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February 28, 2008
Message from Associate Dean Joe Alexander
Well, it's certainly been a banner week here in Belmont's College of Business Administration. Our colleagues in the undergraduate business program were notified yesterday by BusinessWeek magazine that Belmont is now a Top 100 national business program. The scoring for this ranking was a very comprehensive analysis that combined nine distinct measures of b-school quality. Some 80,000 students and 600 employers nationwide were also surveyed for their input into the rankings.
Belmont ranked at No. 89 just behind the University of Arkansas (No. 88) and just ahead of Louisiana State University (No. 90). The only other in-state program to make the Top 100 list was the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, which finished at No. 93. Wharton once again topped the list at No. 1. This is Belmont's first year to be recognized in the rankings. Later this year, the Massey School will have an opportunity for its part-time MBA program to undergo a similar analysis of its status on a national basis. Our average GMAT score of 573 for the entering Spring 2008 class is definitely a statistic that will help us in that analysis. The undergraduate BusinessWeek article is schedule to hit newstands this coming Monday. Click here for the rankings analysis.
Earlier today, a group of our MBA and MACC students left for Spain with Dr. Jeff Overby as our first international study abroad trip for Spring 2008. A separate group will be headed to China in May with Dr. Howard Cochran, while Dean Raines is set to lead a group to Brazil in early fall,
followed by my own trip with students to the Czech Republic (Prague) in early November. We remain committed to incorporating this international experience into each of our graduate programs well into the future.
If you've not yet had a chance to visit our new blog, Strictly Business, I encourage you to do so and take a look at the contributions of several of our faculty and students. I've already learned a lot from their mini-articles on contemporary business practices.
On a personal note, let me just add how much I am enjoying my first year of work with students and colleagues in The Massey School. I've also enjoyed meeting so many of you at the various networking luncheons and speaker events over the last few months. Finally, I'd like to extend my own personal invitation to any of you who can join us for the Habitat for Humanity local build later this month (at least enough ladder volunteers who like heights so that I can work from low altitude). Thanks for all you do to continue building the reputation of our graduate business programs here locally and abroad. We are making progress.
February 26, 2008
Massey Networking Breakfast
The Massey Networking Breakfast is scheduled for Wednesday, March 5th from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the Nashville City Club. The breakfast will be hosted (and paid for!) by Dean Raines. For more information or for last minute RSVPs (no later than Sunday, March 2), contact Londa Morgan at londa@hardcastleconstruction.com or (615) 500-1443.
Breakfast Agenda:
7:00-7:30 a.m. Networking/Buffet Style Breakfast
7:30-8:00 a.m. Update on program by Dean Raines
8:00-8:30 a.m. Networking/Buffet Style Breakfast
The Nashville City Club is located on the 20th floor of the SunTrust Building, 201 Fourth Avenue North, downtown Nashville. Parking at the SunTrust Building is $5 per half hour; however, there are other nearby parking options. contact Londa if you need help finding another place to park. The breakfast will be buffet style, so attendees can come and go as meets their schedule needs.
Noted Economist David Beckmann to Speak at Belmont Ethics Center Event
On Tuesday, April 8, David Beckmann will speak on Connecting Faith and Ethics to Economic Life. The presentation will draw on Beckmann's expereince as an economist, minister and President of Bread for the World, a non-profit organization focused on issues of hunger.
The presentation will be in the Frist Lecture Hall in the Inman Center (4th floor) on Wedgewood Avenue. There will be a Reception at 4:30 PM and Beckmann’s presentation will begin at 5:00 PM. This event is free, but seating is limited. If you would like to reserve a seat, send an email to cobaethics@mail.belmont.edu
A Lutheran minister and an economist, Rev. David Beckmann earned his Master of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics, a Master of Divinity from Christ Seminary in St. Louis, and his undergraduate degree from Yale University. He has received honorary doctorates from Villanova University, the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and Capital University. He is also fluent in Spanish.
Rev. Beckmann was called by his church to be a "missionary-economist," connecting Christian faith and moral teaching to economic life. He served in a church-supported development program in rural Bangladesh from 1975-76. He then moved to the World Bank for 15 years, where as a World Bank economist he played a prominent role in the Bank's heightened focus on poverty reduction and fostered greater collaboration between the Bank and grassroots groups that work for poor people. He supervised slum improvement projects, later wrote speeches for the president of the Bank, and finally led the Bank's efforts to engage with religious, environmental, and other grass-roots groups around the world.
Rev. Beckmann served for several years on the board of Bread for the World before becoming president of the organization in 1991. Bread for the World is a grass-roots, Christian citizens' movement against hunger. Its 56,000 members and member churches urge the U.S. government to take actions to reduce hunger, both domestic and international. Rev. Beckmann is also president of Bread for the World Institute, which does research and education on hunger.
