitude. She made the last chapter of her Menlo College tenure a master class performance!

Menlo’s 2022 Valedictorian Moves into the Spotlight

By Caroline Casper, Senior Adjunct Professor of Literature and Humanities

Since childhood, Menlo College’s 2022 valedictorian Rufus K. Pappy has been on the move. He was born in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India to Christian missionary parents, who later moved him all over the world, and to eight different schools, all before he was 18. So when he arrived on Menlo’s campus in 2018 and took residence in Kratt Hall, Pappy said he immediately felt “at home.”

“Menlo is like an extension of all my experiences growing up,” he said. “It’s very diverse with students from all over the world.” No stranger to new environments, Pappy knew what to do to get himself acquainted. He got involved, joining the Oaks Innovation Club and Student Government Association (SGA), where he was named Director of Finance. He also worked in the Admissions Office and the Office of the Registrar, all while excelling in his classes.

Then came Covid, and two years after arriving on campus, Pappy, a double major in accounting and finance, had to move again, back home with his parents in Pasadena, California where they now live. And while this was a challenging time for everyone, he said he felt ready to tackle the changes.

“My upbringing really prepared me for the pandemic,” he said. “Covid was a new experience for all of us. But we had a lot of support at Menlo so it was a smooth transition for me.”

Transitions weren’t always so smooth for Pappy. Many of his childhood moves were hard. And while his parents were instrumental in helping him prepare for each move, he said nothing could have prepared him for the moves from India to Kentucky, and then back again.

“It was hard for me to leave my cousins and friends behind in India, and it was hard to find myself in such a different culture,” Pappy said. “When it was time to go back to India, six years later, my Kentucky friends were sad…I remember it was all very hard to overcome.”

But, there’s strength in adversity. Moving got easier; he learned to adjust to new places. He also began to realize that just as the new communities impacted and changed him, he could also change his new communities.

The life of a Christian missionary is unique. Pappy’s parents, who were both born in India to Christian families, chose this profession because they were passionate about breaking down socio-political and cultural boundaries. And it seems that Pappy, who has volunteered at Menlo Church and organized teams at Startup Weekend and TEDx at the College, has inherited this passion. He said his long term goal is to move back to India and use his love of entrepreneurship to provide education, healthcare and other support services where there are none.

“My goal in life is to help others, and give them the opportunity to better themselves and fulfill their dreams,” he said. “Don’t be attached to your comfort zone,” he said. “Amazing things might happen when you put yourself out there.”

Embracing the Unexpected, 2022 Salutatorian Achieves Her Dream

Emanuela Stopacholi, Menlo’s 2022 salutatorian, moved to California from the state of São Paulo in Brazil in 2014 to to work as an au pair. Raised by a single mom, she grew up vacationing on her grandparents’ farm in the Amazon, surrounded by exotic animals—anacondas and other flying snakes, small alligators, and huge spiders. She never imagined she’d still be in the U.S. today.

But she loved California immediately. “Silicon Valley is a very special place,” she said. “I watched a lot of documentaries and movies in English as a child– Indiana Jones, Rocky, Die Hard. But nothing prepares you for the real experience of living here.”

Taking English classes, she eventually enrolled in Menlo in 2019. As a new English speaker, Stopacholi, 29, said she had to challenge herself to overcome the language barrier and to assert herself, both socially and academically. She also decided, halfway through the pandemic, to declare a double major in accounting and finance. She took extra classes, spent more time at the Writing and Oral Communication Center and longer hours studying in the library.

Her hard work paid off. In 2021, Stopacholi, a member of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society, Beta Gamma Sigma the International Business Honor Society, and of the Alpha Alpha Alpha Honor Society, was named Menlo College team captain of the 2021 Chartered Financial Analyst Challenge. Later that year, she was hired for a six-month internship in the finance department at VMware in Palo Alto, and, just recently, she accepted a full-time job offer at the medical technology company Intuitive Surgical in Sunnyvale, where she plans to settle down with her husband and start a family.

Barros Represents Best of Menlo College

During the height of the first wave of the pandemic, Bianca Barros ’22, winner of the Board of Trustees Award 2022, led a group of students running Startup Weekend Silicon Valley for aspiring entrepreneurs. Marvels one of the faculty members who nominated her for the award, “Not only did that group not let a pandemic get in the way of leading a program, they grew the number of participants by taking the program online – and she did this over Zoom from Brazil!”

A list of Bianca Barros’ contributions to the College runs almost a full page, from serving as the President of the Oaks Innovation Club to being a group leader for the first TEDx event on campus and serving as a University Innovation Fellow. She was the founder of the Women in Leadership Development club on campus and an Amazon Web Services University Scout, a role that led her to support student business founders at Menlo.

Another faculty member comments that Bianca Barros has been “a force of nature on this campus. In addition to being an outstanding student in the classroom, she has been amazingly impactful in extracurricular activities.”

The Board of Trustees Award recognizes the “outstanding demonstration of scholarship, leadership, and service.” Bianca has manifested the ideals of thoughtful leadership for four years at the College. Recruited by the prestigious Bain & Company consulting firm, this force of nature will bring her energy, wonderful smile, and creativity to whatever projects she tackles next.

Menlo students looked for ways to relax and enjoy their time together on campus this semester. Starting with the annual organization fair, and following up with fun events such as Goat Yoga, a Petting Zoo, Menlo’s lighthearted take on Squid Games, and the Pacific Islander Club’s first Pa’ina, the Oaks had a great time renewing friendships and making new connections.

Associate Professor Sergey Anokhin’s 2009 Journal of Business Venturing co-authored paper “Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Corruption” has been reported among the top-20 most cited articles on entrepreneurship and innovation of all time through 2021. This is a top 1% ranking among the 1,685 papers considered.

