Simon School Admissions Blog

A Simon Town Hall Meeting with the U of R President

By Crissi:

University of Rochester President Joel Seligman came to Simon to hold a Town Hall meeting and get to know the Simon student body.  I was surprised when the President began by requesting each attendee to state their name, intended graduation year, post-graduation career plans and one question they had for him.  The President listened intently and commented as a lecture hall full of students shared their introductions.  He sincerely wanted to get to know each attendee and address their queries. 

After introductions, it was clear that the question on most Simon student’s minds pertained to the University’s 5-year strategic plan and how this related to various arms of the University – the college, the medical center and the business school – Simon!  We learned that the University of Rochester is one of few private, research intuitions with a medical center; compared to competitor schools, the U of R has half the student body and fewer faculty.  This opened the discussion: how do you grow a University?  Here, President Seligman revealed the 4 goals of the strategic growth plan:

1. Become among the top 20 Research Institutions
2. Increase faculty, heighten the school’s reputation and students will follow
3. Work with the Rochester community
4. Manage the endowment

Keen to the audience he was addressing, the President framed the situation, challenges and opportunities for the execution of each goal.  This included leveraging new funding lines opened by the Obama Administration as recently as last month.

The beauty of a business education is learning through case method and experiences – typically focused on public, private and corporate firms.  It is rare that students are provided the opportunity to examine the workings of an educational institution and provide feedback and observances from their experiences that go directly into shaping and executing a University’s strategic plan.  The transparency of mission within the Simon and University community is one more thing that makes the Simon experience so unique.  As students learn in Marketing, internal marketing is of paramount importance for brand consistency; understanding and commenting on a University’s growth plan is the most efficient way this can be actualized in a higher education setting.

May 2009 Executive Advisory Committee meeting

By Rebekah:

Under the leadership of Dean Mark Zupan, the Simon School has a very active Executive Advisory Committee that meets semi-annually to discuss current issues and strategies for moving the School forward. These two day meetings occur each spring and fall, and current students are given an opportunity to meet with these business leaders for networking purposes.

Our spring Executive Advisory Committee meeting just concluded Friday, May 1st. The Keynote Address was offered by Richard Sands, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Constellation Brands, Inc. Constellation is a leading international producer and marketer of beverage alcohol brands. He provided insightful remarks on the topic of “embracing change”, and how that has been such a positive driver in the success of his company.

Other business leaders attending this meeting joined us from JP Morgan, Citigroup, Tyco, Xerox, Booz & Co., Raymond Corporation and IBM Global Services. The spring meeting also features M.B.A. student presentations for those taking the Applied Consulting course taught annually by Dean Zupan. In keeping with the University of Rochester motto “Meliora”, latin for ever better, student teams develop and present ideas on how to improve the school. A $10,000 prize is awarded to the winning team, $5,000 to implement the idea, and $5,000 to those who originated the idea.

The next Executive Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for October 9-11, 2009.

Broaden Your Horizons: The Caribbean

By: Tonya

Hot, sandy beaches and palm trees gently rustling in the breeze - just a typical April day in Rochester?  Yes!  If you attended the Broaden Your Horizons: Caribbean event! 

Over a delicious lunch of jerk chicken, rice & beans, and green beans, five of our students shared the culture, history, and traditions of their Caribbean roots with 200 fellow Simon students, faculty, and staff.

Roger Cordero Mueses, MBA '10, kicked off the event with the Dominican Republic.  He talked about their rich musical history and the island sounds of Merengue and Bachata.  Baseball is the national sport and the Dominican has exported such baseball greats as Sammy Sosa, Pedro Martinez, and Juan Marichal. 

Byron Barnes, MBA '10, taught us a little Haitian Creole and shared some beautiful mountain scenery from the "Pearl of the Antilles," also known as Haiti.  Will Reynolds, MBA '09, taught us about the national products of Guyana (sugar cane, timber, rice, fish, gold, and diamonds) and reminded us that Guyana is not the same country as Ghana!

Puerto Rico was up next and Myrdna Vargas, MBA '10, shared beautiful photos of her home country and explained how the people there are made up of Spanish, Taino, and African heritage.  Salsa, Merengue, and Reggaeton is the music you will hear in Puerto Rico.  Last, we got to experience the bright colors and excitement of Carnival in Trinidad & Tobago.  Sean Senhouse, MBA '10, showed us pictures from Carnival and told us that "liming" (the art of congregating with friends and would-be-friends) is a favorite pastime there.

We are truly very fortunate, here at Simon, to have over 33 countries represented in our MBA program.  The Broaden Your Horizons events give us the opportunity to learn about these different countries and regions and expand our knowledge and perspective.  I want to give kudos to the students who presented the Caribbean to us and I look forward to the next BYH at Simon!

