2017 EDITION ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF THE CAMERON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
from the Dean
Dear Shareholders: I am truly blessed and humbled to be Dean of the Cameron School of Business. I sit at the helm of a complex, multifaceted, wonderful organization. Each member of Cameron’s faculty, staff and student body; each department; each center; each program; each service is an important component to this entity we call the Cameron School of Business. Although often separated into silos by shared characteristics, departments and centers, we are all integrated by a common mission: to prepare students for knowledge-based decisions, career progression and business leadership in a global environment. The articles contained in this edition of the Cameron Insider speak to the many facets of the Cameron School of Business. Read on, and you will see the faces of Cameron’s newest family members. Take a moment to read about their backgrounds and the strengths they bring to the university. Within these pages, you will encounter one of Cameron’s most successful alumnus, Don Godwin ’69, who started with a small dream of working in a grocery store and became one of the country’s most prominent trial attorneys. Through his story, I believe you will recognize the importance of scholarships to financially struggling students (page 2). Read about our 2017 Outstanding Alumni, recognized this year as a part of Business Week 2017 (page 15). Each is a success in their own right, and all three started their career from the same place – the Cameron School of Business – but traveled very different paths to their success. What would a business school be without their distinguished faculty? We are excited to share information on research from two of our professors from the AISSC department, Drs. Tom Janicki and Jeff Cummings, the recipients of an Outstanding Paper award (back page). We will also take you to Topsail Marina, where Alex Vestal, professor of management, and CSB students assisted the marina with the completion of a challenging project (page 7). We tell the story of Cameron’s continued efforts to remain involved in the community through the success of Cameron’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
(VITA) program under the leadership of accounting professor Victoria Hansen (page 14). Please don’t miss our faculty spotlight on Laura Lunsford, Director of Cameron’s Swain Center, who since joining Cameron has accomplished so very much to extend executive and professional education opportunities to the community (page 3). Have you been considering a return to the classroom? Our graduate program offerings continue to grow! In this edition, we showcase our Master of Science in Computer Science and Information Systems Program, which prepares students to take on leadership roles in development and implementation of computer and information systems (page 12). Cameron School of Business prides itself on providing abundant global opportunities for our students. Cameron and UNCW are making great strides in creating partnerships in Asia. This summer, a group from the university, including two of Cameron’s faculty members, returned to Shanghai, China, to pave the way for new and continued exchange with our students, faculty and staff (page 9). Cameron remains connected to and invested in the ideas and work from new businesses. The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers those with a dream a chance to turn it into a reality (page 8). Last but most certainly not least, the CSB could not consider itself a success or continue to do the work we do without the students. I hope that the remarkable story on CSB rising senior, Juny Santeliz, will provide you with as much inspiration as it did for me (page 10). Our students remain our primary focus and motivation. Things are always changing and improving to better meet the needs of our students, and I believe this will be evident as you read a note from Kristine Hopkins, director of student services (page 6). Cameron School of Business is similar to a very large jigsaw puzzle. Each piece is separate yet necessary to complete the full and complex picture of preparing students to meet business demands. When all the pieces are pulled together, it makes for a beautiful piece of art! Wishing you well!
Rob Burrus
DON GODWIN: GENEROSITY INSPIRES GREATNESS.................2 EXECUTIVE AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION............................3 BUSINESS WEEK 2017 RECAP......................................................4 FORWARD-THINKING.....................................................................6 CAMERON IN ACTION....................................................................7 CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP..............8 CAMERON IN THE WORLD............................................................9 FINDING THE AMERICAN DREAM AT CAMERON......................10 M.S. CSIS ALUMNA MAKES AN IMPACT....................................12 VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.................14 2017 OUTSTANDING ALUMNI......................................................15 FACULTY AND STAFF UPDATES..................................................16 OUTSTANDING PAPER AWARD WINNERS...............BACK COVER
2016 EDITION
ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF THE CAMERON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
ON THE COVER Nine UNC system students took advantage of a unique learning experience this summer at Fudan University in Shanghai, China. Photo by Thom Porter
@Cameron_School UNCW Cameron School of Business UNCW-Cameron School of Business
Rob Burrus Dean David Glew Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs Thomas Porter Associate Dean, Graduate Programs Laura Lunsford Director, Swain Center for Executive and Professional Education Bill Sackley Director, BB&T Center for Global Capitalism and Ethics Editorial Team Sara Kesler, Editor Marybeth Bianchi, Creative Director Jennifer Glatt, Editorial Director Graphic Design Jess Balacy Photography Jeff Janowski Contributors Alisha Browne Caroline Cropp Jeff Cummings Victoria Hansen Kristine Hopkins Tom Janicki Sara Kesler Nikki Kroushl Laura Lunsford Alex Vestal We invite your comments and suggestions. Please send correspondence to the UNCW Cameron School of Business, Dean’s Office, 100 Cameron Hall, Wilmington, NC 28403-5920 or to Dean Rob Burrus at burrusr@uncw.edu.
UNC Wilmington is committed to and will provide equality of educational and employment opportunity. Questions regarding program access may be directed to the Compliance Officer, UNCW Chancellor’s Office, 910.962.3000, fax 910.962.3483. Questions regarding UNCW’s Title IX compliance should be directed to TitleIXCoordinator@UNCW.edu. 17,300 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $8,393.00 or $.49 per copy. (G.S. 143-170.1).
Don Godwin:
Generosity Inspires
Greatness by Sara Kesler, External Programs
“You can give people money and things, but it can all be lost. You give people an education, and it stays with them forever.”