Associate Professor Jodie Austin has had “‘The Hardest Battles Are Fought in the Mind’: Representations of Mental Illness in Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice” published by Game Studies. Austin also took part in the 2021 Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association Conference in Las Vegas with, “We Are Gathered Here Today: Virtual Mourning in the Social Simulation Universe.”

Associate Professor Ruixue Du, with the leadership of the Dean of the School of Business and Professor Mouwafac Sidaoui, relaunched Menlo College’s participation in the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. Moncerrat Barriga Villalobos ’22, one of Menlo’s standout Accounting students, undertook five training sessions followed by a VITA exam. After passing her exam, Moncerrat subsequently volunteered five Saturdays in a row to help prepare tax filings for low-income residents in San Mateo County.

Professor Mark Hager, (pictured left) Associate Professor Evan Lau, and Professor Emeritus Bruce Paton served as mentors to doctoral and postdoctoral students from Stanford University during this spring’s Preparing Future Professors Program.

Assistant Professor Jakob Kotas published “Projectile Motion with Altitude-Dependent Gravity” in SIMIODE Technique Narratives and co-published the paper “Optimal MinimalPerturbation University Scheduling with Faculty Preferences” in The PUMP Journal of Undergraduate Research.

Provost Grande Lum now serves as a Senior Advisor to the Rebuild Congress Initiative, an independent nonpartisan initiative of the Harvard Negotiation Project and Issue One. He also published a book review in the Negotiation Journal, a publication of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. Finally, Lum was spotlighted on Resolutions, the American Bar Association’s dispute resolution podcast, sharing his experience with the Community Relations Service and how communities can heal and grow.

Visiting Professor Margaret McFarland was reappointed to the boards of three affiliated nonprofits that finance, develop, and asset-manage affordable housing for low-income families and seniors. McFarland has also been nominated for a seat on the Affordable Housing Advisory Council of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. Finally, she served on the 2022-23 scholarship application review committee for The Center for the Education of Women+ at the University of Michigan, which focuses on supporting non-traditional women pursuing higher education.

Assistant Professor Lisa Mendelman co-authored a conversation on “The Optometry of Race” and Rebecca Hall’s recent Netflix adaptation of Passing, in the LA Review of Books. She has taught the book at Menlo a number of times in the Digital Humanities and Cultural Analytics course.

Dean of Arts and Sciences and Professor Melissa Michelson published two co-authored journal articles: One on textbook writing in PS: Political Science & Politics and one on how to motivate environmental activism in Environmental Politics. In March 2022 she received an award for her collaborative project, “Party at the Mailbox: Mobilizing Black Voters with Celebrations of Community” from the Western Political Science Association. Michelson and her co-authors are now writing a book about the project with New York University Press.

Michelson also launched the Student Vote Research Network as a vehicle for more than 1,000 colleges and universities to grow college student voters through research and programming. In addition, she advises the student-led Menlo College GetOut-the-Vote campaign (#MenloTo100) that aims to achieve 100% participation among eligible students.

Professor Emeritus Bruce Paton was named to the first cohort of Faculty Innovation Fellows at Stanford University. Paton developed a curriculum through Leadership Sunnyvale, preparing community leaders and students to engage with “wicked problems,” issues with conflicting viewpoints about the cause.

Lecturer Lakiba Pittman’s art was featured at The Black Woman Is God art exhibition at SOMarts in San Francisco and at San Francisco State University’s Art Gallery. She also celebrated becoming an Ambassador of Compassion, graduating from the Applied Compassion Program offered through The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University.

Pittman was also a key instructor for a research study conducted by Yale University School of Medicine and the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence; she conducted workshops with three student cohorts for the Yale Equity in Well-Being Project. Finally, Pittman co-led a workshop for Harvard University’s Center for Health Equity Education and Advocacy called Leading through Moral Injury & Trauma Exposure: Cultivating Compassion & Care.

Assistant Professor Melissa Eriko Poulsen presented at the biennial Critical Mixed Race Studies conference on a panel entitled, “Shadow Saviors, ‘Sun Summoners,’ and Radical Hope: Mixed Race Roles in Speculative Fictions and Academia.” Her paper, “Monstress Knowledge: Monsters, Saviors, and Mixed Race Resistances,” examined Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda’s graphic series Monstress as emblematic of mixed race representation in cultural production in the late2010s.

Adjunct Professor Bill Schmarzo and Dean of the School of Business and Professor Mouwafac Sidaoui (pictured left) had their paper, “Organizing for AI-powered Innovation through Design: The Case of Hitachi Vantara” published in the International Journal of Technology Management. The piece provides insights regarding data scientists’ use of design thinking to “bridge” analytical thinking.

Sidaoui also led the Academic Global Immersion program, bringing students to visit global companies in the United Arab Emirates. Sidaoui further created two new agreements: A 2+2 Transfer Pathway with the College of San Mateo, where their associates graduates are guaranteed a pathway to graduate from Menlo in two years and a 3+1 Study Abroad

and Double Degree agreement with the Centre d’études Franco-Américain du Management, where students can study abroad for a semester or complete their final year on either campus and earn two diplomas.

Director of the Rendanheyi Silicon Valley Center, and for Partnerships and Innovation Dr. Annika Steiber published her ninth management book: Leadership in a Digital Age: The Transformation of GE Appliances. In 2022 two additional books will be published: Building Resilient Organizations and The Digital Transformation Playbook. Steiber has also published several research articles; “International Acquisition Processes: A Cultural Analysis of GE Appliances’ Business Transformation” in Business Horizons, “Antecedents, Processes, and Outcomes of Collaboration between Corporates andStart-ups” in Review of Managerial Science, and “Sociological Traditions as a Complementary Lens to Better Understand Digital Transformation Policies” in Digital Policy, Regulation & Governance. As part of her work with the Rendanheyi Center, she has published several works featured by The Global Peter Drucker Forum and together with Menlo students attracted over 6000 business leaders to the Center’s webinars and online executive courses.

