Letter From the Dean
With much to learn from this challenging time, one observation has become clear to me: Business Badgers are extraordinarily resilient. I’ve seen it in our students, who took their learning from the classroom to their couches with a can-do attitude. I’ve seen it in our faculty and staff, who transitioned 183 courses to alternative delivery in one week’s time and continue finding creative ways to serve our students and perform their work.
And, of course, I’ve seen it in our alumni. You all have your own stories of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected you—from helping your companies pivot, to facing job loss or other financial insecurity, to caring for kids who are home from school. Some of you are confronting the immediate reality of this virus as family, friends, and colleagues fall ill. Yet even in this trying time, there are real signs of strength within this community that knows how to rise above.
This is certainly not how I expected my first spring in Madison to unfold, but I keep finding bright spots. We welcomed 1,094 WSB graduates into alumnihood this month, each with their own stories of perseverance and a promising path ahead of them. We developed new opportunities for alumni engagement in the virtual environment, including topical webinars, expanded career resources, and online networking chats. And, we celebrated a Badger win in ESPN’s simulated NCAA men’s basketball tournament, which was almost as good as the real deal!
Indeed, much has changed in all of our lives since we started working on this publication, including many of the alumni featured in these stories. Though largely written before the pandemic, there is a thread of resilience that weaves through these pages. I suspect you’ll recognize it in champion wrestler Lee Kemp, Broadway producer Jennifer Melin Miller, and the rising professionals in our 8 to Watch feature.
Ultimately, I hope you recognize it in yourself, for I have come to view resilience as one of the defining characteristics of the WSB community. May your Badger grit carry you through this difficult and uncertain time. I wish you and your loved ones well.
Sincerely,
Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy Albert O. Nicholas Dean Wisconsin School of Business