Simon Partners with Teach For America and the Peace Corps

By: Tonya

Simon has recently signed on with the Peace Corps as part of their Fellows/U.S.A. program and with Teach For America as one of their graduate business school partners. 

As part of the Fellows/U.S.A. program, returning Peace Corps volunteers will receive up to $10,000 a year towards tuition to study at the Simon School.  Our Dean, Mark Zupan, sees this as a "win-win," stating that the "volunteers who have given of themselves have earned a break in tuition, and they will bring their wide ranging experiences and leadership skills to our School."

Similarly, the Teach For America partnership offers alumni of the organization a $10,000 annual scholarship to attend Simon.  In addition, a two-year deferral option exists for students who are admitted prior to their corps experience.  "Our recent success in placing younger MBA graduates has exceeded our expectations, and Teach For America alumni will contribute to this positive momentum," says Greg MacDonald, Executive Director of Admissions and Administration.

We are so pleased to announce these two partnerships and look forward to working with the corps and alumni of both organizations.

Entrepreneurship at the University of Rochester

By Rebekah:

Did you know that the University of Rochester has a Center for Entrepreneurship?  This Center was developed through a special gift in 2003 from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and serves to create new partnerships with alumni, local businesses and non-profit organizations; publicizes school-based experiences and encourages collaboration among all six schools involved in entrepreneurship education, including the Simon Graduate School of Business. 

Beyond the concentration in Entrepreneurship within the M.B.A. program, here are other opportunities for Simon students:

1. Join the Simon Entrepreneurs club

2. Participate in the Mark Ain Business Model Workshop Series and Competition

3. Serve on an advisory or consultative team to current or aspiring entrepreneurs

4. Subscribe to the Women's Entrepreneurship Blog

5. Read the Center's latest newsletter

6. Attend campus events hosted by the Center for Entrepreneurship

We are fortunate to have some many opportunities available to our graduate students who wish to receive training in entrepreneurship!

New faculty member joins Simon School for 2009-10 year

By Rebekah:

  Today the Simon School will formally install Toni Whited as the inaugural Michael and Diane Jones Professor of Finance.  This professorship supports a faculty member whose work successfully exemplifies the Simon School mission.  Toni is an expert in finance, macroeconomics and econometrics and comes to us from the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  She earned a B.A. from the University of Oregon, majoring in French literature and economics, and a Ph.D. from Princeton University in economics, working with Ben Bernanke. 

Toni worked at the Federal Reserve Board and was on the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Iowa, before joining the University of Wisconsin in 2003.  She has taught at the undergraduate, M.B.A., and Ph.D. levels in her former positions.  Her research deals primarily with the effects of financial markets on firm capital budgeting decisions.  She has also conducted research in the areas of theoretical econometrics, asset pricing, macroeconomics, and corporate debt policy.  She serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Financial Economics and the Journal of Macroeconomics and was one of the co-editors of Finance Research Letters.

We look forward to seeing Toni on the faculty in a teaching and research capacity in fall 2009!

By Rebekah:

  Today the Simon School will formally install Toni Whited as the inaugural Michael and Diane Jones Professor of Finance.  This professorship supports a faculty member whose work successfully exemplifies the Simon School mission.  Toni is an expert in finance, macroeconomics and econometrics and comes to us from the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  She earned a B.A. from the University of Oregon, majoring in French literature and economics, and a Ph.D. from Princeton University in economics, working with Ben Bernanke. 

Toni worked at the Federal Reserve Board and was on the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Iowa, before joining the University of Wisconsin in 2003.  She has taught at the undergraduate, M.B.A., and Ph.D. levels in her former positions.  Her research deals primarily with the effects of financial markets on firm capital budgeting decisions.  She has also conducted research in the areas of theoretical econometrics, asset pricing, macroeconomics, and corporate debt policy.  She serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Financial Economics and the Journal of Macroeconomics and was one of the co-editors of Finance Research Letters.

We look forward to seeing Toni on the faculty in a teaching and research capacity in fall 2009!

Women Alumnae Share Benefits of Getting a Simon MBA

By: Tonya

This month we hosted our first "Women's Conference," an event for prospective female Simon students.  What a great event!  We had women come from Chicago, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City to learn more about the Simon MBA experience.  The women had the opportunity to meet with our current students and alumnae who shared their stories about getting a Simon MBA.  Our alumnae touted the MBA as "a degree for life," and told the women how the Simon MBA has prepared them for the various leadership positions they have fulfilled in their careers.

