Mason School hosts 24th annual MBA conference for working professionals
In the fall of 2016, the Raymond A. Mason School of Business was selected to host the 2017 Part-Time MBA for Working Professionals Conference. The three-day event began on Wednesday, October 11 with a reception in the historic Wren building. The conference featured a series of professional speakers, corporate spotlights, networking events, and learning sessions specifically intended for leaders of Part-Time MBA programs. Held at William & Mary's Miller Hall, attendees came from all across the country and included representatives from distinguished colleges such as Georgetown University and the University of California Berkeley, among others.
Following a breakfast buffet in Brinkley Commons, guests received a warm welcome from the Mason School's Associate Dean of MBA and Executive Programs, Ken White. He outlined the theme of this year’s conference, Revolutionary Ideas. Innovating MBA Programs for Working Professionals, and highlighted the vital importance of innovation and communication in business education. "We want to use this conference as a platform to encourage the sharing of ideas," he said. "We want to ensure a bright future, not only for us, but for all future students.”
Dean of the business school, Larry Pulley, also addressed the audience to share his personal perspective on the Mason School's overarching principles. “Our purpose as a business school,” he said, “is to prepare our students for lives of success and achievement.” He believes the conference plays an important role in that process. "It provides fellow MBA academics with the opportunity to foster communication and facilitate the exchange of constructive thought and ideas," said Pulley.
Other speakers included:
- Katherine Acles Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs, Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University of Chicago
- Rodney Alsup, DBA, CPA, CITP Professor Emeritus, Founder MBA News Digest
- Kelly Crace, PhD Associate Vice President of Health and Wellness, William & Mary
- Kathleen Edwards Director of MBA Admissions, Goizueta Business School, Emory University
- Laura Gremmel Senior Instructional Designer, Fox School of Business, Temple University.
- Graham Henshaw Clinical Professor & Executive Director of Alan B. Miller Entrepreneurship Center, Raymond A. Mason School of Business, William & Mary
- Darin Kapanjie Associate Professor of Statistical Science and Managing Director of Online Learning Academic, Director of Online MBA, Part-Time MBA, Online BBA, Fox School of Business, Temple University
- Jillian Melton Director of Professional MBA Admissions, Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University
- James Olver Associate Professor of Marketing, Raymond A. Mason School of Business, William & Mary
- Leslie Petty Assistant Dean, Evening and Executive MBA Programs, University of Wisconsin - Madison
- Monica Powell Senior Associate Dean & Graduate Dean, Naveen Jindal School of Management, UT-Dallas
- Clifford Schultz, PhD Charles H. Kellstadt Professor of Marketing, Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University of Chicago
- Lynn Synder Director of Academic Resources & Student Affairs, Evening & Executive MBA Programs, Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin
- Dylan Stafford Assistant Dean & Director of Admissions, UCLA Anderson School of Management
- Layla Vela Associate Director, Professional MBA Admissions, Cox School of Business, Souther Methodist University
Sessions featured a variety of topics ranging from podcasting and crowdsourcing, to strategies for managing emerging trends, building effective study abroad programs, and understanding global perspective. Guests were also encouraged to attend panels to learn more about opportunities and issues from a student's perspective.
During the closing ceremonies, the University of Texas at Dallas was named as the 25th host of the annual conference, scheduled for the fall of 2018.
