May 8, 2008
University of California: BlackRock’s Larry Fink (’76) and his Wife Lori Endow Finance Center with $10 Million
UCLA Anderson received an investment of $10 million from BlackRock Chairman and CEO Laurence D. Fink (MBA ’76, UCLA ’74), and his wife Lori Fink. The gift endows the Center for Finance & Investments, which will be renamed the Laurence D. and Lori W. Fink Center for Finance & Investments in recognition of the Fink’s generosity. Of this gift, $3 million will be used to create the Laurence D. and Lori W. Fink Endowed Chair in Finance pending approval by the academic senate; the remainder will support MBA and PhD fellowships, and provide critical ongoing support for the center and its activities. “I am deeply grateful for Larry and Lori’s extraordinary support for the school,” says UCLA Anderson Dean Judy D. Olian. “With their vision and commitment, we will further enhance the reputation of the Center throughout the finance, academic and professional communities, having an impact on national and global financial markets.” Since the center launched in 2006, it has created mutually beneficial synergies between academia and practitioners. Through conferences and newsletters, the center allows the discoveries of the center faculty’s relevant and innovative research to be disseminated to practitioners. “Academic research cannot be insular; it must be relevant and effectively communicated to achieve maximum impact,” says Fink. “Lori and I are excited to support the Center in its role of channeling these valuable findings, giving finance professionals an opportunity to gain new perspectives and remain at the forefront of key industry issues.” The center also serves as a bridge to the industry through the development of its future finance leaders. Relationships with the center’s Advisory Board, of which Fink has served as its chair since 2006, help students to connect to possible internships or careers in the industry. A prominent leader on Wall Street, Fink is chairman and CEO of BlackRock, the largest publicly traded investment manager in the U.S. He is also a Trustee of the BlackRock Equity and Bond Fund Complex within the firm’s open-end fund family. Beyond his accomplishments in the finance world, Fink and his wife have been extremely generous philanthropists to the academic and medical communities. Currently, he serves on the Board of Trustees at New York University and also as Co-Chairman of the NYU Hospitals Center Board of Trustees. Last year, Fink was the recipient of the John E. Anderson Distinguished Alumnus Award, the highest recognition that UCLA Anderson bestows upon alumni.
Source: University of California
Print NewsSubscribe to Grad School News Feed
May 6, 2008
University of Southern Mississippi Doctoral Student Receives National Science Foundation Grant
University of Southern Mississippi chemistry doctoral student Mary Mackey of Crystal Springs found out she was the recipient of a National Science Foundation Graduate Student Fellowship April 1. No joke.“I thought, ‘Surely the NSF isn’t playing an April’s Fool joke,’ but you have to wonder,” said Mackey, who earned her undergraduate degree from Southern Miss and was a student in the university’s Honors College. There’s no funny business in the Southern Miss laboratory of Dr. Steven Stevenson, where Mackey will continue her research that began when she was an undergraduate. Mackey’s research includes separation and isolation of metallic nitride fullerenes, which involves identification and separation of new molecules already in the process of developing, and finding new separation methodology to isolate molecules that have already been identified. The NSF’s goals for the program include support of the human resource base of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in the United States and reinforcement of its diversity by offering approximately 1,100 graduate fellowships. These fellowships provide three years of support for graduate study leading to research-based master’s or doctoral degrees, and are intended for students in the early stages of their graduate study. The fellowship provides Mackey with a stipend of $30,000 per year for three years, a $1,000 travel award and coverage of her tuition and other expenses for a total award of approximately $130,000. Stevenson describes Mackey as “hard working and inquisitive.” His wife, fellow chemistry professor Dr. Paige Phillips, has also worked closely with Mackey. “We are honored to have Mary stay here for her graduate work,” Stevenson said. “She has been a co-author on several publications, and could have gone anywhere to graduate school.” Mackey said she particularly enjoys research that includes analytical chemistry, and is interested in obtaining experience working with government research in chemistry following graduation. Her research has potential for resulting in enhancements for medical services, including magnetic resonance imaging. “Mary has a natural curiosity toward understanding science and is tenacious researcher,” Stevenson said. “She loves the idea of discovering new molecules and has discovered some new structures that mankind has not known.”
