Blog@Case Topics: Weatherhead School of Management

NSF Supports Case Western Reserve University's IDEAL

2009-11-18T15:25:10Z

Widened Effort Encourages Career Advancement of Women and Underrepresented Minority Men in Sciences and Engineering

A program at Case Western Reserve University to encourage career advancement of women and underrepresented minority men in sciences and engineering is expanding to five public institutions of higher education through a three-year, nearly $1 million National Science Foundation grant.

Institutions Developing Excellence in Academic Leadership (IDEAL) brings together Case Western Reserve and five public research universities across Northern Ohio: Bowling Green State University, Cleveland State University, Kent State University, the University of Akron and the University of Toledo. The goal is to foster environments conducive to recruiting, advancing and retaining women and underrepresented minority faculty in science and engineering (S&E).

"This new grant gives us a wonderful opportunity to share lessons learned with other Ohio institutions," Case Western Reserve President Barbara R. Snyder said. "Along the way, I am confident that our own faculty will gain new knowledge and understanding regarding how we can further these efforts on our own campus, as well."

Federal Stimulus Funding Flows to Case Western Reserve University's Research

2009-10-09T16:44:29Z

109 Awards Granted So Far Worth About $49 Million

Case Western Reserve University, as of Friday, Oct. 9, has received 109 federal stimulus awards worth about $49 million for research addressing a wide array of public needs and aiming to enhance economic development and job creation in Northeast Ohio.

As the federal government neared the start of its new fiscal year Oct. 1, Case Western Reserve had been certified for nearly 100 awards and has added several more in early October. More awards are likely on the way soon. In just seven months, the university has submitted nearly 700 stimulus funding proposals.

"More federal money means more research results that can be commercialized, creating businesses and jobs in Northeast Ohio," said Mark Coticchia, Case Western Reserve University's vice president for research and technology management, "but you may not see those research results for several years."

The university, among the leading academic institutions in Ohio for stimulus-backed endeavors, is successfully tapping large pools of stimulus funding available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the ARRA. Funding has come mostly from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

Recent Graduate Wants to Make Her Mark in Cleveland, Contribute to Region

2009-07-02T18:23:47Z

Emily Fox has no plans to leave Cleveland now that she has graduated from Case Western Reserve University. After three years, she left campus with the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Master of Science in Social Administration (M.S.S.A.), and a certificate in nonprofit management.

Fox has lived in the area since the age of 13 when her family moved to Shaker Heights from San Francisco. The recent social work graduate wants to be part of the solution to rebuild the city instead of taking flight to other places.

"Cleveland is a place that needs people. I like the challenges it offers," she says.

Intersections Symposium to Feature Research of More than 400 Undergraduates

2009-04-16T18:30:25Z

More than 400 Case Western Reserve University undergraduates are participating in the annual Intersections: SOURCE Undergraduate Symposium and Poster Session from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, April 17, in Thwing Center. The campus community is invited to stop by to view some of the innovative and creative research being conducted by undergraduates. The projects represent numerous academic disciplines.

"The purpose of Intersections is to provide an opportunity for the campus community to see and learn about the work of our undergraduate students involved in faculty mentored research and creative projects. I appreciate these students showing their work and their faculty mentors who have worked closely with them," said Sheila Pedigo, director of the Support of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE) office at Case Western Reserve University.

Research ShowCASE to Feature Dozens of Interactive Displays

2009-04-10T19:04:15Z

Although Research ShowCASE is known for its hundreds of poster displays, the event also features interactive displays. The Case Western Reserve and local communities are invited to check them out during this year's event, which takes place Thursday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Veale Convocation Center.

Go online for a full schedule of events.

"A record-number of researchersâ€”more than 600â€”from Case Western Reserve University and its affiliates will celebrate a broad range of ground-breaking studies," says Cindy Barker, director of Research ShowCASE 2009, which is expected to draw several thousand people during the daylong event.

Of those hundreds, dozens will be interactive projects. Below are just a few that will be on display:

Senior Class Gift Leaves Sustainable Legacy

2009-04-08T18:36:43Z

The 2009 Senior Class Gift Campaign officially kicked off its fundraising effort during Grad Fair, launching a series of events that will allow the class of 2009 to leave an enduring legacy on campus and express its appreciation for Case Western Reserve University. The campaign strives to show seniors the impact that private gifts have on the university and to increase participation in the tradition of giving at Case Western Reserve.

