Application deadline

Application deadline for the Summer 2011 group has been extended to Friday, May 13! This is a great opportunity for all students, no matter your education level, on how to identify and develop your unique skills, improve your resume, and master interviewing skills. Go to http://www.huntsman.usu.edu/greatworkgreatcareer to learn more and apply!

Huntsman graduates get the personal touch right to the end

Today I went to the Graduate Commencement and Hooding Ceremony and found, that in addition to the wise words of Byron Burnham, the vice provost and dean who spoke at the event, there was inspiration coming from the sidelines. Kathy McConkie, the assistant director our MBA program, was on the front row, leaning forward trying to get a picture of every single graduate.

I know Kathy to be a great photographer but what impressed me was that she was calling out to the graduates by name as they reached the end of the ramp to get them to pause so she could take their picture. It was clear as I saw their faces light up when she called them that they knew who she was.

It’s that kind of personal attention and sense of family that Kathy brings to our MBA program. If you know anything about Kathy McConkie, you know that this is one woman who can light up a room with her smile. I know, I know, that sounds corny, but it is true.

I told Konrad Lee, faculty chair and director of the MBA program, about what I saw and he wasn’t surprised.

“The positive impact Kathy has on our program and the lives of our students is amazing,” he said. “She reaches students in a very real way because of that personal connection she brings to her work.”

I took a bunch of pictures today and I got lucky when I caught the very moment our Jamie Andrus realized her shoe was caught in the ramp. Did you know she’s the assistant director of our Partners and Business program and was a good sport about the picture. She gave me permission to post it on Facebook. Check out our Facebook page to see that picture and to find a link to all the other pictures I posted into our Smug Mug account.

Check out this blog tomorrow for more on the advice that Dean Burnham shared with the graduates and for a link to more pictures.

Steve Eaton

(The photo in this blog is Kathy McConkie. You gotta love her.)

An award-winning day

Today I went to a luncheon that was held on the ninth floor of the George S. Eccles Business Building to recognize award-winning people within the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. This year we have earned some impressive awards. For example, Frank Caliendo is our Teacher of the Year but he also is being recognized with the Robins Award for Professor of the Year. Only one professor from all of USU earns that honor each year.

If any of you know Frank, who is in the photo just below this post, you know he is unbelievably smart and yet he'll always make time for you. He's exactly the kind of guy you want to see win an award. Very humble. Doesn't he look noble in this shot? The other person in the picture is Dean Douglas D. Anderson. He's the kind of guy you'd want to get an award from. He knows stuff. Lots of stuff.

Chris Martin, a student in economics and political science is this year’s Robins Award for Man of Year. This award is given annually to only one USU student who has made broad significant achievements and contributions to the university during the previous year. Chris is that student.

It seems like every time I open my inbox there’s news in there about someone at the Huntsman School of Business being recognized with an award. And they aren't trivial awards either. Do you think I should offer to put up everyone else’s awards on my wall? That would be very cool and impressive. It could be sort of a basement hall of fame?

Take this link to see some of the other awards or students, faculty and staff have earned this year. It’s an impressive list. http://bit.ly/m4IECq

Steve Eaton








(The guy pictured above is Brent Meacham. Today he was presented the "Legacy of Utah" award. Even though he's now a legacy, he's still very approachable.)

Job search tips

Future Huntsman MBA Student Katelyn Ericson wrote an article in The Deseret News which includes tips on finding a job after graduation. Here is an excerpt from that article:

"Your bags are packed, finals are completed and all you have left to do now is pick up your diploma. After four long years of tests and quizzes there’s only one question left to answer: Now what?

Let’s face it, with a wavering economy and tough competition, it is difficult for college graduates to find employment, even with good grades and experience. In the next few weeks, thousands of students from colleges across the United States will receive their diplomas without job offers or prospects.

Unfortunately, when finals are finally over, that’s when the real work begins."

You can read Katelyn's full article here.

School of Accountancy Spotlight

The School of Accountancy at the Huntsman School of Business has made some pretty impressive accomplishments. Here area a few facts about the School from our 2011 Annual Report:

• The Master of Accounting program has been offered for 30 years
• First time candidates taking all parts of the CPA exam saw a pass rate of 75 percent
• MAcc graduates have a job placement rate of greater than 90 percent
• The School of Accountancy has 300 undergraduate students
• MAcc students have an average GMAT score of 623

See why these students of the School of Accountancy chose to study accounting:

The beginnings of a new building and a new blog

A few weeks ago Governor Gary Herbert came and signed a bill that’s going to make our new building a reality. There were speeches and lots of gratitude was expressed. Everyone posed for pictures when the official signing took place and I’m now wondering, will those pictures end up in a display case in the new building someday as historical artifacts? I believe we witnessed a bit of history unfolding.

It was a great day to celebrate and I’m sure there were some people who wondered why we didn’t go right over to the site of the new building with golden shovels and get to work. That’s where I come in.

It’s going to be my job to help us all figure out what we should be putting into this new building that will be nearly 100,000 square feet. Sound simple?

This might be a good time for me to share the toilet-paper story. An employee came into my office just days after the signing to say that he has an unusual item on his bucket list. He wants to rise to a position of such influence that he will be able to select the kind of toilet paper dispensers that go into a new building.

Apparently, he’s been bugged once too many times by malfunctioning gizmos that withhold toilet paper at the very moment it is needed.

I had to explain that such decisions will fall under the purview of USU Facilities. My focus will be of a more academic nature. I think it is a foreshadowing, however, of what is to come as we entertain ideas, study out the possibilities and figure out exactly what kinds of classes, resources and meeting rooms will be needed in the new building. Everyone is going to have ideas about what our new home should include. The process, done properly, takes months.

As that work unfolds, I intend to keep you updated via this new blog I am starting. And I want to hear from you. I’m guessing many of you will have a lot to say.

I just hope that no one else comes to me with toilet paper issues again.

Ken Snyder

Miles Kimball talks about the economics of happiness

I just got back from hearing an economist, Miles Kimball, talk about happiness and economics. It was interesting to hear happiness talked about based on what research has shown, not just on what people theorize about what ought to bring happiness.

Figuring out just what makes people happy is a bit more complicated that I originally thought.

Just because people are better off financially doesn’t mean that they will become happier people. One study showed that while, overall, income levels have been going up, people aren’t reporting that they are getting happier at the same rate.

Dr. Kimball also said, however, that there are correlations between happiness and income levels.

“Basically money does by happiness consistently,” he said the research shows. “To be clear, it doesn’t buy a lot of happiness.”

If I understood him right, he said that there are trends that show that those who are making more money report they do feel happier, while people with less money, over time, are reporting that they are less happy.

And not everyone is motivated by a desire to be happier. Sometimes they are willing to sacrifice things like sleep and family time to achieve greater social rank or more money.

Dr. Kimball, who is the Jon M. Huntsman Presidential Visiting Professor, has come here from the University of Michigan where he is a professor of economics. Today he spoke to a nearly packed room on the ninth floor of the George S. Eccles Business Building.

Some of his findings probably won’t surprise you. For an example, he cited research that shows that getting enough sleep, exercise and eating well can make you happier. So can spending time with friends and getting involved with an engrossing hobby. Having a positive attitude, being grateful and forgiving can also make you happier.

He covered a lot of ground and shared some fascinating research. If you are interested in an audio recording of what he said, send me an e-mail at steve.eaton@usu.edu.

Steve Eaton