Source: University of Southern Mississippi
Print NewsSubscribe to Grad School News Feed
May 1, 2008
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro: Gargeya Gets BOG Teaching Award
Dr. Vidyaranya B. Gargeya, a professor of information systems and operations management and director of the Bryan MBA program, is among 17 outstanding faculty members selected by the UNC Board of Governors to receive the 14th Annual Award for Excellence in Teaching. The faculty members were nominated on their home campuses and selected by the BOG Committee on Personnel and Tenure. Each will receive a bronze medallion and a $7,500 cash prize during a luncheon, held in conjunction with the board’s May 9 meeting in Chapel Hill. Presenters will be President Erskine Bowles and BOG Chair Jim Phillips. Gargeya engages students with live case studies, interactive guest speakers and written exams that provide students with real-life business experiences in the classroom. In 2006, he received a UNCG Alumni Teaching Excellence Award. According to a student nominator, “He does not teach to make a living. He lives to teach.” Gargeya received his baccalaureate at Andhra University in India, his postgraduate diploma in management at the Indian Institute of Management and his doctorate in business administration from Georgia State University. Before Bryan MBA students begin their first class with Gargeya, they are presented with his Memorandum of Understanding which outlines – in detail – their responsibilities for the course as well as what they can expect of their professor. “I spend a lot of time preparing for class so that when I enter the classroom I bring my best and I expect my students to do the same,” he said. His commitment to his students does not end when the final grades are posted. As part of the Memorandum of Understanding, he also offers a Service Guarantee. “Once students complete my course, any topic covered in the class is open for discussion for the rest of their lives. They can email or call me and I will respond within 24 hours,” he said. Over his 13 years at UNCG, many students have taken him up on the offer. “As long as it is knowledge for knowledge’s sake, I really enjoy reconnecting with former students. It’s what keeps me going,” he said. Another clause in his Service Guarantee, which students take him up on much sooner and much more regularly, is that he will write a letter of recommendation for any student who passes his course. “I got into teaching by design, not by accident,” he said. “I was working in the petroleum industry in India and teaching part-time. I loved teaching so much that I decided to come to the U.S. to pursue my doctorate.” After completing a year of graduate studies at Georgia State, he started teaching MBA-level courses. He has not stopped since.
Source: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Print NewsSubscribe to Grad School News Feed
May 1, 2008
Hofstra University to Launch Full-Time Day M.B.A.
Hofstra University's Frank G. Zarb School of Business will launch a new full-time integrated day M.B.A. program next fall that will take full advantage of the school’s sophisticated technology, experienced faculty, growing alumni network and proximity to New York City.
Students in the program will learn, work and study together in small, seminar-style classes led by highly regarded scholar-educators. They will take advantage of personalized career support services, enriched internships throughout the New York City area and an integrated, interdisciplinary capstone experience. And they will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including one of the largest academic trading rooms in the U.S., with 34 Bloomberg Professional terminals. "We plan to teach our students the skills necessary to effectively interact with one another and with the various constituencies in the corporate world. This will better prepare them for life in the business arena," said Zarb School of Business Dean Salvatore F. Sodano. "We will also enhance their academic experience here through internships, by bringing accomplished professionals to campus as speakers and through connections with our vast network of successful Zarb alumni." Dean Sodano said the full-time integrated M.B.A. program will offer substantial scholarship opportunities for high-achieving students and opportunities for honors scholar designation. The new program joins the executive and traditional M.B.A. programs offered at the Zarb School, including Sports and Entertainment Management, Health Services Management and Quality Management.
About the Frank G. Zarb School of Business: The Frank G. Zarb School of Business prepares students for rewarding careers and helps them to become responsible business leaders by stressing the importance of life-long education, ethics in business, an awareness of global issues and concern for the environment. The Zarb School of Business offers small classes taught by experienced faculty and utilizes cutting edge technology such as the Martin B. Greenberg Trading Room. With a network of successful alumni and established business connections in nearby New York City, the Zarb School provides a wide variety of internships that allow students to gain valuable career experience. The Zarb School is one of only a few institutions in the New York Metropolitan area to have AACSB International accreditations in both business and accounting.
About Hofstra University: Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from more than 140 undergraduate and 155 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and allied human services, and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. With a student-faculty ratio of 14-to-1, our professors teach small classes averaging 23 students that emphasize interaction, critical thinking and analysis. Hofstra offers a faculty whose highest priority is teaching excellence, cutting edge technology, extensive library resources, internships and special educational programs that appeal to their interests and abilities. The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.