In addition, he is the founder and president of the Alliance to End Hunger, which engages diverse institutions in building the public will to end hunger. The Alliance includes corporations, unions, foundations, charities, and governmental and U.N. institutions.
Rev. Beckmann has written numerous books and articles. His books include Grace at the Table: Ending Hunger in God's World, Transforming the Politics of Hunger and Friday Morning Reflections at the World Bank.
Massey Networking Luncheons
Massey Networking Luncheons are held on the third Thursday of the month (some exceptions apply during holiday months) and provide Massey students and alumni with an opportunity to stay in touch with one another, as well as to meet new potential business contacts.
The next luncheon will be held on March 20th at 11:30 a.m. at Stoney River, located in downtown Nashville. Contact Londa Morgan at londa@hardcastleconstruction.com or (615) 500-1443 for more information. Events already scheduled include the following:
Other Upcoming Networking Luncheons
April 17 - Networking Luncheon at Mambu, Nashville, 11:30am
May 15 - Networking Luncheon at Bucca di Beppo, Franklin, 11:30am
June 19 - Networking Luncheon at Tin Angel, Nashville, 11:30am
Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Opportunity
Massey students and alumni have the opportunity to volunteer and work side-by-side with staff from Caterpillar Financial on Saturday March 29, 2008 to support Habitat for Humanity. Volunteers will be working alongside the new homeowner in the Timberwoods subdivision. The day will begin around 7:00 am and end around 3:30 pm, and volunteers must commit to the entire day. Rookies are welcome. You do not have to know anything about construction to volunteer. If you have thought over the years about working on a Habitat for Humanity build, this is your perfect one-day opportunity!
For more information or to sign up, email Massey Graduate Council President Aaron Murdock at murdocka@pop.belmont.edu.
The work to be completed includes:
WEEKEND TWO LADDER WORK / HAMMERING
12-15 volunteers work at ground level, 7-9 on ladders w/ siding high on the house and 5-6 semi-skilled to do outside carpentry, fascia, & bird boxes. TIP: Bring your own gloves.
DAY 3 – Saturday
Clean house
Install siding – start at back of house
Caulk top & bottom plates and panel joints
Install insulation
Install baffle boards, Deadwood
Install soffit (Ext)
Install blocking for drywall, cabinets, shelving
Clean up site
Information on the Habitat Partner Family you will be working with is below.
JoAnnette Mason
JoAnnette grew up in a family of thirteen children and has lived in many cities throughout the United States. Her parents were travelling ministers, so she has had the opportunity to meet many people and see many places. She says that growing up in the church helped her family to be very loving and caring towards others She is a single mother of 3 boys; Jermaine (13), Donte’a (10), and JonQueal (6). Jermaine loves to play sports, play drums, and sing in the youth choir at church. Donte’a loves fishing, zoo animals, and playing outdoors. JonQueal loves playing sports, going to movies, and creating art. Most importantly, they love taking care of their mother by keeping her spirits up and praying together every night.
JoAnnette says her boys are her motivation for moving into a better neighborhood, where they will benefit from friendly neighbors and better schools. She currently works full-time at Imperial Manor Convalescent Center as a Certified Nurse Technician. She has worked part-time (2 weekends a month) at NHC Healthcare since November 2000. She also volunteers as the church nurse where her father is the minister.
When asked what she would like to say to her sponsor, she says that she first wants them to know that she is thanking God for them. She loves and appreciates their generosity of both time and money, and for caring enough to help her family. This dream come true would not be possible without them!
After her house is built, JoAnnette plans to go back to school to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. She has also set a goal plan for sending her boys to college. She is happy that her boys will come away from this opportunity with a new understanding of the importance of faith and determination. She says, “Faith has brought me here. Faith kept me focused on my goal of having a home for my boys and providing them a good life. I want them to know that they can become homeowners too, with faith and hard work.”
Volunteers Needed for Belmont Literacy Day
Belmont Literacy Day is Saturday, April 12th from 1:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m. The Massey School will host a reading circle, reading to children in K-5 to 6th grade. Volunteers are needed! Please contact Londa Morgan at londa@hardcastleconstruction.com or (615) 500-1443 for more information or to sign up.
For more information on the event click here.
Upcoming Power Lunch at CMT Productions
Save the Date! March 20 is the date of the next installment in the Massey Power Lunch series. We will be visiting CMT Productions. Watch your email for more details or email masseygrad@mail.belmont.edu to RSVP.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Power Lunch
Thank you to Lowell Perry Jr., CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee (BBBS), who was the speaker at our February Power Lunch. Mr. Perry offered an interesting glimpse into the nature of the non-profit sector as well as sharing the BBBS story with Massey students and alumni. BBBS serves approximately 5,000 children with 200 more on the waiting list. If you are interested in becoming a big brother or big sister, visit http://www.bbbsmt.org/home.