Message from the Dean
Douglas Anderson
Welcome to the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business .
As of December 3, 2007, that is our new name and it’s one we like a lot.
That’s due, in part, to the fact that this new name helps us communicate to the world some of the exciting things that have been going on here at Utah State University.
Jon M. Huntsman is founder and chairman of Huntsman Corporation, a global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and commodity chemicals. He is also widely recognized as one of America’s foremost philanthropists.
On Dec. 3, Jon and Karen Huntsman announced that they were giving $25 million to the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, in addition to nearly $1 million more that is to be used as scholarship support for USU students from Armenia.
He is investing in this school at a time when we have tremendous momentum and our relationship with him can only accelerate our progress. His name stands for excellence and integrity. We are proud and grateful to have his name linked with ours.
The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business has become a professional school of distinction, a career accelerator for our students and an engine of growth for the state and region.
Let me tell you about some of the changes we’ve already made.
It was just over a year ago leaders from the Huntsman School of Business met to set some priorities. I'm not sure anyone realized at the time how important those initial decisions would become to the future of the college.
We have decided to focus our efforts on four areas that we think are vital for the success of our students. We are helping our students become adept at navigating the global economy, at developing an entrepreneurial mindset and at becoming strong ethical leaders. There will also be increased emphasis on helping students more efficiently analyze the type of quantitative and financial data businesses use to make decisions.
We are making significant progress in each of these areas. Just ask any of the 42 students who were a part of the South American Study Abroad Program last summer, or the 22 students who participated in a European field study program this last fall. In each case, our students participated in an experience that gave them deep insights into our global neighborhood, while they developed their leadership and entrepreneurial instincts.
We have hired seven new professors to work with us in Logan. We cannot remember the last time when we added seven new faculty members in a single year. Three of these professors were hired to strengthen our entrepreneurial focus; one will join our Department of Economics; one will strengthen our School of Accountancy; and two have joined our Department of Management Information Systems.
And this is just the beginning.
We intend to make ethical decision-making a part of every course our students take. This year's "required reading" for the Huntsman School of Business will be Jon M. Huntsman's book, "Winners Never Cheat: Everyday Values We Learned as Children (But May Have Forgotten.)"
There are other changes rumbling about in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business , however, including some that have to do with bricks and mortar.
I invite you to come to the George S. Eccles Business Building to take a look at our main auditorium. Our student-led Business Council asked that we fix up that dark, well-used room. Now there are new seats, carpet and lighting. The acoustics are much better too. Stop in and take a look.
In addition, there are many more building improvements in the works. This summer we will close the first three floors of the building for a $2 million building renovation—half of which has been generously donated by the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation. Students who come back in the fall of 2008 will see some impressive changes in our building.
Finally, we intend to announce soon the launch of a new campaign to garner the funds for a brand new business building. With all the changes in programs and additions to faculty that we are experiencing, we simply need new space.
In the business of improving the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business , our progress will be determined by our own willingness to stretch and to focus our efforts. I have no doubt that as we do that exciting things will be happening. I hope you will choose to be a part of that.