O
n May 5, Donald Godwin ’69 addressed the newest group of Cameron alumni at the Cameron School of Business commencement ceremony with the story of his inspirational life journey, the lessons he learned through the years and the values that defined his success. Godwin, a southeastern North Carolina native, is the chairman and CEO of Godwin Bowman & Martinez in Dallas. The now renowned attorney never anticipated that he would be practicing law and trying cases for high-profile clients including Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys; former presidential candidate Ross Perot; Halliburton; Bank of America; and ExxonMobil. Years of hard work and persistence undoubtedly contributed to Godwin’s accomplishments, but he attributes much of his success to the people who supported and believed in him along the way. Godwin started delivering newspapers and mowing lawns at only 11 years old. On the day of his sixteenth birthday, as soon as he was eligible for a social security card, he went to work at Winn-Dixie, a grocery store. He enjoyed hard work and the ability to help support his family with the income. Once high school was behind him, Godwin eagerly started clocking more hours at the supermarket, fully intending to make his career at Winn-Dixie with the hope of one day managing a store. The idea of attending college had not entered his mind when a regional store supervisor by the name of Robert Little offered Godwin an opportunity that would alter his original plans. Mr. Little took notice of Godwin’s work ethic, recognized his potential and encouraged Godwin to apply for a college scholarship offered through Winn-Dixie. With the financial assistance of this award, college was now a possibility, and Godwin was able to attend what was then Wilmington College, without the financial burden of tuition. To Godwin’s surprise, he took to college quickly. Not only did he enjoy his advanced coursework, but he was also skilled at it. He found a love of numbers and majored in business with a concentration in accounting. Having gotten off to a late start, Godwin was determined to complete his four-year program in only three years. He worked at Winn-Dixie approximately 25 hours a week while carrying a full course load and taking summer classes to graduate within this self-imposed deadline. Godwin was hopeful that this degree would allow him to take his career with Winn-Dixie even further, now setting his sights on a position within the corporate office as an accountant. While at Wilmington College, Godwin was a standout student, and he caught the attention of professor Robert Appleton. Dr. Appleton came to Wilmington College in 1967 and played a pivotal role in Godwin’s next steps.
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“Bob was a real role model,” Godwin recalled. “He allowed me to see that anyone is capable of making a difference; he invested in me and ultimately encouraged me to pursue grad school.” Appleton recommended that Godwin consider furthering his accounting studies at Appleton’s alma mater, Memphis State University. Godwin was hesitant at first, primarily for financial reasons. Appleton, however, offered to recommend Godwin for a scholarship, and in the summer of 1969, Godwin began his graduate studies on yet another scholarship. He spent the next 18 months working toward his master’s degree in his characteristic determined fashion, still maintaining every intention of returning to work for Winn-Dixie upon graduation. Those plans changed after the dean at Memphis State, professor James Thompson, noticed that Godwin excelled in his tax law courses. Thompson arranged for Godwin to meet with a local attorney and through his connections, aided Godwin in earning his third scholarship to the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University. Becoming a lawyer and attending law school had never been Godwin’s plan, but with an open mind, he graduated from law school and began his law career as a tax attorney. Through additional opportunities and encouragement from colleagues, Godwin found his niche as a trial lawyer. He discovered that his upbringing made him uniquely qualified for the job, and he believes it is his background that allows him to easily relate to the everyday people serving on juries across the country. Godwin established his own firm in Dallas in 1980 and he has since become one of the nation’s most accomplished trial lawyers, receiving numerous professional accolades. Godwin has been named one of the “50 Lions of the Texas Bar” by Texas Lawbook, honoring 50 of the most influential senior attorneys in Texas; recognized by selection to the list of “The Best Lawyers in America” since 2012 in the area of commercial litigation; and has recently been named for the third consecutive year (2015-2017) to the Lawdragon “500 Leading Lawyers in America.” “I love what I do and I have never considered it to be work. As long as my health allows and I enjoy it, I will keep doing it,” he said of his career and his accomplishments. “My life has been all about people giving me opportunities that I never expected. Through the years, whenever people put their faith in me, I worked hard every day to make them proud of their decision.”
Evolving Executive and Professional Education by Laura Lunsford, Director, Swain Center for Executive and Professional Education
Photo left to right: Laura Lunsford, Chancellor Sartarelli, Judy Girard, Molly Nece
Driving around town, you get the feeling that Wilmington is growing. Newspaper headlines reflect job growth and an increase in entrepreneurial activity. Data from the Metropolitan statistical area confirms that more people are moving to the region and the Swain Center regional economist Adam Jones says it’s true… Wilmington is evolving, and so is the Swain Center. The Swain Center has been in existence for nearly 30 years and has been sought out for essential information, especially in the area of economic impact studies and related economic services. Yet, executive education and professional development are billion-dollar industries that are evolving quickly. Increasingly, businesses seek to be learning organizations that offer lifelong professional education. In response, the Swain Center was refocused on executive and professional development rather than continuing education. The Swain Center is a now a hub linking university expertise to existing business’ needs. A year after the arrival of the first, full-time director, Laura Lunsford, the center has new energy and greater connections with industry. Lunsford met 90 new people in her first 90 days. She has published several books on mentoring since she arrived, including authoring the Handbook for Managing Mentoring Programs and co-editing the Sage Handbook for Mentoring. Millennial workers value mentoring, and Lunsford is developing new Swain Center programs on mentoring. She is promoting the Swain and UNCW brand in keynote talks she has given across the nation. “Mentoring is a strategic initiative that can help companies orient new employees or develop more senior employees’ coaching and leading skills,” she said. The advisory board, chaired by Hal Wells, CEO of Wells Insurance, helped Lunsford
develop a targeted, strategic plan for the next few years. The three main goals are to identify professional needs to add open enrollment programs; help solve business problems through custom executive education programs; and enhance economic services in the region. Open Enrollment Growth Business leaders have identified their needs and the Swain Center is responding by increasing open enrollment programs (where anyone can register). In September, open enrollment programs became available in data analytics, emotional intelligence, certified global business professional credential, marketing, mentoring, project management, and Salesforce administrator training, among others. There are more opportunities for high-quality hybrid or online training opportunities. For example, a new fully online course in project management will be offered starting in September. A unique feature of this online course will be a session to have the Project Management Exam Application reviewed by a PMI-accredited course facilitator. Evolving Tailored Solutions “Our team has had considerable success this last year in establishing solid relationships with regional influencers,” said Matt Mylott, Swain’s new business development expert. “The customized programs we’ve executed, along with ones we’re currently designing, are key drivers that are creating positive organizational change.” Mylott is a UNCW alumnus, former Marine and current sales professional. His initial focus is on the health industry and paramilitary/military programs. Mylott and Lunsford are leading the way to develop tailored programs to reflect new trends in executive education, such as multisession programs to support maximum participant learning and development of hybrid or fully online programs.
