Fiscal Year 2021-2022
Wendy Gillespie Center for Advancing Global Business Impact Report business.sdsu.edu
Message from
Wendy Gillespie Center for Advancing Global
Faculty
Business
FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2021-22 Points of Pride
In October 2018, the Center received a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. A similar grant, received in 1989, helped the Center launch the undergraduate international business (IB) degree program at SDSU. Today, degree program has about 500 students and is ranked 8th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
For more than thirty years, the work of our Center to bring a global perspective to business programs was funded primarily through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The university realized that it was not sustainable to rely solely on federal grant funding. They agreed we needed additional sources to fund the work we do, which provides business students with an international experience before they graduate. In 2019, the Center for Advancing Global Business (CAGB) was founded with the purpose of growing resources to support our work to expand international curriculum, international business research, and foster engagement between academia and global organizations. When the Advisory Board was formed, the group pledged to raise a $3 million endowment. In 2021, Board Member Wendy Gillespie donated $1.5 million to endow the Center. Wendy’s gift was matched by Ron and Alexis Fowler. Mark J. Ballam Managing Director, Wendy Gillespie Center for Advancing Global Business
#5
ONE OF THE LARGEST IB PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY Consistently ranked among the top one percent of undergraduate international business programs in the U.S. #5 Undergrad International Business (Public), #8 Nation, U.S. News & World Report, 2022
In 2021, the Center helped to provide international content to more than 800 courses, which impacted more than 5,000 students. In spring semester, our Center hosts the Cross Border Consulting program that provides graduate students with an opportunity to join a consulting team to work directly with companies doing international business. This experiential learning approach allows students to use the academic content and skills they gained in their courses. Impact | Center for Advancing Global Business Receives Naming Gift
A gift establishing the Wendy Gillespie Center for Advancing Global Business Endowment will provide programmatic support for the Center, which is dedicated to expanding international curriculum, research, and engagement between academia and global institutions. A portion of the gift will provide support for SDSU’s study abroad programs and international internships. The gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Fowler Match.
Left to right: Thomas & Evelyn Page (Interim) Dean of the Fowler College of Business Joe Belch; President Adela de la Torre; Wendy Gillespie; Managing Director, Wendy Gillespie Center for Advancing Global Business Mark Ballam
“As we look ahead, the Wendy Gillespie Center for Advancing Global Business will provide students with more access to international experiences, discover new ways to solve global business challenges and be a leader for excellence, innovation and collaboration between academia and international commerce.” - Mark Ballam
Research Projects Funded in 2021-22
Fowler College of Business
Climate Risk and Executive Compensation: A Global Comparison Improving Global Healthcare Outcomes for Low-Literate Income Consumers Through Text Interventions
Student Spotlight
Faculty Achievements
Sofia Vallejo Terceros, Senior Majors: International Business with an emphasis on French & Western Europe and Spanish Language & Literature Minor: Leadership
My name is Sofia Vallejo Terceros, and I am currently a senior student at SDSU. I am originally from Bolivia but have lived in San Diego since I was 15 years old. I am working on two bachelor’s degrees, one in International Business with an emphasis on French & Western Europe and a second bachelor’s in Spanish Language & Literature. I am also about to complete a minor in Leadership. I got involved with the WACAGB because I was looking for an internship aligned with my IB major that would allow me to explore and learn about the work in my area of study. I reached out to Nancy Nicholson, the Director of the Charles W. Hostler Institute of World Affairs at SDSU and intern recruitment supervisor for the WGCAGB. I had an informational meeting with her about the position and discovered that it was definitely an opportunity I couldn’t miss. Thanks to her, I was able to join this wonderful team of people who are passionate about international business. Working here has been enlightening to say the least. I have gained an immense amount of knowledge through research and teamwork, not only about the Center’s work and impact, but about how to conduct business internationally and other related information. One of the best parts about this internship has been the chance that students like me are able to demonstrate our abilities and passion for this topic in an environment that is fully supportive of it. The work I do here has allowed me to rediscover every day why I chose this major and gain a different perspective of the world of business that I can appreciate as a student and as an upcoming working professional. Moreover, it has helped me improve my skills on many different levels, and I am very thankful for it. I am still deciding what I want to do after graduation. Currently, I have a few job offers in different industries, but I know I want to pursue a position related to international business. As an international student, I know firsthand that having knowledge about other cultures has a lot of value, especially in business, where you need to make connections with people. In my opinion, it opens more gates, not only for business but also for other opportunities. In addition, thanks to the technology we have available to us, the world has become smaller, and the world of business much more competitive. As such, I firmly believe that the future of global business resides in the hands of professionals who are passionate about pursuing this knowledge and applying it in their work.
Martina Musteen, Ph.D. Charles Hostler Professor of Global Business Faculty Director of the Wendy Gillespie Center for Advancing Global Business Management Department, Fowler College of Business Events
May 2022 (virtual event) Recipients of the 2022 Fowler College of Business Teaching Excellence Awards: Martina Musteen (above), Patrick Smith, and Nancy Jones. Martina, Patrick, and Nancy presented their "Keys to teaching effectiveness" at the colloquium. The Wendy Gillespie Center for Advancing Global Business hosted the teaching colloquium to recognize the FCB Teaching Excellence Awardees. February 2022 Hosted the Global Economic Outlook featuring US/Global Economist at Bank of America Aditya Bhave Hosted the Charles Hostler Institute on World Affairs President/Hostler Lecture Series featuring Congresswoman Susan A. Davis, U.S. Representative, California's 53rd Congressional District December 2021 Submitted a $1.5 million application for federal funding under the Department of Education’s Center for International Business Education program. November 2021 Hosted Charles Hostler Institute on World Affairs President/Hostler Lecture Series featuring Her Excellency Adela Raz, Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the U.S.
Thank you for your generous support.
For questions regarding this report please contact DonorRelations@SDSU.edu or call (619) 594-2448.
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