Associate Professor Manish Tewari’s paper “Risk Management and Agency Theory: Role of the Put Option in Corporate Bonds” has been accepted for publication in the prestigious Journal of Risk and Financial Management. Tewari’s paper develops a new methodology to exemplify, through a set of risk metrics called the Greeks, the impact of a bond’s structured provisions on its risk characteristics and its propensity for agency conflicts.

Visiting Assistant Professor Theodora Welch shared her research paper, “Leadership Development: Building Reciprocity into your Network,” at the Women in Leadership Conference at California State University, East Bay.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Rising Stars in Finance

Margaux Theol ’23 and Khalid Shatrat ’23 won scholarships of $2,000 each in the Financial Executives International (FEI) Silicon Valley Scholarship 2022 Competition. Along with three other Menlo College participants, they were invited to join the FEI Rising Stars Board. These recognitions bode well for their career success in finance and accounting. Congratulations to all!

The students owe a debt of gratitude to former Menlo College trustee and alumnus Harry Kellogg ’63 for his role in funding this program. Kellogg is now retired from his position as vice chairman of the board and head of strategic relationships for Silicon Valley Bank Financial Group. Over more than four decades in the financial services industry, Kellogg had a front-row seat to Silicon Valley’s major economic and cultural transformations. He continues to help guide the next generations to exciting careers amid seismic shifts in their fields.

Bringing Nonprofit and Profit Business Experience to the Board

Kathy Jackson Joins the Menlo College Board of Trustees

By Jessica Berger, Director of Communications, Office of Alumni Engagement & Development

Menlo College is proud to announce that Kathryn G. Jackson, former CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank, has joined its Board of Trustees.

“My interest in joining the Menlo College community stems from my career journey of leading and scaling organizations to achieve their aims of social good, as well as my deep experience in the business world. As a diverse, non-profit, business-focused college with a proven formula for ROI, Menlo is leveraging its unique position to promote equity through education,” says Jackson.

Jackson, an Atherton resident, has extensive corporate and nonprofit career experience. She currently serves as Board Chair of Cilker Orchards Management Corporation. She also served as a Director for CAI International, Inc. and was a co-founder of Magnify Community, a philanthropy innovation lab focused on prioritizing increased giving to Silicon Valley nonprofits.

Jackson previously served as CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank, a $130 million organization that, during her tenure, provided more than one million meals per week to Silicon Valley residents. She also served on the Board of Feeding America, the nation’s second largest charity. Prior to joining Second Harvest, Jackson served as Board President of the Foundation for the Future at Menlo-Atherton High School; she is delighted to have found M-A alums enrolled at Menlo College. “Kathy’s appointment to the Board of Menlo College will undoubtedly help Menlo refine our strategies to further our progress toward achieving our mission. Menlo’s diverse, driven students go on to be the business leaders of Silicon Valley and beyond, and Kathy’s involvement will ensure that the college is well-positioned to reach and support even more students desiring a life-trajectory changing college education,” said Menlo College President Steven Weiner. “Kathy’s expertise is sure to yield tangible, impactful results for our students and their families, the Bay Area, and the globe.”

This April, Jackson joined students and alums on Menlo’s campus to participate in a panel discussion on women’s resilience for Career Connect Day.

Jackson encouraged all students to have confidence and make bold choices in their careers: “Don’t be afraid to take risks. I think a lot of people say that to people when they’re young, but you can take risks at any point in your life. As long as you learn something if you fail, as long as you can articulate why you did what you did and why it seemed like a reasonable idea at the time, employers will still love to hire you because you’ve learned from experience.”

And she had a special piece of advice for women preparing to enter the workforce: “When I went to college the women’s movement was just starting, and we always talked about ‘having it all.’ And what I’ve learned is you actually can – you can have a satisfying career, you can try to change the world, you can have kids – but you can’t have everything at full boil all the time. Things ebb and flow, and that’s actually okay.”

The College Welcomes its First Graduate Studies

Master of Science in Information Systems

Fall 2023 is slated to see the inaugural class of graduate students come to Menlo College. One of the first graduate program offerings will be the new Master of Science in Information Systems. That program will offer the opportunity for students to learn to identify and describe complex organizational problems, challenges, and dilemmas in terms of systematic approaches to produce results for more efficient, information-driven ethical decision-making.

The School of Business at Menlo College is intimately tied to the Silicon Valley business community and technology companies located throughout the Bay area due to its lasting history in the heart of what is the world’s preeminent innovation locale. Silicon Valley executives teach at the School of Business and local firms recruit from Menlo College every year. This relationship enables them to work closely with our faculty, staff, and students, and to continually enhance the institution’s curriculum. Therefore, the program is uniquely equipped to respond to the rapid changes and growth within the information systems, business, and technology arena.

The MSIS has been designed, with extensive input from an industry advisory board, for graduate students who want to develop the knowledge and skills needed to utilize information systems methods and principles to be prepared to provide ethical leadership in the Information Systems field.

Master of Arts in Sports and Performance Psychology

By Austin Bumpus, Digital Marketing Manager

Starting in Fall 2023, Menlo College plans to offer a master’s degree in Sports and Performance Psychology, a program fit for students completing their undergraduate degrees in psychology and sports management, as well as those who are on athletics teams.

The new program would add to Menlo’s reputation of sending students into successful and growing fields, helping them land highly sought-after jobs with their in-demand degrees.