Economic Services Adam Jones is working with Lunsford to build on the successful annual Economic Outlook Conference to determine what other activities and services best help policymakers and business leaders. Mark your calendar for October 5 for this year’s conference, which is highlighted by leaders in transportation. Evolving Practices Taking marketing lessons to heart, the Swain Center has a redesigned, modern logo, a new website and a new client management system. Faculty members are an essential part of the center and are experts in marrying their extensive business experiences with the latest industry know-how. For example, in his programs and work on customer delight, associate professor of marketing Don Barnes advocates to “hire the smile and train the skill.” Dr. Barnes also notes that Lunsford’s goal of connecting faculty to businesses is working. “This includes clarifying the types of programs the business community desires, as well as creating connections between faculty knowledge areas and market needs. These connections allow us to experiment with cutting-edge theories and practice to provide value to the businesses that the Swain Center supports.” Lunsford is evolving the role of the Swain Center to create even more industryuniversity linkages. “It is exciting to see how businesses benefit from faculty expertise and how the faculty benefit by evolving their research and having great examples to share with students in the classroom.” Cameron friends and alumni are invited to visit the Swain Center in the CIS Building anytime and learn more about what the Swain Center might do for you or your company. Email us at Swain@uncw.edu.
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Professor Drew Rosen, Doug Lebda, Dean Rob Burrus
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Business Week:
a Transformative Experience, Year After Year
FOR 35 YEARS NOW, the Cameron School of Business
Senior Jordan Whitaker remembers his first Business
has carried on a unique and noteworthy tradition for
Week experience fondly.
the benefit of its students. Cameron understands the importance of the applied nature of business education as well as the need to bring the business community into the classroom, and Business Week does just that. The event has endured as a transformative experience linking the campus to business professionals, seeing continued and exciting growth over the years. In March, the CSB hosted its largest Business Week event to date with record numbers of business professionals participating as speakers, event sponsors and student Judy Girard
attendees. More than 115 sessions on a variety of topics representing each business discipline were presented to students over the course of two days. Even more impressive was the number of Cameron alumni to return as presenters. Of the 200 speakers in attendance, 105 of those speakers were former CSB students who had likely been in the audience seats themselves years earlier. In addition to the classroom presentations, the CSB welcomed two experts as the event’s keynote speakers. Judy Girard, former HGTV & Food Network president and vice chairwoman of Young Women Leading Inc., spoke to Cameron’s students about the importance of understanding and appreciating organizational culture. Doug Lebda, founder and CEO of LendingTree.com, shared his personal entrepreneurial journey. The caliber and reputation of the extraordinarily successful individuals who have presented as Business Week keynote speakers illustrate the esteem of the event and the meaningful nature of the opportunity for the students. This event provides opportunities that often shape the future career paths of the students as they are exposed to a variety of topics and careers. Many individuals have the chance to learn from and engage with business professionals whom they otherwise may never
“I attended Business Week during a time when I was still unsure of which concentration I wanted to pursue. I ended up going to a session about IT and the business world,” he said. “The session was amazing, and it made me realize that my passion was in MIS. Going to that session literally solidified my path here at UNCW, and I am now concentrating in both MIS and business analytics.” Jordan’s experience is not an uncommon one for CSB students if they choose to take advantage of all that Business Week has to offer. Networking opportunities abound, both inside and outside of sessions. Those who want to connect with the visiting professionals often stay to talk with the presenters and make an effort to engage during the lunch offered each day to all attendees. CSB student Kyle Beebe was one such student who chose to make the most of the event. “Business Week presented me with my first real chance to network,” he said. “I met multiple professionals in different fields, and I still have their contact information to this day. For many of the sessions, after the sessions are finished and the recruiters are done with their presentations, they literally stand there and wait for you to talk to them! It’s a great way introduce yourself to people that may very well be interviewing you in the next few years. Business Week puts you in front of the right people.” For a full schedule of events held and a complete list of speakers, please visit csb.uncw.edu/bw. Contact Sara Kesler at keslers@uncw.edu for more information about how to get your business involved in future Business Week events. Business Week 2018 is scheduled for March 20 and 21, 2018.
have encountered.
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FORWARD-THINKING by Kristine Hopkins, Director of Student Services
I
REMEMBER A FICTION BOOK I read as a small child called The Changeling, written by an author of which I can no longer recall, but the moral of which lies resolute. The main character of the novel undergoes a series of
events to ultimately transform into a beautiful butterfly. The author’s point, I believe, is that change is a part of life and when we embrace change, something amazing can happen. Likewise, this is a story about change; change that we hope will end with improving student success through the academic advising experience in Cameron. In 2017, I joined the Cameron Student Services Center as the new director, and in an effort to redesign and expand advising services for our students, we also welcomed two new professional academic advisors. With new leadership in place, we developed a revised mission and vision statement to focus the team’s effort in three core areas: empowering students to think critically about their future and reach sound decisions; providing informed guidance to help students achieve academic success; and equipping students with advising tools and resources that support their academic goals. In Cameron, advising is more than just talking about what classes to take. It’s about listening with an open mind and engaging students in conversation about their future goals. It is a collaborative partnership between professional and student, aimed at helping students achieve success during their time at UNCW and beyond. With the addition of new staff, the Cameron Student Services Center expanded our reach to include advising for all pre-business students. Professional advisors now provide foundational advising support for new students as they begin their academic career in Cameron from orientation to admission. This operational change sparked a series of other updates including the revamping of transfer orientation, revisions to the advising website on Cameron’s homepage, the ability for students to schedule appointments with an advisor online, and even the digitizing of student information and records to promote a paperless office. Other projects underway involve working with campus partners to streamline additional operations, introducing new technology to increase efficiency, revitalizing student success programming efforts, providing additional advisor training, and more. The bottom line here is that the more effective we can make the advising operation, the more time we have to actually, well, meet with students. It sounds novel, but in the digital age, what students seem to crave the most is having the ear of someone who cares. Someone who wants to listen. Someone who is engaged in their success. These face-to-face encounters are our something amazing.