Source: Hofstra University, New York
Print NewsSubscribe to Grad School News Feed
May 1, 2008
William Woods University Shows Financial Savvy; Local Community Benefits
Each year many homeowners look into refinancing their homes or their cars, in hopes of getting a better rate and saving money on interest. William Woods University recently did much the same thing, and will save $1.48 million in interest as a result. The university issued $8 million worth of bonds in 1999 to make improvements to Tucker Dining Hall and several residence halls, build the Center for Human Performance, add a chemistry lab, and complete various other renovations on its Fulton Campus. The $6.95 million in bonds still outstanding will be refinanced, allowing the university to realize the interest savings. William Woods is committed to operating in the black. According to Cale Fessler, chief financial officer, “Our positive financial performance, particularly over the past six years, was a major contributing factor in the university’s ability to secure better rates.” The involvement of the Callaway County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) has also helped the university secure favorable rates. The IDA will be the issuer for the bonds, which Fessler said will benefit the community and make the bonds “bank qualified,” meaning that local and surrounding banks can buy them. The “bank qualified” status provides the university with additional interest savings. The seven members of the IDA, all business leaders, are appointed by the Callaway County Commission as a public corporation authorized and empowered to issue revenue bonds to make construction loans or refinance outstanding obligations. The IDA serves as an intermediary between the borrower and the lender, resulting in better rates for the borrower. The fees paid by the borrower for this service are shared by the Kingdom of Callaway Chamber of Commerce and the Fulton Area Development Corporation. Mike Boulware, Callaway County vice president, is a member of IDA. “The IDA is a good financial tool that benefits our community two ways.” he said. “First, it is good for the company that issues the bonds and uses the money for investment here. Second, it is good for the community because the fees collected go to develop more business through Chamber and FADC programs.” Refinancing eliminates the final four years of payments for William Woods, so the bonds will fully mature in 2025 instead of 2029. “It’s like refinancing a house and saving money,” Fessler said. “In this case it is a considerable amount of interest.” He explained that the bond refinancing is part of the whole fiscal management of the university. “We try to make decisions in the best fiscal interest of the school,” he said. “Where we’ll save is the interest cost, which will contribute to the overall fiscal health of the university. This happens over time, but it helps us as we move forward.”
Source: William Woods University, Missouri
Print NewsSubscribe to Grad School News Feed
April 30, 2008
University of Tampa: Management Professor Wins UT's Highest Honor
Dr. Mary Anne Watson, professor of management at The University of Tampa, was awarded the Louise Loy Hunter Award at UT’s Academic Awards Ceremony on April 23. The Louise Loy Hunter Award is bestowed annually upon a UT faculty member for cumulative contributions in teaching, service and scholarship. It is the highest official honor that can be awarded to a faculty member at The University of Tampa. The award is unique in that it is bestowed by faculty members who have received the award in prior years. Watson, who served as associate dean of the John H. Sykes College of Business for the last five and a half years and chair of the management department for three and a half years, focuses on organizational behavior, and specializes in leadership development and team building. She has published more than 40 cases and articles and has made numerous presentations. She co-authored the book “Learning Theory in the Practice of Management Development” (Greenwood, 1998). Additionally, Watson has led efforts to internationalize the curriculum and faculty at the Sykes College of Business. She wrote and directed two internationalization grants from the U.S. Department of Education that led to the introduction of the international business major. She also has developed and conducted cross-cultural training programs for international student exchange and language organizations such as the American Language Academy and Youth for Understanding. Watson directs the MBA Leadership Coaching Program, which brings to campus more than 120 area business leaders who voluntarily mentor first-year MBA students. She is also a member of The University of Tampa Coalition for an Alcohol Responsible Environment (CARE).
Source: University of Tampa, Florida
Print NewsSubscribe to Grad School News Feed
April 28, 2008
George Washington University: Timothy Tong, Dean of GW's School of Engineering and Applied Science, Appointed President of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Timothy W. Tong, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science at The George Washington University, has been named president of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. A Hong Kong native,Tong will assume his new duties on Jan. 1, 2009. "I am very grateful for having had the opportunity to serve as dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science at GW for the past eight years," said Tong. "I have enjoyed working with and learning from the students, faculty, staff, and alumni at the school. The things I have been able to accomplish here were a big factor in my being able to get this appointment at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and I appreciate the support that I have received from the School of Engineering and Applied Science community throughout these years." Under Tong's leadership, the School of Engineering and Applied Science has grown to 230 full-time and part-time faculty members and approximately 2,500 students -- 80 percent of whom are graduate students. The school's annual external research funding has increased by approximately 40 percent, and it has built a number of important research and educational partnerships, both nationally and internationally. Its partners include U.S. government agencies, foreign governments and universities, and corporations such as Lockheed Martin, SAIC, and Rolls Royce North America. The School of Engineering and Applied Science also has expanded its off-campus programs to 24 cities, including four locations in California and Hawaii, and has raised more than $50 million for the continued growth and development of the school. Donald R. Lehman, executive vice president for academic affairs, said, "Dean Tong's commitment to research and teaching has propelled the school to academic excellence in the areas of biomedical engineering, information technology and telecommunications, and transportation safety and security. I appreciate his dedication and leadership and congratulate him on his new role as president of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University." Tong, who conducts theoretical and experimental research in heat transfer, joined GW in 2000. He previously held positions at the National Science Foundation, Colorado State University, Arizona State University, and the University of Kentucky. Tong has published more than 80 technical articles and edited seven conference proceedings. He is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. In 1991, he received a presidential appointment to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Tong received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Oregon State University and a M.S. and Ph.D. in the same discipline from the University of California at Berkeley.
