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There is a saying attributed to the Chinese: May you live in
interesting times. The time between September and November 2008 was
among the most dynamic, interesting and exciting periods in the last
half century. We have witnessed the widespread collapse of global
financial markets, massive intervention by world governments in an
attempt to bail out banks and mortgage lenders, and the election of the
first African American as President of the United States.
It would have been great for the world to stay still while I took
over as dean, allowing me to work on exciting new initiatives that would
propel the Smith School of Business to the elite tier of business
schools.
But the world did not stand still, and nor is the Smith School. We
are actively working to provide expertise to policy-makers and
practitioners, and succor and support to distressed alumni, during these
interesting times.
We have already embarked on an aggressive mission to take faculty
expertise and thought leadership to important policy makers through
teach-ins and town hall meetings in College Park and Washington, D.C.
These events featured our world-class finance faculty, some of whom have
seen these issues from the inside, having worked at the FDIC and the
SEC. We are also expanding executive education offerings to senior
management at companies in Baltimore, Northern Virginia, around the
country and the world.
We are upgrading the career and placement services offered through
the Office of Career Management. In November, we launched a new
initiative to support alumni who were adversely affected by the
financial crisis, using both in-house resources and out-placement
partners. We want to connect alumni who need help with alumni who have
positions, and energize the eAlumni Network with a real purpose.
We also plan to create two centers that speak to the future of this
country and the planet. The Center on Financial Policy and Corporate
Governance will provide a platform for innovative research in finance
that interfaces with public policy, and produce dialogue with leading
decision makers in Wall Street and policy makers in the federal
government and international institutions. The Center for Social Value
Creation will bring interdisciplinary and market-based approaches to
solving the challenges of modern business while addressing environmental
and humanitarian needs.
These “interesting times” have come with the state of Maryland in
some distress and the university facing budget cuts. I will have to
marshal all my energy and skills, and also the innovation and
dedication of the Smith community, faculty, staff and students, to stay
our course and keep our eye on the promised land. I need the support of
our alumni, now more than ever.
Please help us expand our executive education reach, which is one way
of building brand as well as enhancing the revenue base to get us
through the financial crisis. I thank our Board of Visitors for
providing us with valuable advice and contacts.
Help us connect fellow alumni with new positions. I thank the Dean’s
Advisory Committee for providing much needed support, including opening
doors for our students and young alumni.
And please support our efforts to bring thought leadership to bear on
important issues through our new centers. We have already embarked on a
fund raising mission for these centers and need the support of our key
constituencies.
G. ANANDALINGAM, DEAN
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