The Sports and Performance Psychology degree would also capitalize on the College’s pre-existing strengths relating to Athletics, Psychology and Sports Management.

“This program will create a wealth of opportunities for those looking to advance their careers in sports and performance psychology, whether it’s for student-athletes as they pursue opportunities as coaches, or for passionate students, alumni, and others seeking a career in helping performers excel in sports, arts, business, and other professions,” Provost Grande Lum said.

The development of the new master’s program was inspired in part by the interests and goals demonstrated by current and former Menlo students. For example, Amy Barron ‘07, (pictured above) a former volleyball player who majored in psychology, was unsure what she wanted to do next after graduating from Menlo. She started to coach basketball at the junior collegiate level, and decided to pursue a master’s in psychology from California State University, Stanislaus.

As part of her efforts, she wrote a thesis on gender stereotyping and the female collegiate athlete.

“When I went to go get my master’s, I just wanted to see what research was out there. There wasn’t as much research as I would’ve liked, but I did get to learn a lot through the process,” Barron said.

From there, Barron pursued opportunities in special education, and eventually started a Special Olympics in her district of Patterson, California. She said she has run the program for eight years, and credited Menlo for helping to shape her career journey.

“It’s been phenomenal,” Barron said. “I love to give, and I think Menlo helped shape that as well, being given so many opportunities in a small classroom setting.”

Barron continues to show a passion for psychology as it intersects with sports, and mentioned wanting to research post-traumatic stress disorder in collegiate athletes as well.

Now, pending the program’s approval, students with similar interests to Barron will be able to build expertise in a variety of related topics and gain a master’s degree in sports and performance psychology from Menlo College.

Students Lead the Way at Career Connect Day

More than 400 members of the greater Menlo College community celebrated Career Connect Day on Tuesday, April 5. Students, alumni and employer partners were all energized to return to campus for this flagship event featuring morning breakout sessions, a lunchtime fireside chat, an afternoon career fair, and on-campus interviews.

“Career Connect Day fully activates the Menlo College network and brings Silicon Valley right here to campus,” said Dylan Houle, Executive Director of the Internships & Career Services office. Some students not only participated, but also helped organize panel discussions with industry professionals. One of the most popular sessions of the day – a fireside chat with two renowned experts from Stanford University on the science of sleep – was co-led by RISE Club President Basil Merk ’23 and Strategic Advisor Dennis Vanin ’24.

“I really enjoyed how engaged my fellow students were and the amazing questions they asked,” Merk said. “They showed great interest, not only in our session, but overall.”

Chara Higaki ’22, (pictured above) President of Women In Leadership Development (WILD), worked together with the Alumni Engagement team to bring together a powerhouse panel of women in celebration of the 50th anniversary of female students at Menlo.

Trustee Kathy Jackson, former CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank and one of the panelists Higaki invited, remarked “Our panel was so interesting to me! Women spanning a 40+ year age range and with so many thoughtful insights and shared values and experience.”

Rita Abdel-Malek ’22 pulled double duty as both a panelist and fireside chat co-host. First, she spoke on the “Leveraging Careers in Public Service to Drive Community Change” panel organized by fellow student Diana Guardado ’23. Then, she rushed over to join Karen Wickre, author of Taking the Work Out of Networking, on stage for a keynote discussion.

Ruby Rugama Gardea ’22, Marilyn Munoz ’22, and Freya Sadler ’23 also organized and led sessions for Career Connect Day.

At the end of the day, 96% of students who participated reported that Career Connect Day helped expand their personal and professional network. In many ways, that’s thanks to these incredible student leaders who delivered real value and rich networking opportunities for their peers.

For a panel she organized on careers in public service, Diana Guardado ’23 was joined by Rita Abdel-Malek ’22; Gabriela Chavez-Lopez, Founding Executive Director of the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley; Raghda Karajah , Field Representative for Congresswoman Jackie Speier; and Christina Corpus, Candidate for San Mateo County Sheriff.

Menlo Expands Resources for International Students

Menlo College has expanded its office of International Student Services (ISS), enabling the college to offer more robust services for international students.

In Fall 2021, Erik Bakke, Executive Director of Academic Success and International Student Services, took on the leadership of ISS. International student support, outreach, and advocacy are now run out of his office.

Importantly, as part of the expansion, a new position was created: International Student Advocate. Jessica Nguyen filled this position in November of 2021. She graduated from U. C. Santa Cruz with a degree in Film & Digital Media and previously has had experience helping international students as a Designated School Official.

As International Student Advocate, and a Designated School Official for Menlo, Ms. Nguyen not only works with the U.S. Student Exchange Visitor Program to help international students remain in legal compliance but also is available to support international students in many different areas; she and the office have helped students with everything from visas, to taxes, to study abroad, to finding a health provider, to planning a trip off campus. The community space outside Ms. Nguyen’s office is being used for a variety of informational and social get togethers; snacks, recently an array of Japanese munchies and donuts, are often served.

For spring of 2022, ISS hosted The Small Axe series of movies by Steve McQueen in honor of Black History Month and to allow students to discuss the international history of the African diaspora. The ISS looks forward to screening many more films of interest and hosting further cultural events for the entire student body.

During Fall 2021 and Spring 2022, Celina Husung, the first International Student Representative in Student Government at Menlo College, has been working closely with the ISS to develop programming and to reach out to Menlo’s diverse student communities.

An International Student Services event for all students is the annual spring Four Continents trip to San Francisco. For 2022, students visited the Museum of the African Diaspora, (pictured below) had dim sum in Chinatown, went to City Lights Books, and ended by visiting Italian cafes in North Beach.

Come on by the Administrative Building and speak to ISS; the doors are always open.

