Message from Dean J. Dennis Cradit

Welcome to “Staying Connected,” a newsletter for parents of SIU College of Business students. Spring is finally here and midterms are over so your son or daughter probably breathed a sigh of relief. However, finals are around the corner so students never really get much of a break.

While some students are preparing for finals, others are also planning for graduation! You are invited to attend the College of Business Commencement on May 10 at 4pm in the SIU Carbondale Arena. We will honor Greg A. Lee, senior vice president, human resources for Motorola, Inc., with the 2008 Alumni Achievement Award. Lee, a marketing alumnus, College of Business Hall of Famer and member of the Dean’s External Advisory Board, will deliver the commencement address. I have no doubt that our students will be benefited by Greg’s message and inspired by his achievements.

At the College of Business, “Achievement” is our middle name. In this newsletter, you’ll read about students, faculty, staff and alumni who are all making SIU and parents proud. Thank you for being a vital part of the Saluki community!    

Best wishes, 

Dr. J. Dennis Cradit
Dean and Professor of Marketing

Upcoming Events:  You’re Invited!

AMA Golf Scramble

Saturday, April 12, Kokopelli Golf Club, Marion, Ill.

The SIU American Marketing Association will hold a Golf Scramble at the Kokopelli Golf Club.  This is a fundraising event that is open to the public.  To sign up, contact Chris Duby at cduby@siu.edu.

SIUC Honors Day

Sunday, April 13, 1pm at Lawson Hall, SIUC campus

Each spring Honors Day recognizes students exhibiting high scholastic achievement.  A reception at the SIUC Student Center will follow the awards ceremony.  

SIUC Commencement

Saturday, May 10, 4pm at SIUC Arena

Spring commencement ceremonies for SIU College of Business will be held on May 10.  Hundreds of CoBA students will receive their degrees.  Families and friends are invited to attend. 

Career Corner

Career Services and Placement Center Director Donna Margolis and Associate Director Matt Purdy report that a record number of CoBA students participated in Spring Break Externships - 69 students at 44 companies nationwide.  For five of the last six years, the College of Business has had the highest number of extern participants of any SIU college.

The SIU chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants will visit the Big Four accounting firms in St. Louis.  “It is a great opportunity to network with the firms while getting an idea of the environment in a public accounting office,” said Conrad Houeto, president of NABA.

Focus on Students

Finance student and Saluki basketball star Bryan Mullins was named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America second team.  Mullins is one of the most improved players in the Missouri Valley Conference this season.  He is the team's third-leading scorer, averaging 11.0 ppg, and ranks second in the league in assists (5.1 apg) and steals (2.1 spg).  The 6-foot-2 point guard has a 4.0 GPA    

MBA student Cassie Bishop and doctoral student in physics Arjun Pathak make up one of only 17 teams selected for the semi-final round of the Global Venture Challenge 2008, an educational event designed to foster entrepreneurial spirit by engaging students, industry, government and the investment community in the discovery and development of innovative ideas.  The event takes place in April at Tennessee’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory where teams will present business ideas and compete for a $25,000 cash prize.  The SIU team is in good company.  Other semi-finalists include teams from Yale, Dartmouth and Cornell.  The group is led by Dr. Maryon F. King, associate professor of marketing and interim director of the Innovation Center. 

Congratulations to the three CoBA students who received Distinguished Senior Awards:  Accounting student Ashley Gibson of Carterville and marketing students Allison Niendiek of Teutoplis and Susan Noeth of Collinsville.  The Distinguished Senior Award is presented annually to 25 students who enrich the University and Carbondale community through their service activities.  To qualify, students must complete a lengthy application process, earn a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 and receive positive recommendations from University and community officials.

Focus on Alumni

2005 finance graduate Stefan Jabkiewicz is the assistant vice president and account manager at GE Capital Solutions in Wisconsin.  Most recently he was placed in charge of managing GE Capital’s Construction mid-market portfolios for Wisconsin and Illinois.

Focus on Service

Good academic advisement is key to student success.  Upon entering the College of Business, students attend an orientation session where they meet academic advisers and learn about academic requirements.  Advisers also introduce students to the Placement Center, student organizations, on-line registration and study abroad programs.

Needless to say, the College of Business Academic Advisement office is a busy place which is why excellent customer service is essential.  “To be a successful adviser, one must be able to ‘read’ the kind of student that is sitting across from you,” said Joe Pineau, academic adviser.  “Students have different personalities, motivations, seriousness, study habits and senses of humor.  The contrasts are remarkable and to be honest, fun!”  That’s why Pineau and his colleagues provide personalized services.  “It isn’t about just giving advice – the advice has to be given in a manner that the student understands and is applicable to student’s academic (and life) goals.  To do that, an adviser has to know the student.”

Pineau holds a bachelor of management science from State University of New York, Binghamton and an MBA from University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Focus on the College

Michael Davids, chair of the Department of Marketing External Advisory Board and president and editor of McD Media in Downers Grove, Marketing Chair Dr. Terry Clark and Expo Coordinator Bryan Stinchfield report that more than 2,000 people attended the second annual Saluki Expo and Brunch during the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on March 8 at the St. Louis Hilton at the Ballpark Hotel.  The Department of Marketing, the Department of Marketing External Advisory Board and the SIU Alumni Association sponsored the event, which featured booths by University departments, SIUC-affiliated organizations and businesses.  Participants were treated to a Saluki Nation "Pep Rally" featuring

Focus on Faculty & Staff

Jake M. Rose, associate professor of accounting, along with Stewart Leech, professor of accounting at University of Melbourne, have been awarded an Australian Research Council grant, valued at $384,000 over three years, to develop a highly sophisticated expert system for accounting practitioners.