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Cameron In Action:
Gaining Business Expertise by Giving Back by Alex Vestal, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship
T
o prepare graduates for a competitive workplace – where
In spite of the ideal location, townspeople were struggling to effectively
employers want to know you can apply your knowledge to the
utilize the marina.
real world – universities increasingly look to provide students with
opportunities for experiential learning. Experiential learning emphasizes learning through reflection and doing, and many top B-schools are
In the fall of 2016, Alex Vestal, assistant professor of management, selected a team of four students to analyze the marina’s current
using it to emphasize the relevancy and direct application of learning.
operations, generate strategic alternatives and deliver a final
So, when Mike Rose, the town manager of Topsail Beach, reached out
gain a firm understanding of the customer and their problem. Site
to the dean of the CSB for strategic guidance on how to best use the
visits to the marina and discussions with the town manager and other
town’s under-utilized marina, Dean Burrus recognized an experiential
key stakeholders were critical to accomplishing this. The students
learning opportunity for Cameron students.
analyzed the marina’s current financial statements, the marina’s
Topsail Beach, home to approximately 500 full-time and 7,000 parttime residents, is in an ideal geographical location with close proximity to the ocean and Intracoastal Waterway. Through their own funds and external grants, purchased the rights to a marina in the center of town.
recommendation to the town council. The team needed to quickly
local competition and the local market for the marina’s services. The students generated a preliminary list of four options for the marina that warranted further consideration. Through a detailed analysis of the four options, the team offered a strategic recommendation, describing their analysis and final recommendation in a formal presentation to the town council. “I have only created presentations for classroom settings where the professor knew more about the topic than the students,” said student Kerry Ann Dunstan. “This was a fantastic change of pace because the follow-up questions were of genuine interest.” The team’s final recommendation was a unique pricing structure for slips at the marina that sought to balance the strong summer demand with the light winter demand. The pricing model also provided discounts for local residents. To the team’s great satisfaction, the town decided to adopt their recommendation for the new pricing strategy. “I liked that I felt like the project as a whole made a difference. We thought of at least one possibility that did not occur to the owners/ town of what to do with the property,” Dunstan noted. “I really enjoyed feeling like I gave back to the community.” The partnership created value for the Cameron student team as well as for the town of Topsail Beach. The students gained real-world experience by working with the client to develop a customer-centric solution to a real-world problem. CSB looks forward to similar opportunities in the future!
Problem solved! Pictured left to right: Chase Johanson, Brandon Sweatt, Mike Rose (town manager), Kerrie Ann Dunstan, Taylor Watts. Not pictured: Alexandru Sabau.
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The Intersection of University Resources and Startup Spirit:
The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Nikki Kroushl, CIE Social Media Content Manager
T
he business community of
translational research – the process of
Wilmington and UNCW has a hidden
translating a scientific idea into a marketable
gem in one of the most unlikely
product. Candidates simultaneously work
places – sandwiched between Cookout
with the Cameron School of Business to earn
and the former Kmart building, adjacent to
an M.B.A.
campus on South College Road. The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship has been supporting local business owners and entrepreneurs in its current location for more
“Having training in understanding markets and customer needs and supply and demand not only helped me start the business and
than four years.
commercialize my research, but it was also
In those years, the CIE has grown into an
McCall said. “The STTR grant will pay for full
11,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility
research and development of SeaTox’s toxin
that coordinates an average of 95 events
assays. SeaTox will also distribute part of
a year, from small one-off workshops on
the money to UNCW to hire a graduate and
advertising or trademarks to Cucalorus
postdoctoral student as assistants.”
Connect, 3-Day Startup and Fish 2.0. It provides co-working space and private offices for more than 30 tenant startups at a time, and serves as the location for the Chancellor’s High School Entrepreneurship Competition and the Cameron School of
instrumental in writing and reviewing grants,”
local entrepreneurs, including Sarah Ritter with Shell Track, John Hayes with Shell
Supporting growing startups is what the
Bond, and Ted Davis with Aqua Plantations,
CIE is for. In 2017, director Diane Durance
are currently competing in the year-long
outlined a Strategic Plan for the CIE, much
competition that culminates at Stanford
like Chancellor Sartarelli’s plan for UNCW,
University in November.
which calls for a more focused support of
Business’s Youth Entrepreneurship Program.
initiatives in education, health and information
The CIE is a vibrant and creative hub
media production.
at the intersection of business and
Jennifer McCall, marine biology faculty member and Cameron M.B.A. graduate, at her lab space in the CREST Research Park with husband and business partner, Sam McCall.
technologies, marine sciences and
The CIE engages and supports students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as a diverse range of stakeholders in the community in the creation of entrepreneurial ventures,
The CIE is home to numerous tech startups,
knowledge-based jobs and innovative
from the edtech Uni-SPIRE to the health-tech
business solutions. We are committed
executives, technology and creativity.
LifeGait. Its support of media production in
to student engagement, community
Wilmington is evident through its involvement
collaboration and entrepreneurial thinking
Dozens of local success stories found homes
in Cucalorus, especially the 10x10 event,
and action, and we would love for you to
or invaluable resources here at one point,
which pairs filmmakers and startups for a
join us.
including Jennifer McCall of SeaTox
commercial-making marathon, and now
Research Inc.
through participation in monthly NC fILM
education, university strengths and community interests, students and
McCall made news in March after winning a $1.47 million Small Business Technology Transfer grant to continue developing SeaTox’s quick and inexpensive tests for seafood contaminants. McCall is a graduate of UNCW’s Business of Biotech program, in which postdoctoral candidates perform
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Forums. Its commitment to marine science is clear not only in its support of SeaTox, but also its service as a cohost of the crustacean/shellfish regional workshop for the global seafood pitch competition and investor networking event, Fish 2.0. With mentoring and support from the CIE, several
If you are interested in joining the CIE as a member or tenant, as a mentor for local entrepreneurs, as an expert teaching seminars, as an organizer for one of our many large-scale events, or as a generous donor, please contact us at cie@uncw.edu or at 910.962-2206 or drop by at 803 S. College Rd., Suite G.