In the spirit of sustainability, gifts to the 2009 Senior Class Gift Campaign will help beautify the Case Western Reserve campus by purchasing trees to adorn the Binary Walkway. The committee also hopes to purchase benches made of recycled plastic to provide seating around the Michelson-Morley Fountain in front of Yost Hall.

"I'm beginning to comprehend the relationship between the university and its alums, and how that change will affect us for years to come," says Beth Bai, a member of the 2009 Senior Class Gift Committee. "College is supposed to be the best four years of one's life, filled with memories of friends and adventures. It seems natural to want to give back to a place that was the setting for many of our stories."

While the committee took advantage of the St. Patrick's Day holiday to begin raising awareness of the "green" theme during a Cupcake Kickoff that featured green-frosted treats, Grad Fair provided an opportunity to formally launch the campaign to all graduating seniors. Between the two events, campaign has gotten off to a great start, and has already raised $900.

Case Western Reserve Students Contribute to Rebuilding Efforts in New Orleans

2009-03-06T18:12:30Z

Have survivors of Hurricane Katrina been forgotten?

Not by 20 students from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Weatherhead School of Management, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences and the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations. They plan to pick up hammers and nails—and a few shovels and hoes—over spring break, March 8-15, when they return to New Orleans to continue efforts to rebuild the city in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The students will volunteer for New Orleans City Park.

Undergraduate Accounting Program Among Nation's Best

2009-02-11T19:09:09Z

The recent Public Accounting Report's annual survey of accounting professors ranks Case Western Reserve University's undergraduate accounting program 24th best in the country.

It's the latest for the program in being recognized as an undergraduate leader. In the fall, the program was ranked 13th by Business Week magazine's "Undergraduate Specialty Programs" rankings.

Local Couple Donates $7.5 Million to Weatherhead School of Management

2009-02-04T21:26:13Z

Fund will provide support for Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business

Case Western Reserve University is pleased to announce a $7.5 million commitment from Fairmount Minerals President and CEO, Charles D. Fowler '90 and his wife, Charlotte, to support Sustainable Enterprise initiatives at the Weatherhead School of Management. This gift will add significantly to the university's ongoing efforts in Sustainable Business and Social Entrepreneurship. Mr. Fowler is a graduate of the Weatherhead Executive MBA program and a member of Case's Board of Trustees.

"We are deeply grateful to Char and Chuck Fowler for this gift," President Barbara R. Snyder said. "It will make a measurable impact on Weatherhead's ability to advance knowledge and understanding regarding these ideas, which in turn will positively impact practices around the world."

The Char and Chuck Fowler Fund will champion the following specific objectives—the establishment of a chaired professorship in Sustainable Enterprise, support for research and the creation of teaching material, and the operation of The Fowler Center for Sustainable Enterprise.

"Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business are the lasting and most effective means of improving lives around the world and reducing poverty," said Mr. Fowler. "We need a collaborative effort from business and business schools to make this happen, and it is my belief that Weatherhead is positioned perfectly to serve as a catalyst in that partnership."

Mr. Fowler has long championed the importance of Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business in his professional activities. In 2007, he delivered the Weatherhead commencement address during which he focused on the capability of businesses "doing well by doing good." His company, Fairmount Minerals, is the third largest industrial sand producer in the United States with 25 facilities in 15 states. It has been recognized as a leader of Corporate Social Responsibility by the American Chamber of Commerce. According to Mr. Fowler's business plan, it's easy to see why.

"We follow the 3Ps—people, planet, and prosperity," he said. "Some call it the triple bottom line. Every decision is made with the 3Ps in mind and all 3Ps must be satisfied."

Fairmount Minerals, in 2006, endowed a chair in Social Entrepreneurship at Weatherhead, currently held by Professor David Cooperrider, creator of Appreciative Inquiry, a large-group methodology created through research at Weatherhead and used to accelerate change within business. The company has also been a past sponsor of the Business as an Agent of World Benefit Global Forum which brings hundreds of participants to Cleveland to identify and leverage new solutions with the potential to make a positive impact on societal change.