Source: George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Print NewsSubscribe to Grad School News Feed
April 28, 2008
University of California: J. Fred Weston Receives 2008 Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award
. Fred Weston, professor emeritus at UCLA Anderson School of Management, is one of five recipients of the 2008 Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award. The award was created in 2006 by an endowment from the late Edward A. Dickson, Regent of the University of California from 1913 to 1946. The award honors outstanding research, scholarly work, teaching, and/or educational service to the university and the profession. The award includes a cash prize. Professor Weston is widely known for his research in mergers and acquisitions, along with such related topics as industry restructuring, the cost of capital, and antitrust policy, publishing several books and dozens of articles since his retirement in 1986. Before and after retirement, his acute intellect has attracted leading scholars to UCLA Anderson, resulting in one of the top finance faculties in the world. He continues to serve as a key member of the finance group and directs its research program on takeovers, restructuring, and corporate governance, which he founded. Since retirement, he has been named a fellow of the American Finance Association, the National Association of Business Economists, and the Financial Management Association. His writing received a remarkable five Abramson scroll awards for his exceptional contributions to Business Economics. Always highly regarded as a teacher and mentor, Professor Weston has set a stellar scholarly example, with his passionate quest to understand the world of finance and his relentless pursuit of knowledge. Not only the 66 or so doctoral students whose committees he chaired during his career, but literally hundreds of students and faculty have benefited from his support, encouragement, and fundamental kindness.
Source: University of California
Print NewsSubscribe to Grad School News Feed
April 24, 2008
Hampton University Receives $1.2 Million to Enhance Biology Program
Hampton University was recently awarded a $1.2 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). The grant will be used to enhance the biology program at HU to fit the recommendations made in Bio2010, a set of changes recommended for biology programs as described by the National Research Council. The grant will provide HU with faculty development opportunities, an updated biology curriculum, a renovated laboratory and the development of a modern student research and training laboratory. The laboratories will allow students to focus on areas of emerging biology like genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, systems biology, molecular evolution and metagenomics. Dr. Edison R. Fowlks, HU professor of biology and HHMI program director at HU, designed the biology initiative to be an inquiry-based, research-driven, interdisciplinary experience. The goal of the initiative is to develop the relationship between biology, computer sciences and mathematics disciplines in hopes of creating research teams that not only understand biology better but are able to solve biological and biomedical problems from a perspective of diverse disciplines. "Combining these three disciplines is a brand new paradigm in biology," stated Fowlks. "HU is becoming a leader in bringing these three disciplines together. We are on the forefront in developing a genome-inspired biology curriculum."
Source: Hampton University, Virginia
Print NewsSubscribe to Grad School News Feed
April 24, 2008
Rice University: NSF Gives $1.5M For Next-Gen Wireless Networks, Phones, Health Sensors
The National Science Foundation has awarded $1.5 million to a Rice-led research team for the expansion of a wireless research network and the design and testing of experimental mobile systems and health-monitoring devices in East Houston's working-class Pecan Park neighborhood. The five-year project is a collaboration of researchers from Rice, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute and nonprofit Technology For All (TFA). The researchers will examine how patients with chronic diseases can use next-generation wireless networks, cell phones and health sensors to participate in their own medical treatment. The project brings together Rice experts in wireless network and mobile computing, community experts from TFA and health-care experts from Methodist and the University of Houston's Abramson Center for the Future of Health. Part of the grant will pay for the expansion of TFA-Wireless, an experimental wireless network that was designed and built by the research group of the project lead and principal investigator Edward Knightly, professor in electrical and computer engineering at Rice. The network uses new technology that's more efficient and less costly to operate than the WiFi gear used in Internet cafes, airports and coffeehouses. "Our network is a first-of-its-kind research platform," said Knightly. "We are supporting more than 4,000 users in three square kilometers with a fully programmable custom wireless network. This allows us to demonstrate our research advances at an operational scale." Co-principal investigator Lin Zhong, assistant professor in electrical and computer engineering, said the new grant will also fund the construction of experimental mobile devices that lay the foundation for long-term field studies in the community. "My group is interested in how mobile devices like cell phones can provide IT access to underserved communities, particularly when they are coupled with low-cost wireless broadband networks like the one Ed's group has developed," Zhong said. Under the new grant, the Abramson Center will develop wireless sensors for chronic-illness care in collaboration with the Rice team. Using the sensors, patients with congestive heart failure, asthma or metabolic syndrome will be able to painlessly and noninvasively take stock of several key aspects of their health status on a daily basis. For example, an early design, called Blue Box, can compare current readings with a patient's history and provide immediate, user-friendly feedback. By taking medical readings every day, rather than only during physician visits or crises, researchers hope to manage chronic conditions more effectively. Principal investigator Clifford Dacso, chair of internal medicine at The Methodist Hospital said, "Combining the Blue Box technology with an existing wireless network is designed to allow people with chronic