Cameron in the world:
Trip to Fudan University by Sara Kesler, External Programs
T
his summer, a group of nine students from various universities in the UNC system took advantage of a unique learning experience at Fudan University in
Shanghai, China. Among this group of scholars were five UNCW students, including three from the Cameron School of Business. Students participated in a month-long summer program with approximately 300 other undergraduate students from around the globe as part of Fudan University’s International Summer Session. This program is ideal for students who are interested in pursuing an international experience in China but are not proficient in the language. While every student participating is required to take one Chinese language course, all of the 18 courses offered are taught in English. Additionally it provided a truly multicultural opportunity due to the diversity amongst the students and program instructors. In fact, a quarter of the program’s instructors hailed from universities all over the world. The summer session included CSB and UNCW faculty representation, as well. George Schell, professor of management information systems, and Thom Porter, associate dean of graduate programs, assisted with the travel and transition for the students coming from the UNC system schools, and discussed plans and ideas about future initiatives between Fudan University and CSB. This summer’s visit followed an October 2016 trip by a delegation from UNCW led by Chancellor Jose Sartarelli. Dr. Schell was also part of that delegation; he has been visiting Fudan University almost annually since UNCW entered into a partnership with Fudan in 2005. Others in this high-level delegation included Rob Burrus, dean of the Cameron School of Business; Nivine Richie, Tom Simpson, Michael Wilhelm and Aswani Volety. These delegations worked to renew the formal agreements for our schools’ partnership and discussed beginning bilateral partnerships with individual colleges and schools within Fudan. What made this year’s visit to China especially notable was that it marked the 10-year anniversary of Fudan University sending faculty to UNCW to teach Chinese language courses. The CSB has been engaged in this connection with Fudan University since the very beginning. Dr. Schell was a part of the original delegation that went
In March of 2016, Tom Simpson, Executive in Residence of Economics, traveled to Fudan University to teach an economics course on the key features of the U.S. financial system for Fudan’s School of Economics. Although a number of Fudan’s faculty members have taught at UNCW, they have not yet come to teach courses within the Cameron School of Business. The discussions held this summer opened the doors to make this a real possibility for Cameron in the near future. Cameron receives two students each fall semester from Shanghai International Studies University and they are in the process of developing a two-week summer course for Cameron’s students. Cameron has numerous exchange partnerships and study abroad possibilities available to students. However, the majority of these opportunities have a European focus. UNCW is hopeful that these prospects will continue to be expanded into Asia. Dr. Schell recognizes the importance of a continued and deeper relationship with the area’s universities.
to Fudan to formalize the initial partnership agreement in 2005. In
“Our trip this summer was about tightening the relationship with
2006, Dr. Schell taught two master’s-level courses at the university.
Fudan University and Shanghai International Studies University,”
He also previously taught database courses to the M.B.A. students
he said. “We believe that there is a rich opportunity for internships,
at Shanghai International Studies University, and a systems analysis
faculty exchanges and student study in China, and it is our hope that
course to the information systems majors.
more students will recognize these opportunities.”
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Finding the American Dream at Cameron by Sara Kesler, External Programs
F
rom Nicaragua to Maryland to the
year. The family was in need of money, and
shaping his life. The book also planted a
streets of San Francisco, rising
full-time work offered immediate income.
seed. Santeliz knew that he could one
CSB senior Juny Santeliz boasts a
For nearly a year, Santeliz worked tirelessly
day achieve financial freedom with
remarkable story. He is working toward
at multiple odd jobs to help earn for the
more education.
earning his bachelor of science in business
family. Exhausted and discouraged, he
administration with concentrations in
chose to act on what he believed was his
accounting and finance. He is carrying a
only option – he took his final paychecks
3.56 GPA, and upon earning his degree
and ran away from home. Santeliz traveled
in May of 2018, he will surely have many
from Jessup, Maryland to San Francisco
doors open to him as he embarks on
on a Greyhound bus. He learned quickly
a post-graduation career. Santeliz has
that the cost of living in California was
worked exceptionally hard to be where he
much higher than it had been in Maryland.
is today.
Only four days after his arrival, his
Santeliz is a first-generation college
paycheck earnings had depleted. Santeliz
Santeliz finally found an opportunity. While attending Job Corps for a bookkeeping certificate, he met a recruiter and joined the Army in January 2008. As an Airborne Paratrooper serving with the 82nd Airborne Division, Santeliz served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Near the end of his army career in April 2015, he enrolled in courses at Fayetteville Technical
was homeless.
Community College. Ultimately, Santeliz
attend college, he never believed it would
For three months, Santeliz navigated the
of Business.
become a reality. Born in Nicaragua to a
homeless shelters and soup kitchens of
young mother, he was sent to live with
San Francisco. During this time, Santeliz
his grandmother until his mother felt she
took notice of the high level of apathy,
was more capable of caring for him.
hopelessness and self-pity amongst the
Meanwhile, his mother relocated to the
homeless he encountered. He knew that
United States to lay the groundwork for
he did not share the same feelings, and
access to better opportunities. Santeliz
he never gave up hope that he would
later joined her and his two brothers when
eventually make a way for himself.
Sigma National Honor Society and
His determination to better his situation
Leadership Honor Society.
student. Although he long aspired to
he was five years old. Even after moving to America, life was
was due in part to the fact that he knew
difficult. The family was very poor, and
that his mother had sacrificed so much for
his single mother struggled to put food
his family to come to America, the land of
on the table. School was a challenge as
opportunity. Additionally, Santeliz was a
well – Santeliz was often bullied for his
good reader. Books – his frequent refuge
ill-fitting and dingy thrift store wardrobe.
– also provided him with a glimpse into a
He became shy and introverted, and
different way of life. As a teenager, Santeliz
frequently escaped into fantasy worlds
read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T.
found in books.
Kiyosaki. Having grown up without a father
With his mother’s support, Santeliz dropped out of high school in his junior
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figure, this book was initially attractive because the author had two “dads”
transferred to UNCW’s Cameron School
From the very beginning, Santeliz has made the most of his experience at CSB. Not only is he thriving in his classes, but Santeliz is actively involved in a number of studentrun organizations including Tau the Omicron Delta Kappa National
Last fall, he was admitted into the Cameron Executive Network and has benefitted from the advice and mentorship of his CEN mentor, Jack Mackmull. In addition to his executive mentor, Santeliz regularly seeks advice and guidance from his Cameron professors. “Many of my professors have made my Cameron experience great. Dr. Tom Downen is an excellent instructor and
“I honestly believe my life is proof that the American Dream is alive and well.”
makes material enjoyable to learn. He has so much enthusiasm
improvements and efficiencies for the company. Santeliz plans to
and has been a great support. Dr. Tom Simpson is also extremely
continue to make connections and weigh all of his career possibilities
knowledgeable and was very helpful when I came to him for advice
throughout the course of his senior year. He is inspired and driven by
about selecting a summer internship.” Santeliz is a deserving recipient
his “joyful, smart, outgoing and enthusiastic” daughter Annabelle, and
of the Roger P. Hill Scholarship award, which is awarded annually to a
he desires to provide her access to opportunities he never had.
rising junior or senior business student on the basis of scholastic ability, character and recommendations by the faculty.