New Directions for Study Abroad

By Jessica Nguyen, International Student Advocate

International Student Services is now home to Study Abroad. The goal of ISS is to bridge the gap between the domestic and international communities at Menlo College, and what better way than to offer the opportunity for all students to travel abroad to study and immerse themselves in the culture of a foreign country? Menlo College is partnered with Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan and the Universidad Francisco de Vitoria in Madrid, Spain, and our staff is working hard to add even more locations. Students can currently spend a semester or a full academic year at Kansai Gaidai University or the Universidad Francisco de Vitoria.

Our Dean of the Business School, Mouwafac Sidaoui, has been working hard to plan short-term faculty-led programs in countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, while also meeting potential partners for exchange agreements. We also offer partnerships with several third-party Study Abroad organizations that provide a unique short-term experience in a variety of locations.

ISS promotes study abroad so that students can challenge themselves and explore their potential to grow. We encourage students to learn about other cultures and open their minds to new ways of thinking. Students are given the opportunity to expand their innovation and creativity as well as network and develop lifetime relationships with people from different backgrounds. We hope that students can have a life changing and educational experience by studying abroad.

Making Space to Learn and Ask Questions: LGBTQIA+ Culture on Campus

By Max Gold ’24

In February 2022, Max Gold ’24, in conjunction with the College club Spectrum, held a campus-wide event with two Redwood City council members to discuss questions that any member of the Menlo College community might have about LGBTQ+ issues.

Moderating the panel, Max Gold asked District 5 council members Lisette Espinoza-Garnica and Michael Smith such questions as: “How does your identity in the LGBTQ community affect your political office?” “How do the other aspects of your identity as a minority affect your job and the other things you are passionate about?” Members of the audience expressed curiosity about many subjects, including the most respectful way to use pronouns and what issues the panelists were fighting for.

Max Gold explains, “I started this event because I noticed a lack of education around queer issues by many people on campus. People were curious and wanted to learn more, but just didn’t know how to go about asking questions.”

Several audience members lingered after the panel to continue the discussion, make connections through LinkedIn, trade business cards and, in general, enjoy the community that had arisen on the spot. Gold hopes to make this an annual event, another way for people to understand each other.

Student Research Tackles Mental Health Impacts of the Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on college and university communities, affecting socialization and class environments, leading to unprecedented student challenges, and producing serious consequences for students’ psychological well-being.

This year, two Menlo seniors embarked on a research project to investigate the mental health impacts of both the campus closure and the subsequent return to in-person classes. With the guidance of Dr. Mouwafac Sidaoui, Dean of the Business School, brothers Christian Ingul ’22 and Fredrik Ingul ’22 used a data visualization approach to synthesize field research and current secondary research, measuring which areas of higher education are most severely affected and identifying drivers in psychological impacts from the pandemic. They presented their findings at the annual convention of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society this March.

The student researchers compared data gathered in national studies with their own original findings based on a survey they created and distributed among Menlo students.

They found that college students throughout the pandemic reported experiencing increased anxiety and depression due to causes such as social isolation, unhealthy use of social media, financial deterioration, the challenges of remote learning, and fear for loved ones’ health and safety or stress over the need to care for loved ones. However, they also found that students who sought out social support and those who engaged in physical activity experienced an improved ability to manage these stressors.

Perhaps most interestingly, they noted that, as we prepared to return to campus this Fall, nearly half of the Menlo students surveyed reported some level of anxiety or discomfort with the prospect of returning to in-person classes. Since the start of the pandemic, across the country, students, faculty, and staff have eagerly asked, “When can we get back to normal?” But this transition has brought its own challenges.

Despite the widespread expectation that everyone is comforted by the opportunity to reunite in person, Christian and Fredrik say their research shows that students need time to readjust and increased support from faculty and staff to help them cope with stress as they reacclimate to campus culture. They hope to continue their research, monitoring new developments in the transition back to in-person learning to gain additional insights into the most effective ways to support students on campus while leveraging the best aspects of remote learning.

Students Coping Strategies

TimelyCare & TalkNow

Menlo’s Commitment to Student Wellness

By Ashley Brankovich, Student Health & Wellness Coordinator

For the past six years Menlo College has offered mental health appointments, available to all students Monday through Friday during the academic year. This year our campus mental health services conducted a total of 862 appointments providing care to students who needed it.

Given the strong evidence of the need for mental health services and the value they provide for student well-being, Menlo College has recognized the need for more resources in the area of student health and wellness. To ensure greater access to services, Menlo has plans to hire a full-time, on-site mental health clinician for the 2022-2023 academic year.

In addition, all Menlo students will have access to TimelyCare, a 24/7, free virtual care service for students to address common concerns that can be safely diagnosed and treated remotely. TimelyCare will be available even during the summer months when school is not in session. Students will be able to choose their counselor based on profile and specialization information that best suits their needs. TimelyCare will also provide our students with a crisis line, and a feature called TalkNow: this is on-demand access to a mental health professional—in most cases a student will be connected to a provider within three to seven minutes. A student can discuss any concern, from feeling down, to anxiety connected to academic, social, or athletic demands, or simply missing home and struggling to cope with all the new demands of campus life.

Menlo students can access the TimelyCare services 24/7 by registering online. After registation, the TalkNow number will be provided if requested. timelycare.com/menlocollege

ALUMNI

Startup Success at Menlo and Beyond

By Jessica Berger, Director of Communications, Office of Alumni Engagement & Development

Sambhab Thapaliya ‘21 is a proof-of-point example that Menlo College positions its graduates to succeed on the frontiers of economic opportunity. Since 2019, the Nepalese native has raised $36 million to fund two startups. How has he been so successful? What resonates most with his investors?

“I don’t give up,” Thapaliya says.

