The summer months are rapidly disappearing, giving way to the great anticipation of another school year with new faces, new names, new aspirations and opportunities. Before I start sharing our plans for another academic year, I would like to use this issue of the Byrd Business Review to report on the work accomplished by the business school over the past few months. In addition, I want to express my gratitude for the engaging spirit and cooperative attitude provided to me during my first year as dean of the business school. This month marks my first anniversary at Shenandoah University, and I am honored and delighted to be a part of this fine institution. Expressions of support have been received in many forms - personal visits, letters, e-mail messages and telephone calls. Based on what you have shared with me, I know many people care deeply about the future of our school. Keep communicating with me, and let me know how we can serve you better. So much has been accomplished, but so much lies ahead. Working together, we will meet the challenges before us.


W. Randy Boxx
rboxx@su.edu

Charles J. Pineno Receives Scholarship Award

Dr. Charles J. Pineno, Lillian Cook Braun chair in accounting, received the 2005 Byrd Award for Outstanding Scholarship. The evaluation process reviewed the scholarship produced during the previous five years including refereed journal articles, conference proceedings and presentations, monographs, books and more. Capturing this award during his first year at the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business, Dr. Pineno's productivity was truly inspiring. He says his philosophy of scholarship is to undertake research that is applicable to course content, classroom teaching and educational concerns, such as curriculum and student learning. This summer, he had MBA students reading and presenting some of his own published articles on such topics as the balanced scorecard and budgeting. The examples related to relevant topics covered in the classroom and helped emphasize, reinforce and expand student learning. Many topics covered in textbooks do not give detailed and practical examples as well as cutting-edge and in-depth applications of a concept with related subjects such as statistics and decision making. Pineno's approach is intended to help students become more creative and competitive leaders.

Byrd Research Colloquium

The new Byrd Research Colloquium, which began this summer, provides a forum for faculty to discuss their current and future research agenda. During the three sessions held this summer, faculty members agreed the Colloquium was an ideal means for them to congregate, discuss works in progress and receive feedback in a positive, collaborative environment. Future plans call for the Colloquium to be held once a month during the fall and spring semesters. In addition, based on a proposal from Dr. Clifford F. Thies, Lindsay professor of economics, the business school plans to launch the business school's Working Paper Series this fall. Papers will be authored or coauthored by a member of the business school faculty or by a student in the school. Papers accepted for the Working Paper Series will go through an editorial process involving internal peer review.

Sonia H. Manzoor – New Faculty Hire

Dr. Sonia H. Manzoor, a new visiting assistant professor of economics, will be teaching in the quantitative and international business areas in Winchester and at the Northern Virginia Campus in Leesburg. Manzoor has a Ph.D. in economics from Texas A&M University, an MBA from the University of Southern Mississippi, and bachelor's and master's degrees in economics from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. She brings to the business school a strong commitment to quality teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels as well as outstanding research skills.

European GEL Program

John Schaefer and Justin Bradd accompanied Dean Randy Boxx to the UK May 10 through 28, participating in a Global Experiential Learning Program. The course examined different aspects of management in an international context. It showed how cultural factors influence behavior in the workplace and examined the skills needed to manage across national borders. Morning and afternoon classroom discussions were supplemented with field trips to international business headquarters - Smith's Group, Bank of England, Harrods, Lloyds of London and the British Library. In addition, special field trips and discussions were held at Airbus UK in Bristol, England, Oxford University (where class was held in the King's Church College quadrangle), Hyde Park, and an extended three-day cultural enrichment trip to Paris. There is absolutely no better way for students to understand how business is conducted throughout the world than by being physically located in foreign settings. Plans are now being formulated for next summer's program.

International Business Residency

Students pursuing the weekend MBA at Shenandoah's Northern Virginia Campus in Leesburg have a decided advantage over students in Northern Virginia who are pursuing an "ordinary" MBA degree from one of our competing schools. Dr. Dan Pavsek and a group of our MBA students toured the People's Republic of China this summer. This trip exposed our students to the unique business and cultural features of China including its economic, financial, political and social structures. Students met with business leaders and observed first-hand how others manage their enterprises in Tianjin, Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai. The group visited many historical sites including the Great Wall, Ming Tomb, Forbidden City, Heavenly Temple and the Terra Cotta Museum.

Alumni Student Recruiter

Our alumni frequently ask this question: How can I be more effective and add value to the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business? Without hesitation, we say: Get actively involved as an alumni student recruiter. Alumni possess a wealth of information and experience about the business program at Shenandoah University, so now is the time to share it. You can introduce the university to potential students and their parents through the eyes of participants who have lived and breathed its educational programs and related experiences. You can represent the business school at various recruitment events and activities, and you can identify and maintain contact with prospective SU students who live in your community. You can let us know what role we need to play in matriculating these students into the business school. The alumni student recruitment program is an important way you can help your alma mater by extending its reach throughout the state and the region. Please consider helping us in this important capacity. For information about becoming an alumni student recruiter, call the Alumni Office at (540) 665-4511.