"There is a desperate need across the board for teaching materials that focus on Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship," said Mohan Reddy, dean of the Weatherhead School of Management. "We at Weatherhead pride ourselves on being one of select group of schools to launch a curriculum centered on these themes. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler's generosity and insight on these critical issues will help us propel our learning to the next level and spur continue progress. We really could not have done this without their tireless support."

For more information contact Jason Tirotta, 216.368.6890.

Local Couple Donates $7.5 Million to Weatherhead School of Management

2009-02-04T19:49:39Z

Fund will provide support for Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business

Weatherhead Foundations Make $2 Million Commitment to Support Management and Medicine at Case Western Reserve

2009-01-22T20:11:15Z

Gifts support initiatives at Weatherhead School and Dorothy Jones Professorship in Medicine

The Weatherhead Foundation and the Albert J. Weatherhead III Foundation, headed by Albert J. Weatherhead III, emeritus trustee and friend of Case Western Reserve University, have donated $2 million to the university to further fund respective endowments at the Weatherhead School of Management and the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

The Weatherhead School has received $1.5 million to support the school's initiatives. The remainder of the gift supports the existing Dorothy Jones Weatherhead Professorship in Medicine, an endowed professorship named in memory of Weatherhead's mother. George Kikano, M.D., chair of the department of family medicine, currently holds the position.

"It was 29 years ago when I first lent my support to the Weatherhead School of Management," Weatherhead said. "Throughout this time, I have seen the school evolve into a preeminent leader in business education both nationally and internationally. This progress, along with Dr. Kikano's continued good work and President Snyder's forward-looking approach, has motivated me to make these commitments."

Weatherhead is the chairman and CEO of Cleveland-based Weatherhead Industries, an umbrella firm for the various foundations started by his father in 1919. It is the parent company of Weatherchem, a private manufacturer of plastic closures for food, spice, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products.

The Weatherhead Foundation, of which he has served as president since 1987, is a family organization that has generously supported higher education for more than 20 years. Weatherhead also directs the Albert J. Weatherhead III Foundation, a private charitable foundation he started in 1975.

In 1980, Case Western Reserve named the School of Management in honor of four generations of Weatherhead family members in recognition of their leadership in business and industry. Additionally, the foundation also endows professorships in the schools of management and law and ranks among the nation's most generous, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

"This is an extraordinary example of how supporters of the university can make a lasting impact, not just on the schools and programs they support, but also on the university and our region as a whole," said Case Western Reserve President Barbara R. Snyder. "We are very grateful to Albert Weatherhead, his wife Celia, and the entire Weatherhead family for their continued commitment to our initiatives."

In addition to his professional and philanthropic work, Weatherhead is also the author of The Power of Adversity: Tough Times Can Make You Stronger, Wiser and Better , a book about regarding personal and professional setbacks as opportunities.

For more information contact Jason Tirotta, 216.368.6890.

Weatherhead Foundations Make $2 Million Commitment to Support Management and Medicine at Case Western Reserve

2009-01-20T16:42:25Z

Gifts support initiatives at Weatherhead School and Dorothy Jones Professorship in Medicine

Case Western Reserve Professor David Cooperrider Speaks to Management Educators at World Conference in New York

2008-12-16T18:14:36Z

Out of the gloom of the current world-wide financial crisis is an opportunity for business and management educators to prepare future business leaders through social responsibility and sustainable initiatives. Case Western Reserve University Professor David Cooperrider delivered this message at the United Nations' Global Forum for Responsible Management Education in New York City, December 4-5.

Cooperrider, the Fairmount Minerals Professor of Social Entrepreneurship and director of the Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit (BAWB) at the Weatherhead School of Management, delivered the opening address to over 300 attendees at the "Global Forum for Responsible Management Education."

"Sustainable value creation is the business opportunity of the 21st century," Cooperrider said. "It's also the biggest business school opportunity of our time."

New Initiative Helps Women Staff Develop Leadership Skills

2008-12-12T18:25:07Z

Although Women in Leadership Week recently wrapped up at Case Western Reserve University, eight women who were accepted into the new Women Staff Leadership Development Initiative (WSLDI) will spend the rest of the academic year gaining first-hand knowledge about becoming future leaders on campus.