His tenacity can be traced back to his roots in Nepal. He describes growing up not far from scenes of abject poverty. In his own family, no one had gone to college. Thapaliya faced an acute struggle when the Gorkha earthquake separated him — only a high school student at the time — from them for several days.

Yet against this backdrop was a deep desire “to do something different.” And so, after a failed attempt at developing an AI company, when a Menlo College flyer found its way to Nepal, with the encouragement of his mother, Thapaliya felt compelled to submit an application.

Recalling what attracted him to Menlo, he says, “I wanted to study entrepreneurship and information systems - and be in Silicon Valley.”

During his junior year in 2019, as many like-minded Menlo students have done, he established a company, ASMI. This startup venture was founded to develop a commerce application programming interface for video games, which has gone on to raise $2 million in funding.

Then in 2021, in the midst of the pandemic, Thapaliya established Zebec Protocol. This startup focuses on creating a continuous financial settlement protocol on the decentralized network Solana and has raised $34 million in funds to date. Since founding these two businesses, Thapaliya is proud to have corresponded with the head of Coinbase and pitched at Lightspeed Ventures.

According to Thapaliya, Menlo was where “I found my passion. That’s what college is about.” He found the General Education courses most impactful, where courses such as Behavioral Finance and Psychology taught him “how to understand broad systems and ways of thinking about what people need.” This foundation compelled him to explore the emerging fields of cryptocurrency and DeFi, grounded in the desire to give financial independence to those without regular access to centralized banking.

At Menlo, Thapaliya also learned that no one can be successful on their own. While preparing to launch ASMI, Thapaliya rehearsed his pitches for his fellow students, listening to their feedback. He now brings that practice to the teams he leads, where the sharing of ideas and communication leads to the creation of strong teams. He is open to the idea that everyone is on a constant evolution of self-discovery.

Since completing his degree in Management with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Thapaliya stays close to the College, frequently guest lecturing on campus and most recently participating in Career Connect Day this spring where he hosted a lecture on “What Web3 Means to the Job Market.”

“Menlo students have great potential. Some may struggle but I know the system and I want to help them find success in DeFi, crypto, and Web3.”

He encourages the College to continue to explore the new economy, too - bringing in guest speakers, integrating contemporary examples into classroom cases. Thapaliya thinks that, by continuing to do so, future students will have an edge in the innovation economy - just like him.

In Memoriam

Richard “Rink” Babka ’55: 1936 - 2022

Born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Richard ‘Rink’ Babka became an accomplished athlete. After attending Menlo College, he attended USC on a football scholarship and graduated with a degree in business. Ranked nationally as one of the greatest discus throwers in University of Southern California track and field history, he was NCAA co-captain and champion in 1958, and the first person ever to throw over 200 feet. Babka competed in the 1960 Rome Olympics as part of the U.S. track and field medals sweep, taking his place with silver. He set four world records and was inducted into the internationally prestigious World Throwers Congress. He was also inducted into the Menlo College Hall of Fame, USC Hall of Fame, and San Francisco Olympic Club Hall of Fame.

After retiring from athletics, Babka owned the Coors Beverage Distributorship in Stockton, CA, where he also raised quarter horses and cattle. He was active in many civic organizations, and he served as an Ambassador for Athletics in Scandinavia. Additionally, Babka was an accomplished artist with several paintings on display globally with the Art of Olympians. Rink Babka is survived by his partner Sharon Garibaldi; sons Beau, Kord, and Dirk; daughter Tanja; eight grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.

Gregory “Greg” Cirimele ’03: 1979 - 2021

Greg Cirimele, a Bay Area local, became a Silicon Valley business executive. As a student, Cirimele completed his Bachelor’s in Business from Menlo College with magna cum laude honors. He played baseball and made lifelong friends, including fellow alumnus James Boucher ’03. Cirimele helped Boucher secure his first job at QuinStreet Inc. and, even twenty years later, they remained partners at the gym, softball field, and on vacations. “Seems like everywhere he went Greg just made good friendships,” Boucher said. Cirimele began his career as an account executive at Kenshoo, a global software company, which eventually led him to become Director of Sales at Criteo, an e-commerce data business, and later Vice President of Sales at SteelHouse, a marketing software company. Outside of work, Greg was well loved by friends, neighbors, and family members. “You couldn’t not like him; he was full of life, he was full of energy,” said Cirimele’s mother Kim Cirimele, “He was just a good, good human being.” Cirimele’s death was a sudden

shock to the Peninsula, a result of senseless gun violence, and the Menlo College community extends its deepest sympathies to his family and those who mourn. Greg Cirimele is survived by his wife and two young daughters.

John Rooke ’88: 1962 - 2022

A Portola Valley native, John Rooke became a beloved member of the Menlo College community. Rooke attended Menlo College in the 1980s, earning two degrees, working closely with Kappa Chi Fraternity, and making numerous lifelong friends. Rooke said, “Outside of my marriage and kids, my greatest memories are Menlo memories. And a lot of those took place on the soccer field.” As a student-athlete, and later, team captain for the men’s soccer team, he played under the legendary coach, Dr. Carlos López, whom he considered a second father. From 1980 - 1986, Rooke helped the Oaks amass an 81-22-8 record and win five conference championships. Rooke boasted one of the lowest Goals Against Average of any keeper in the division for three consecutive seasons and earned All-American and NCICSC All-Conference honors on three occasions. While at Menlo, he also met Kathy Coffey and, after reconnecting with her after graduation, they embarked on a loving marriage. As an alumnus, Rooke co-founded

Friends of Menlo

Duvall Hecht: 1930-2022

the annual Señor Carlós Lopez Memorial Soccer Tournament, and in 2015, he was inducted into the Menlo College Athletics Hall of Fame. Professionally, Rooke joined his father in the family business, Rooke & Associates, and earned numerous sales awards in over 30 years in the restaurant equipment business. John Rooke is survived by his wife Kathy and their two children Dee Dee and Keeley.