“I feel like I can finally say that I am closer than ever to achieving
Santeliz had a number of internship opportunities offered to him over
against me, I honestly believe my life is proof that the American dream
this past summer. He completed an internship with Amazon as an area
is alive and well.”
financial freedom. Given how immensely the cards were stacked
manager, a role in which he suggested and implemented data-driven
11
From Wired Wizards to Watson M.S. CSIS Alumna Makes an Impact by Alisha Browne, Graduate Programs
Jazmin Capezza ’03, ’06M, ’15M has been a student, writer, tutor, project manager, mentor, teacher, and head of a nonprofit. Today, she works as a technical enablement specialist with IBM Watson.
While enrolled in the M.S. CSIS program, Capezza worked as an
Her journey to this point in her career was not easy, nor direct. After
math (STEM) programs available for children in the area. This led her
graduating from UNCW in 2003 with a B.A. in English and professional
to co-found a community outreach program called the Wired Wizards,
writing, and again in 2006 with a M.A. in teaching, Capezza began
Wilmington’s FIRST Robotics Competition team. For Inspiration and
working as the manager of communications for a startup company. In
Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) is an established
the midst of the recession in 2010, her company had to furlough all of
national nonprofit that supports global robotics competitions for
their employees and she found herself at a defining moment in
K-12 students.
assistant project manager for Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions and tutored in the UNCW Writing Center. She also served as president of the student chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery. As she served on the board of this organization and home-schooled her son, Skieler – who dreamed of becoming a robotics engineer – she realized that there were not many science, technology, engineering and
her career. Wired Wizards required a minimum of $20,000 a year to operate. After extensive research, which included speaking with UNCW
To fund the program, she established Azalea Coast Robotics, a
computer science faculty, Capezza concluded that the technology
nonprofit, to support the team’s annual activities, and became the first
sector was where the job market was heading and decided to return to
student-run business tenant of UNCW’s Center for Innovation and
school for computer science.
Entrepreneurship. Capezza said it was in this role that she realized her strengths for networking and working with others.
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With Capezza’s guidance and direction, the Wired Wizards grew from 10 students in 2012 to 30 students in 2015, while working with people in the community to start two new FIRST teams in New Hanover and Pender counties. Today, there are teams in Brunswick, Pender and New Hanover counties. While pursuing her graduate studies, Capezza received scholarships to attend both the CRA-W Grad Cohort Workshop and the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, the world’s largest gathering of women technologists. Capezza feels conferences like these are essential in enhancing the success and confidence of women in this field. Capezza enjoyed the unique aspects of the M.S. CSIS program that allowed her to explore and experiment with areas in which she was interested. “When it came down to choosing my topic for a capstone project, it was beneficial that I was able to focus on my experience with and passion for the Wired Wizards,” she said. Her thesis was titled, “Robots and Competition: Developing a Nonprofit to Support and Sustain Fun STEM Education.” In 2016, Capezza was hired as a technical enablement specialist with IBM Watson. In her role, she works in Watson Cloud and Platform with the WCP Technical Enablement team to train users how to implement Watson cognitive services. Her job responsibilities include developing course materials, recording material for online classes, and delivering training courses to fellow IBM team members and business partners globally. In a twist of fate, Capezza still employs her communication and writing skills in her current position – the Watson services use Natural Language Processing (which some M.S. CSIS students choose as their ‘advanced study area’ in the program). This technology allows automatic phone services, websites and mobile apps to incorporate chat bots that
Don’t miss the Cameron School of Business Alumni Networking Mixer! Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oceanic Restaurant Wrightsville Beach
communicate with people using natural language conversation in lieu of basic commands.
Connect with fellow alumni, Cameron’s Executive Advisory Board Members and faculty on the
“This is one of the technology revolutions that’s happening right now,” said
third floor dining room and bar of the Oceanic
Capezza. “IBM is one of the oldest tech companies in the world, and now
Restaurant as you enjoy complimentary hors
we’re seeing more and more companies starting to use machine learning
d’oeuvres and refreshments.
capabilities to improve the customer service experience with software as a service.” Through her hard work and determination, Capezza has created a name for herself in the technology sector. And as for her son, Skieler? “He is studying electrical engineering at N.C. State University. Sometimes we discuss how his and his friends’ experience with the Wired Wizards helped their motivation and confidence to go to college in engineering and science fields. Now that he’s a full-time college student, he’s aware of how hard I had to work to keep the team going while being a full-time student myself.” Skieler couldn’t have a better role model for his own career. To learn more about the M.S. Computer Science and Information Systems degree, visit uncw.edu/mscsis. Application deadlines are June 1 and November 1 each year.
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VITA:
Cameron’s Accounting Students Provide Valuable Community Service by Victoria Hansen, Associate Professor of Accounting
F
or the past 15 years, the Cameron School of Business
season. Student volunteers assisted North Carolina taxpayers
has participated in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
electronically file 92 federal income tax returns and 104 state
program, sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service. The
income tax returns.
program provides low- and moderate-income individuals and families with free income tax preparation assistance.
“Every year we try and grow a little more,” said Victoria
The VITA program was created more than 40 years ago by Gary
VITA program.
