A Letter From the Dean
Dear Alumni and Friends,
Forward. It’s our state motto, it’s part of the Wisconsin School of Business brand, it’s in the title of this magazine, and it’s the direction in which the School is continuing to move as we head toward a future full of promise.
I’ve seen that forward motion firsthand throughout my nearly 20 years with the School as a member of the faculty. I have served as chair of the Department of Management and Human Resources and I was founding director of the Strategic Human Resource Management specialization in the Wisconsin Full-Time MBA Program. I’m eager to keep us moving ahead as interim dean until Fall 2019, and I’m not alone in this effort. From a campus-wide strategic plan to enthusiastic support from our alumni and friends, there is a whole team working together to help WSB build on its strengths and find opportunities to further distinguish itself in the near future and the years to come.
There is much to build on, as 2017 showed us. We celebrated the 10th anniversary of the groundbreaking Wisconsin Naming Gift, which helped lead the way for many of the initiatives that have distinguished WSB in the past decade. Our BBA program continues to grow, which means even more of the best and brightest are entering the workforce. More than 2,700 BBA students are now enrolled at WSB, more than double what it was a decade ago. There have been continued investments in MBA applied learning experiences, particularly the launch of a redesigned Integrated Company Analysis capstone course. Our new donor-funded Learning Commons opens this spring, a reinvention of our library that will impact students’ learning and better prepare them for the future.
We are grateful for the support and generosity of our alumni and friends. In these pages you’ll read how your commitment has already helped transform the Wisconsin School of Business and move it into the future. That has always been the direction we’ve been headed and I’m excited to be part of what comes next.
Together Forward,
— Barry Gerhart Interim Albert O. Nicholas Dean of the Wisconsin School of Business