We also remember

C. Robert Clarke ‘47: 1926 - 2020

Peter Dunne III ‘49: 1930 - 2021

Robert G. Stone ‘57: 1936 - 2021

Richard A. Watkins ‘59: 1936 - 2022

Fred Bay ‘62: 1942 - 2021

Raymond Plummer ‘63: 1943 - 2018

Michael Huycke ‘64: 1944 - 2021

Charles Concannon ‘66: 1947 - 2020

T. Wilson Dibblee Hoyt ‘71: 1950 - 2021

Daniel Yerxa ‘74: 1952 - 2022

Gardner “Logan” Mein ‘91: 1965 - 2022

Compiled by Michaela Haynes ’22

Duvall Hecht led a life of excellence in academia, athletics, and entrepreneurship. His journey with Menlo began as a student in 1949 with a scholar’s passion for the classics. Hecht would later become a skilled rower who competed at the 1952 Olympics in Finland, and at the 1956 Olympics in Australia, he took home gold while rowing in a double. He then served as a pilot for the Marines, pursued a graduate degree in journalism from Stanford University, and rejoined the Menlo College community as an English professor. In 1958, Hecht started the Rowing Club at Menlo. With sculls for an eight-man crew, four-man crew, and a single, Hecht trained students, many with no experience, to row.

Hecht, a southern Californian at heart, returned to Orange County, where he built UC Irvine’s rowing program from scratch and worked in securities in Los Angeles. During his long commutes to and from the city, Hecht was inspired to create the first audio book company: Books on Tape. The business began in 1976, and generated $17,000 in its first year – equivalent to over $80,000 today. With the support of his wife, by the 1990s, revenues had skyrocketed, and in 2001, Random House purchased the business for an estimated $20 million. Duvall Hecht is survived by his wife Ann Marie Rousseau, four children, and three grandchildren.

John Arrillaga: 1937-2022

John Arrillaga was one of Silicon Valley’s most successful real estate developers and philanthropists. He attended Stanford University on an athletic scholarship, playing basketball, and later in life was a generous financial supporter of the university –including a one-time $151 million gift, the largest amount given to the University by a living philanthropist at that time, and he developed over 200 buildings and projects, most notably the Stanford Stadium. Arrillaga also worked on other, numerous philanthropic construction projects. He built and donated campuses for his children’s high schools, Ronald McDonald houses, police departments, libraries, recreation centers, and veterans facilities. The new residence hall on the Menlo College campus is among the projects he built and donated most recently, and in his memory, the new building will be known as John Arrillaga Sr. Hall. In many other ways as well, Arrillaga was a friend and supporter of Menlo College. Living the principles he believed in, Arrillaga advised, “Give as much as you possibly can, and give equally from among your resources - time, mind, and money . . . for the more one gives, the more life gives one in return.”

In his career, Arrillaga was an unbelievably successful real estate developer. As the tech boom began to swell in the 2000s, he purchased orchards surrounding Stanford, where he developed office parks that would be leased by giants like Google, Apple, Intel, and Facebook. His firm, Peery Arrillaga, envisioned and executed over 20 million square feet of the Peninsula’s premier corporate campus office spaces. His legacy is stamped not only in memories of him and his philanthropy, but physically in the landscape of Silicon Valley. John Arrillaga is survived by his

wife Gioia Fasi Arrillaga, daughter Laura, son John, and four grandsons.

“...the more one gives, the more life gives one in return.”

The new building will be known as John Arrillaga Sr. Hall.

Spring 2022 Season in Review

ATHLETICS

By Ryan Barnett, Sports Information and Operations Director

The 2021-22 year was a triumphant return to competition for Menlo College Athletics. In the last half of the year, the Oaks secured two conference titles this season (Women’s Wrestling and Women’s Golf), and sent four teams to NAIA National Tournaments. Thirty student-athletes were honored as All-Conference performers, 14 earned All-American status, and one won an individual national title. While athletic performance thrived, so too did success in the classroom: Seventy-nine student-athletes earned scholar-athlete status. Our incredible student-athletes, coaches, support staff, and faculty together made all of the success possible.

SOCCER

Both Men’s and Women’s Soccer made it to GSAC post-season play for the fifth consecutive season. On the women’s side, Kori-Ann Koverman ’22 and Ally Salzwedel ’21 were honored as All-GSAC team members, while Brett Fitzpatrick ’21, Levin Ledergerber ’24, and Evan Snodgrass ’21 were named as AllConference honorees on the men’s side. Fitzpatrick was also named an Honorable Mention All-American, and Caden Mink ’23 was named to the Academic All-District team.

CROSS COUNTRY

Cross Country kicked off their first season under the direction of Head Coach Daniel Simpson. The team earned three individual National Qualifiers; Conner Dmytriw ’22, Naomy Lagat ’22, and Connor Oldham ’22, with Lagat finishing 13th at nationals, making her Menlo Cross Country’s first AllAmerican in over 30 years.

BASKETBALL

In their best start in program history, Men’s Basketball was unbeaten in their first eight contests. The team qualified for the GSAC Tournament, making it to the quarterfinals.

Corey Le’aupepe ’23 was honored both as an All-GSAC

member and an Academic All-District team member. Like the men’s team, Women’s Basketball earned their spot in the GSAC Tournament, but the women advanced from there to a berth to nationals for the third time in four seasons of competition. For her outstanding contributions, Kiara Brown ’24 was named both an All-GSAC team member and an Honorable Mention All-American.