The keynote at dinner was given by Deborah Soffin '01, Iams Dog Brand Manager, who discussed her 7 years at P&G and her work with Dryel, Gain, and Iams Multi-Cat, as well as Iams Dog Brand.  The following morning the women had breakfast with Denise Fitzgerald '02, Chief Executive Officer, Midlakes Management Corporation, who shared her insights on leveraging the MBA in the field of health care management. 

We are so appreciative of the following alumnae who shared their experiences on the alumni panels: Katie Dudek '05, Financial Analyst, Xerox Corporation; Malati Patil '08, Business and Planning Analyst, Executive Associate Compensation and Benefits, M&T Bank; and Kristin Short '02, Assistant Vice President, The Bank of New York Mellon.

We look forward to this becoming an annual event!

New "InnovatUR" scholarships offered at Simon

By: Tonya

In repsonse to the down economy, Simon is offering special scholarship support for U.S. citizens and permanent residents adversely affected by the current economic situation.  Over the next two years, up to 50 "InnovatUR" scholarships wil be offered annually to prospective students pursuing a full-time M.B.A. degree at Simon. 

"Much like savvy investors, such as Warren Buffet, know that now is the time to buy financial assets, the Simon School realizes that now is the time for leading business schools to take 'equity stakes,' through scholarship support, in top prospective students," says Dean Mark Zupan. 

Those interested should complete the online application and submit an optional essay explaining why you should be selected for the scholarship award (applicants should use Optional Essay #3 on the online application).  In addition, candidates will need to have an admissions interview on the Simon campus or in select U.S. cities.

For more information please contact Gregory MacDonald, Executive Director of Admissions and Administration, at (585) 275-3533 or admissions@simon.rochester.edu.

Simon to Host Women's Event for Prospective Students

By: Tonya

I am so pleased to announce that Simon will host our first women's event for prospective students on Friday, December 5th to Saturday, December 6th.  This will be a great opportunity for women interested in learning more about our MBA and MS programs to visit our campus and meet with our current students, faculty, staff, and alumni. 

The program will cover topics such as:

• our unique program offerings
• student life
• career management resources
• the admissions process
• scholarship opportunities

In addition, women will have the opportunity to learn more about our membership in the Forté Foundation, an international organization dedicated to directing talented women to leadership roles in business.  As a sponsor school, Simon awards Forté scholarships and offers networking opportunities through the annual Forté MBA Women's Conference, as well as numerous seminars and events.

All women interested in pursuing an MBA or MS degree are invited to attend this event that promises to be both informative and inspirational.  To register please visit: www.simon.rochester.edu/ftevents. 

Leadership (Part II): the Forté Foundation 2008 Women’s MBA Conference in New York City

By: Tonya

Did you know that Simon is one of the 37 top MBA schools that make up the Forté Foundation? 

It is such a privilege to be a part of this consortium of major corporations, top business schools, and influential non-profit organizations united to help direct talented women towards leadership roles in business.  Each year Forté holds an annual conference where all of these organizations come together, along with talented MBA students, for several days of speakers and sessions that are informative and inspirational.  I was honored to get to attend the conference this year with 5 incoming Simon students and 3 current students.  I think we all walked away with an amazing experience, an expanded network, and valuable insights into women’s business issues, like shattering the glass ceiling, finding work/life balance, negotiating skills, and leadership development.

Since this is my second blog that examines leadership.  I wanted to tell you about the Dialogue with Leadership Luncheon that was held during the conference.  The accomplished businesswomen that led the discussion were: Sharon Allen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Deloitte LLP; Lisa Weber, President of Individual Business at MetLife; and Patricia Sellers, Editor-at-Large at Fortune magazine.   The panelists discussed their perspectives on building professional legacies, making meaningful career and life choices, maintaining the integrity of business, and becoming responsible corporate citizens.  Advice they offered included the importance of focusing on people and surrounding yourself with a good team.  They also stressed that women should never become complacent and never remain stagnant in their career and responsibilities.

The conference also included an MBA Career Fair where MBA students had the opportunity to meet with Fortune 100 recruiters from some of the world’s most prestigious corporations, like: Abbott, American Express, Avon, Bank of America, Capital Group, Chevron, Citi, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, Eli Lilly, Ernst & Young, Fidelity, GE, General Mills, Goldman Sachs, IBM, Intel, John Deere, Johnson & Johnson, Lehman, McKinsey, Merrill Lynch, MetLife, Moody’s, Morgan Stanley, Wachovia, and Williams.

Forté membership is open to all women who attend Simon, a Forté sponsor school.  For more information, visit: www.fortefoundation.org.