Flex MBA Fifth in the Nation for the Third Consecutive Year;
Undergrad Program Moves Up
The College's Flex MBA program was ranked fifth nationally for the third consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report in its 2004 survey of the best graduate schools. This marks the eighth consecutive year that the College has been recognized by the magazine's annual survey. Robinson is the only business school from the Southeast in the top 10.
The undergraduate program was ranked among the top 50 nationally and top 25 among public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The College advanced eight positions from 47th to 39th overall (28th to 24th among public universities).
In addition, two of Robinson's graduate programs moved up in this year's rankings - computer information systems (CIS) now ranks 10th in the nation (12th last year) and health services administration ranks 26th in the nation (35th last year).
The 2004 undergraduate survey ranks Robinson's risk management and insurance program second overall (first among public universities), management information systems program 10th overall (sixth among public universities) and real estate program 10th (eighth among public universities).
Dean Harris attributes the rankings success to the "high quality of our programs, faculty and student body."
Pace Quickens in Preparation for First Alumni Awards Event
James Copeland, Robinson Global Scholar (see related story on this page) and former CEO of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, will chair Robinson's Inaugural Alumni Awards program on November 18 at the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead. This year's co-chairs are Rick Lenny, chairman of Hershey Foods Corporation; Ben Dyer, chairman and CEO of Intellimedia Commerce, Inc.; and Suzanne Donner, director of KPMG. Eight categories of awards will be presented: Lifetime Achievement, Service to Robinson, Outstanding Young Alumnus/Alumna, Technology Leadership, Community Service, Global Business, Entrepreneurship and Honorary Alumnus/Alumna. A selection committee will be appointed by the dean and composed of alumni representatives, members of the College Board of Advisors and faculty/staff members. For further information or to register for this first-ever event, consult the Robinson web site at robinson.gsu.edu.
Robinson's Economic Forecasting Center and Director Rajeev Dhawan Receive Accolades
The Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank, in a study published in its second-quarter Economic Review, found the Blue Chip survey a compilation of more than 50 economists' forecasts published monthly by New York-based Aspen Publishers more accurate than 69 percent of all other forecasts between 1986 and 2001. That's the best record among the 104 investment firms, universities and private research groups included in the study.
Robinson's Economic Forecasting Center ranked highest among universities in the study with a 58.2 percent rating. The University of Michigan (56.9 percent) and UCLA (49.9 percent) were second and third, respectively.
In another survey just released by the Bank One Economic Outlook Center in the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, Rajeev Dhawan, director of Robinson's Economic Forecasting Center, was named the most accurate forecaster in the area of total nonfarm employment. He was the only academic to be honored.
The National Consensus Forecast of Labor Employment, published quarterly in the Blue Chip Job Growth Update, is the only consensus forecast of job growth in the nation. The forecast was assembled three years ago by the Bank One Economic Outlook Center to provide key economic information to corporations, government, economic development agencies and the public.
Dhawan's category, total nonfarm employment, is typically referred to as job growth in media reports.
Copeland Named Robinson Global Scholar
James Copeland, recently retired CEO of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, has joined the Robinson College of Business as Robinson Global Scholar. Copeland, a Robinson College graduate, was the architect of Deloitte's global strategy and was responsible for its U.S. and international operations.
As a Robinson Global Scholar, Copeland will participate in lectures on various aspects of global business within the College's nationally and internationally ranked MBA, Executive MBA (EMBA) and undergraduate programs. He will participate in special lectures for the public and faculty on global changes in corporate governance, business ethics and international accounting standards. Additionally, Copeland will serve as a senior advisor for the College's Center for Enterprise Risk Management and Assurance Services (CERMAS) and will work to bring internationally recognized speakers to Robinson.
"Jim brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the College," said Dean Sidney Harris. "In addition to his stellar reputation and business acumen, Jim's moral code of conduct will serve as a daily reminder to our students that integrity and ethics are vital to a successful career."
Copeland has emerged as a leading spokesperson for the accounting and auditing profession, frequently appearing on television and in newspapers and magazines. He has also addressed Congress, as well as leaders of business and industry at prestigious forums worldwide, and offered his ideas on reinforcing ethics, enhancing investor protection and ensuring intelligent reform of the profession.
He has served on the Board of Directors of the September 11th Fund, the New York City Partnership and Investment Fund, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S.-Japan Business Council. He is a member of the Council of the World Economic Forum and has been a member of the Society of International Business Fellows since 1983.
Copeland is the second faculty member to hold the Robinson Global Scholar title. The other is Bob Oxnam, president emeritus of the Asian Society in New York and one of the world's foremost experts on the Far East.
Hall of Fame Ceremony Glitters with Business, Civic Leaders
Never before has the College's Hall of Fame dinner had a cast this well known. One former president of the United States, two senators, a former governor and the mayor of the city of Atlanta were all part of the program. Of course former president Clinton and former senators Zell Miller and Sam Nunn were in tribute videos, but Mayor Shirley Franklin was present and so was former governor (and University System Board of Trustees chair) Joe Frank Harris, who served as a presenter for Synovus chairman and CEO Jimmy Blanchard.
TechLinks magazine called it an "elegant affair." The Atlanta Business Chronicle featured the honorees both online and in its print edition, and Business-to-Business/Catalyst also covered the event. Several in the record crowd of more than 450 praised the quality of the honorees (Blanchard, developer John Aderhold and executive recruiter and former Clinton administration official Veronica Biggins).
MAX Awards: IN ZONE Brands Takes Home the Gold
More than 300 people were on hand for the 11th Annual MAX Awards held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Buckhead. IN ZONE Brands, an interactive beverage company, was the grand winner for its BellyWashers and Tummy Tickler brands for kids, (a juice drink in a reusable toy-like bottle with a collectible assortment of the hottest kids characters).
Other winners were the Atlanta Falcons Total Marketing Program and The Coca-Cola Company for its Fridge Pack.
New Chairs Appointed
Professors Irene M. Duhaime and Kenneth L. Bernhardt have been named to head two of the College's academic departments. In addition, Associate Dean Jane Mutchler will return to her role as director of the School of Accountancy. Duhaime, professor of management and Zwerner Chair of Entrepreneurship and Family Business, will chair the Management Department and Bernhardt, Taylor E. Little, Jr., Professor of Marketing and Regents' Professor, will chair the Marketing Department.
Mutchler, who was recently appointed president of the American Accounting Association, is returning to a post she held for four years (1999-2003). She will remain in her role as associate dean for the remainder of the year.
Dean Lectures in West Indies
Dean Sidney Harris lectured at the University of the West Indies on "New Ways to be Flexible and Profit from Agility." He also presented the topic to a group of executives from the West Indian Tobacco Company. The dean stressed that businesses have to experiment and be willing to reinvent themselves in today's highly competitive corporate environment. The presentation was a modified version of one given to the Conference Board in New York last year.
