Dear friends,
Formerly vacant sidewalks and pathways full of students who have to be somewhere—even if they aren’t sure where “somewhere” might be.
Beautiful fall weather on every one of our WSU campuses putting a bounce into people’s steps.
The buzz of a football Saturday and the band tuning up on the practice field.
These are some of my favorite things about the start of a new academic year. This fall, in particular, the Carson College of Business welcomes students back to our campuses with a sense of gratitude and renewal.
I am thankful for the ingenuity, dedication, and hard work that allowed us to continue the college’s mission of teaching, research, and engagement with the business community during a global pandemic. I’m also excited about the return to in-person instruction.
In this issue of eDividend, we celebrate the accomplishments of the past year of distance learning while looking forward to the 2021-2022 school year.
The college’s acclaimed School of Hospitality Business Management was recently ranked number two in the nation and number seven in the world by the Academic Ranking of World Universities. The ranking reflects the caliber of faculty research in hospitality and tourism, including the prolific output of Professor Dogan Gursoy, who was recently recognized as a top scholar in the field.
The work of our doctoral students is also a contributing factor. Oscar Chi published 15 research articles during his time at the Carson College. This fall, the newly minted PhD will be teaching the University of Florida’s first class on artificial intelligence in the hospitality industry.
In this issue, you’ll also meet Brighton Maughan, founder of Unkle Drew’z Ginger Sauce and the grand-prize winner of the WSU Business Plan competition. Maughan used the prize money to produce the first commercial batches of the sauce, which he’s selling online.
You’ll learn how a team of MBA students bonded over the challenge of creating a fully developed business plan for their capstone project. And you’ll hear why Tim Mulligan, Vulcan Inc.’s former chief human resources officer, continues to give back to the college.
At the Carson College, teaching and learning extend beyond classroom instruction. Mentoring, internships, and leadership opportunities help our students develop their potential and prepare for fulfilling careers.
“This environment was more than I could have asked for,” says Perebotie Amughan, a recent graduate whose Carson College education allowed her to realize her dream of working for a Fortune 500 company.
As alumni and friends of the Carson College, we invite you to be part of our continuing story. By volunteering your time, using your voice to promote the college, and your gifts of financial resources, we are partners in helping students prepare for the workplace while enlarging the talent pool available to employers. As we work toward our goal of becoming the business school of choice in the Pacific Northwest, we are touching lives and strengthening the region’s economy.
Go Cougs!
Chip Hunter, Dean