WRESTLING

On the wrestling mats, Menlo’s men’s team finished second overall in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, with Elijah Palacio ’23 and Greg Viloria ’22 winning individual conference titles. At nationals, the team placed 15th overall, with Palacio and Jacob Mendoza ’22 earning All-

American status. Rounding out the winter group was another triumphant showing from the Women’s Wrestling team. That team, led by CCC Coach of the Year Joey Bareng, secured their second consecutive CCC title, and placed third at nationals. CCC Wrestler of the Year Alleida Martinez ’22 won her second career individual National Title, and Alia Abushi ’24, Nanea Estrella ’24, Tianna Fernandez ’23, Gracie Figueroa ’22, Tavia Heidelberg-Tillotson ’23, and Alana Vivas ’23 all earned All-American status.

OTHER SPORTS REBOUND

The resurgence of Men’s Volleyball, Baseball, Softball, Golf, and Track and Field made headlines in the last couple months of the year. Getting the earliest start, Men’s Volleyball was ranked in the top 10 in the NAIA wire-to-wire, eventually finishing in third place in the extremely competitive GSAC. Chase Direito ’23 and Konrad Stoklosinski ’23 were both named 2nd Team All-Americans, with Stoklosinski setting the

the season, with Ryan Inouye ’24 and Christopher Lopez ’22 both being honored as All-GSAC recipients. Naomy Lagat ’22 earned the right to compete in the 5000m race at indoor Track and Field nationals, and Connor Oldham qualified to compete in the half-marathon outdoor nationals later this summer. It was a record-breaking season for both Men’s and Women’s Golf, under the direction of GSAC Coach of the Year Mike Givens. The men’s team placed third in the GSAC, with

Co-Freshmen of the Year. On the women’s side, GSAC Golfer of the Year Dasa Urbankova ’22 and All-GSAC recipients Catherine Batang ’23 and Julika Grosspietsch ’22 led the Oaks to their first GSAC title in program history. That earned them a bid to nationals, where they will be competing in the coming weeks.

As this academic year winds down, the Menlo College Athletic Program made their returning message very clear: The Oaks are back, and they’re ready to continue being thought of as one of the most competitive schools in the GSAC, the CCC, and the NAIA!

Tennis, Anyone?

By Ryan Barnett, Sports Information and Operations Director

Varsity tennis is returning to Menlo College! This spring, Ben Cabell was named the Director of Men’s and Women’s Tennis. Coach Cabell’s appointment represents a re-start of the tennis program at Menlo, a sport that was prominent at the college from its founding in 1927 through the early 2000s.

Coach Cabell brings a wealth of coaching knowledge and experience, having served as Head Women’s Tennis Coach at Santa Clara University for the last 16 seasons after 2 seasons as an Assistant Coach. Coach Cabell led the Broncos to 137 wins and their first-ever WCC Conference Title in 2013 and was named the WCC Co-Coach of the Year. Cabell coached 38 All-Conference players in his time, including Santa Clara’s All-Time Winningest Women’s Singles player Katie Le, and was responsible for bringing Santa Clara Women’s Tennis to their highest ranking in program history, at #51 in the country. Prior to taking the helm at Santa Clara, Coach Cabell spent a season as the Assistant Tennis Coach at Foothill College, and five years as the Associate Tennis Pro at Los Altos Country Club.

Coach Cabell played collegiately at Santa Clara, Foothill College, and San Diego State, where he earned his degree in political science in 2000.

On taking this new position with Menlo College, Coach Cabell stated, “I would like to thank President Steven Weiner and Athletic Director Keith Spataro for this wonderful opportunity to help rebuild the Men’s and Women’s Tennis Programs at Menlo College. Menlo has an incredible community of support, and there is unlimited potential for our tennis programs and Menlo athletics as a whole. I can’t wait to get started and take on this next challenge in my career.” Vice President for Athletics Spataro added, “We’re looking to see our tennis programs hit the ground running, and I am confident that Coach Cabell is the man who will best meet that expectation. His coaching experience and knowledge will help us grow our tennis programs this season and make us immediate competitors in the Golden State Athletic Conference.”

Coach Cabell and the Oaks will begin regulation competition in the 2022-23 academic year.

Embracing Light: Art for the Future

Recent donations of several sculptures and paintings to campus are a culmination of the College’s long tradition of art for students. Acclaimed artist John E. Spears ’73 fondly recalls Professor Leon Loofbourow, chair of the Fine Arts Department, supporting Spears in the creation of an arts and crafts center on campus in 1972.

Continuing his education at Stanford University with degrees in art and economics, Spears has combined his talent and business acumen for a long, successful career. Mentored by renowned artists Nathan Oliveira and Frank Lobdell, Spears began creating art installations for corporations, such as his stunning artwork at Apple Computer’s first headquarters in Cupertino and another at Price Waterhouse. His works were selected by curator Henry Hopkins for a show at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and he had a solo show at the San Jose Museum of Art. Spears now resides in New Jersey, completing hundreds of commissions for galleries, universities, and corporations.

For these works John Spears developed a silk screen process using painstakingly hand-cut film to create artworks that explore “luminosity and the effects of light in an increasingly electric world.” This makes the silkscreen process not just a printing process, but a painting process. The technique evolved from Spears’ work earlier in his career creating a wholesale fabric line on 100-foot tables. During the repetitive printing, he discovered that the silkscreen could render one-of-a-kind images, which he calls screen paintings. He says, “This is the exciting new frontier of what silkscreening affords the artist. It is the best of two worlds of printing and painting put together.”

At

right, John Spears’ first studio, one of the first converted artist’s studios in San Francisco’s South of Market at the old Hamm’s Brewery building.