Iskowitz, CPA. In 1970, Iskowitz, who was working as both an IRS agent and an adjunct professor at California State University at Northridge, noticed a community need for affordable, honest and reliable tax assistance. His idea was to provide IRS tax preparation training to the Cal State accounting students and then send the students out to provide free tax services to those who were most in need of it. He believed this would deliver a valuable service to the local community while providing a powerful handson learning experience for the accounting students. Today, VITA
To volunteer, UNCW accounting students who have taken an introductory income tax course must complete additional IRS training and pass IRS certification exams. Students then assist taxpayers in filing their returns, taking the theory they learned in class and applying it to real-life clients and situations. In addition to enhancing their understanding of income tax concepts, VITA helps students learn valuable communication skills. Students who participate in VITA often say the most valuable part of their
is a nationwide program serving millions of taxpayers each year.
experience is interacting with taxpayers.
Many low- and moderate-income taxpayers do not have access
“University VITA programs give the students hands-on training,”
to quality, affordable tax preparation services. The IRS estimates that it costs an average of $250 to have a federal and state income tax return prepared and electronically filed. Under the VITA program, taxpayers can electronically file a federal and up to three state income tax returns at no charge. The IRS certified VITA volunteers not only assist taxpayers correctly file their federal and state income tax returns, but also ensure that taxpayers take advantage of all the tax
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Hansen, associate professor of accounting and head of CSB’s
Hansen said. “I can give them practice returns left and right in the classroom, but you can’t really know what it’s like to deal with a client until you talk with someone about their taxes.” Keeping up with technology, UNCW’s VITA program runs as a facilitated self-assistance program (VITA-FSA). A VITA-FSA program provides taxpayers with access to computers, Wi-Fi and tax preparation software at no charge to prepare and electronically file their tax returns. Certified volunteers are on hand to answer
credits and deductions available to them.
questions and provide assistance. Several taxpayers who had
For the 2017 filing season, 14 MSA graduate students and
how easy the VITA-FSA process was and that it was comforting
undergraduate students served as volunteers in UNCW’s VITA
to have the student volunteers available to answer their questions.
program. Concerted efforts to make the service more available
All of the taxpayers who utilized the UNCW VITA site expressed
to the general public proved successful with 92 taxpayers
gratitude for the service, and were impressed with the program
seeking assistance, a 46 percent increase over the 2016 filing
and with the UNCW students.
never electronically filed their tax returns before commented on
Cameron School of Business
2017 Outstanding Alumni by Caroline Cropp
Mike Barton ‘68, Hope Campbell ‘91 and Chris Dentiste ‘85 were honored as
and to the campus since the day I set foot
Dentiste worked in what is now known as the
on it. The campus had three buildings and no
Swain Center. He collaborated with former
grass,” he said.
professor Woody Hall to explore “big data,”
the 2017 Cameron School of Business
degree in business management before
Outstanding Alumni during CSB’s annual
Hope Campbell mustered the courage to
Business Week. The recipients joined other
tell her dad and uncle she wanted to join
alumni and faculty for a recognition breakfast
the family business. She is now the
on March 29.
President of Clearwater Enterprises Inc.,
Robert Appleton was the sixth faculty member of the business department at Wilmington College in 1967 and retired
It was a few years after graduating with a
one of her family’s businesses that oversees Camp Clearwater, North Carolina’s largest
Campbell feels like her time at UNCW
in 1999. Mike Barton was one of Appleton’s
allowed her to “come home” in many ways.
students, whom he introduced as “a “I’m a third-generation family business owner taught you don’t ‘risk the farm’ and the ship Barton studied accounting and went on
doesn’t go down on your watch,” she said.
to found three companies in the fields of
“Had it not been for my education, I wouldn’t
healthcare, hospital management and
have had the boldness to join the family
physician practices after earning an M.B.A.
ranks.” Campbell was among the first group
from Georgia Southern University. Though
of students to attend classes in Cameron
he currently resides in Tennessee, he never
Hall. Two of her daughters are current UNCW
forgets his time at UNCW.
students and she sits on the university’s
“Not to be mushy, but I’m overwhelmed and amazed at all that has happened in my life
Today, Dentiste is vice president and CFO of RSA, a division of Dell EMC that provides industry-leading cybersecurity products to more than 30,000 organizations worldwide. In addition to Hall’s mentorship, Dentiste credits UNCW’s small class sizes as one of the factors in his success.
family campground.
from UNCW’s Cameron School of Business
rue entrepreneur.”
a field that was just emerging at the time.
Board of Visitors. While earning his degree in economics, Chris
“Their careers are the best representation of why we are here”
“With only six people in a class, you don’t want to be embarrassed by not knowing the answer,” he said. “After college, I made my way in a field where people expect to be a manager in six months.” A native of Winston-Salem, Dentiste’s twin sister also graduated from UNCW. He now resides in Massachusetts and says UNCW taught him to “organize and win” in all he does. CSB Dean Rob Burrus presented all three honorees with “Soaring Seahawk” statuettes. “Their careers are the best representation of why we are here,” he said.
From left to right: Dean Rob Burrus, Michael Barton, Hope Campbell, and Chris Dentiste
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Faculty Updates: Lisa Scribner Appointed Chair of the Department, Marketing
Lisa Scribner has been a professor at CSB since 1997. Prior to joining the faculty, she was an instructor and teaching assistant at the University of South Carolina. She received her B.A. from Instituto Tecnoligico y de Estudios Superiores del Occidente, her B.S.B.A. from Ball State University and her Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina. Her teaching areas of interest include consumer behavior, international marketing, internship marketing and principles of marketing.
Ulku Clark Promoted to Full Professor, Management Information Systems
Ulku Yaylacicegi Clark joined the faculty of the Information Systems and Operations Management Department in 2005. Dr. Clark earned her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Texas at Dallas, and her B.S. from Bogazici University at Istanbul, Turkey. Her research focuses on telecommunications policy and technology strategy. Her teaching interests include telecommunications and network security.
Tracy Meyer
Faculty additions: has published in the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, the Journal of Business Research, Psychology and Marketing, and the Journal of Consumer Psychology. Dr. Meyer earned her Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati, and her teaching interests include retail management, services marketing, sales management and marketing research.
Nivine Richie Promoted to Full Professor, Finance
Nivine Richie, Ph.D., CFA is the chair of the Department of Economics & Finance and professor of finance. She joined the faculty in 2007 and teaches courses in investment analysis, derivatives, fixed income and research methods. Her research interests include cost of capital, banking and derivatives. She has published studies in the Journal of Economics and Finance, Journal of Futures Markets, Review of Futures Markets, and Journal of Trading, among others. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Richie was a mortgage-backed securities trader for a regional dealer bank in South Florida. She received her B.S. from Penn State University and her Ph.D. from Florida Atlantic University. She has served a wide variety of public, private and nonprofit clients. Her research interests focus on archival and behavioral taxation issues, particularly in an international context. She has been a licensed CPA since 2005.
Promoted to Full Professor, Marketing
Before entering academia, Tracy Meyer worked in the commercial banking industry for 15 years as a commercial credit analyst and as a sales executive and vice president in private banking. Her research focuses on consumers’ perceptions of negative events that occur in the retail environment and, more recently, customer delight. To date, Tracy
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Jeff Cummings Promoted to Associate Professor, Management Information Systems
Jeff Cummings received his B.B.A. and his M.B.A. from Texas Tech University and his Ph.D. from Indiana University. He is a Gordon Hurlbert Faculty Fellow, and his teaching interests include system analysis and design, analytics, networking, network security and IT project management.
Saba Pourreza Assistant Professor, Analytics, Information Systems, and Supply Chain Management
Prior to joining UNCW in 2016, Dr. Pourreza was a doctoral student and teaching fellow of logistics systems at the University of North Texas. She was a Fulbright Scholar at Austin College during 2007 and 2008. She received her B.Sc. in Economics from Azad University in Tehran, Iran, and her M. Sc. in economics from the University of North Texas. Her research interests include supply chain management, product lifecycle, affordability and sustainability in the product lifecycle, performance-based logistics, and resilience of small- and medium-sized businesses. She is a member of CSCMP and DSI.
Chris Sibona Assistant Professor, Management Information Systems
Chris Sibona joined the Cameron faculty in 2016. He earned his B.S. in computer science from Virginia Tech, and his M.B.A. and his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Denver. His teaching and research interests include system analysis and design, social networking and continuance intention.
Dambar Uprety Visiting Lecturer, Economics and Finance
Dambar Uprety has been a professor at CSB since 2016. Prior to joining the faculty, he was a teaching assistant at Southern Illinois University Carbondale while earning his Ph.D in economics. He received his master’s degree in applied economics from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, and his master’s degree in mathematics from Tribhuvan University,
Nepal. Teaching areas of interest include microeconomics, international economics, international business, macroeconomics, economic development, economic statistics, econometrics and business statistics.
Staff updates: Tammie Bangert Promoted to Student Services Academic Advisor
Tammie Bangert began working in the Cameron School of Business Student Services Center in 2006. She is a UNCW graduate with a B.A. in communications and a M.A. in liberal studies. In May 2017, Tammie was promoted to an academic advisor position in Cameron.
Staff Additions: Kristine Hopkins Director of Student Services
With more than 14 years’ experience in higher education and academic advising, Kristine Hopkins strives to promote student success through the advising experience. Prior to joining UNCW in 2017, she held leadership roles as director of advising and director of professional development at UNC Charlotte, where she received university-wide recognition with the Provost’s Award for excellence in undergraduate academic advising. Ms. Hopkins holds an M.B.A. and a B.S. in communications from Western Carolina University.
Matt Mylott Assistant Director of Client Management
Matt Mylott joined the Swain Center team in May. He acquired his B.A. in international affairs from UNCW in 2007 and he is in his final year of UNCW’s Professional M.B.A. program. Prior to coming onboard at Swain, Matt spent nearly a decade as a marine in the Special Operations community, and most recently as a SWAT operator for seven years in Sacramento, California.
Leigh Smadbeck Student Services Academic Advisor
financial management at ECU and the University of Mount Olive. In 2013, she transitioned into higher education as the assistant director of graduate programs for ECU’s College of Business. She moved to Wilmington in August 2016.
Annie Stuart Executive Assistant to Associate Dean
Annie Stuart graduated with a B.A. in communications and English literature and a minor in leadership from the University of Delaware in 2012. Before joining the Cameron School of Business, Annie worked as a recruiting coordinator for Robert Half International.
Leigh Smadbeck comes to Cameron from the University of Florida and the Heavener School of Business as a professional academic advisor and career coach. In addition to her experience in academic advising, Leigh has also supervised student peer mentors, led student organizations, and served as an adjunct professor at Mercy College, where she taught critical inquiry. Leigh holds a dual degree in M.A. Ed in counseling psychology and an M.A. in counseling psychology from Columbia University, along with a B.A. in psychology from Bates College.
Sarah Smith M.S. Accountancy Coordinator
Sarah earned her B.S.B.A. and M.B.A. from East Carolina University, and her professional experience includes six years of commercial and retail lending with community banks and credit unions in Greenville, NC. During that time, she was also employed as an adjunct instructor teaching corporate finance/
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UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA WILMINGTON Cameron School of Business
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage
PAID
Wilmington, NC Permit No. 444
601 South College Road Wilmington, NC 28403-5920
2017 EDITION
Thomas Janicki and Jeffrey Cummings Selected as Winners of Outstanding Paper Award Thomas Janicki, Distinguished
and interaction between the
Professor of Information Systems,
corporate community, students
and Jeffrey Cummings, Gordon
and faculty. It specifically
Hulbert Associate Professor of
examined activities such as
Information Systems, received the
bringing professionals from the
Outstanding Paper award at the
corporate community to the
recent International Information
classroom – including young
Systems & Computing Academic
alumni – to discuss potential
Professionals Conference held
technology career tracks. This
in Las Vegas. The honor was
research not only helps students
granted to only one paper at the
but also provides techniques to
conference.
keep faculty up to date on what
The conference’s primary focus is to assist professors of information systems and computing information technology in staying current and relevant in the everchanging field of technology to help graduates gain the skills and technologies businesses are using today. In addition, the conference works to increase technology skills of all business graduates through sound pedagogical techniques. The paper, titled “Increasing Student / Corporate Engagement,” investigated approaches to increase dialogue
Tom Janicki
emerging technologies need to be taught in our curriculum. Finally, a key discussion point was the development of a major-specific career day, which would bring corporate managers on campus to interview potential interns and future employees. The authors report that increasing student and corporate engagement has increased internships and fulltime placement while keeping curriculum relevant through consistent corporate input. Congratulations on this great achievement! Jeffrey Cummings