The WSLDI's inaugural class consists of Deborah Fatica, Case School of Engineering; Maya Gilbert, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences; Katie Hanna, Flora Stone Mather Center for Women; Rebecca Kahl, School of Medicine; Jennifer Nye, Weatherhead School of Management; Julie Petek, Office of Undergraduate Studies; Olivia Seifert, Weatherhead School of Management; and Tracy Wilson-Holden, Office of Research Compliance.

Case Western Reserve University Earns 2008 Pillar Award for Community Service

2008-12-11T16:40:32Z

Case Western Reserve University, which offers over 500 community outreach programs for nearly 600 community partners, is being recognized with a 2008 Pillar Award for Community Service. This is the first time the university has received the award, according to Latisha James, director of the Center for Community Partnerships.

Developed by Smart Business Network and Medical Mutual, the Pillar Award honors businesses and individuals dedicated to making Northeast Ohio a better place to live. The Pillar Award embraces a broad definition of community service, including charitable giving, volunteerism, pro bono work and other forms of giving back.

The university—along with other award winners—will be honored at a ceremony this evening. Case Western Reserve President Barbara R. Snyder is scheduled to accept the award on behalf of the university. In addition, winners are featured in the December issue of Smart Business Cleveland and Smart Business Akron/Canton, on newsstands now.

Faculty Committee Seeking Feedback on Potential Change to Governance of Undergraduate Education

2008-11-24T17:00:52Z

On the recommendation of an ad hoc committee of Case Western Reserve University's Faculty Senate, undergraduate school leadership and student government are reviewing recommendations to streamline the current model of faculty oversight for undergraduate education and life.

The University Faculty has delegated governance of matters related to undergraduate education to a separate body, the University Undergraduate Faculty (UUF). With no authority other than to advise, the UUF has seen its effectiveness wane, Kenneth Loparo, professor of electrical engineering and computer science and chair of the senate's ad hoc committee on undergraduate education and life, reported to the Faculty Senate.

"The goal is, first of all, to make governance of undergraduate education and life more effective and, secondly, better connected with broader faculty governance—including that of research and graduate education throughout the university—while ensuring the process remains essentially democratic," said Glenn Starkman, professor of physics and chair of the Faculty Senate.

Weatherhead School Of Management's 35th David A. Bowers Economic Forecast Luncheon Set For Dec. 5

2008-11-10T14:51:59Z

Case Western Reserve University banking and finance senior lecturer Sam Thomas will look at recent business and financial news and events and provide insight to the aforementioned questions and more during the 35th annual David A. Bowers Economic Forecast Luncheon, beginning at 11:30 a.m., Friday, December 5, at the Marriott at Key Center, 127 Public Square in Cleveland.

Thomas will provide an unbiased, academic viewpoint to explain what''s happening with the economy and the current global crisis and make predictions for the 2009 economic outlook, including what possible responses may come from governmental authorities and fiscal policymakers following the recent elections. He is an expert in and teaches courses in corporate finance, investments and international finance at the university.

Case Western Reserve University Sees Significant Improvement in Women in Science and Engineering

2008-11-03T19:33:57Z

Case Western Reserve University has advanced the number of women teaching—and in leadership positions—in the sciences and engineering by more than 17 percent over the last four years.

In addition to the 17.3 percent increase of women in the sciences in engineering university-wide, Case Western Reserve—the first private university awarded a spot in the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) ADVANCE Institutional Transformation program—reports other significant changes as a result of the $3.5 million grant:

Case Western Reserve senior shares thoughts and experiences of semester abroad and Case-Fisk Partnership

2008-11-03T15:04:15Z

Senior Camille Thornton runs out of adjectives describing her experience as the first Case Western Reserve University student to participate in the student exchange component of the school's partnership with Fisk University.

"It was simply amazing, and incredible experience," she says of her 15-week term at the Nashville, Tennessee-based historically black college (HBCU). "I know a lot of students choose places like France to study abroad, but I'm very happy to have been able to do something different and not typical.

"Plus, helping this initiative is really great."

The initiative, known as the Case-Fisk Partnership, offers expanded opportunities in education and research for students, faculty, and staff at Case Western Reserve and Fisk. Through the partnership, students have the chance to enroll in dual-degree programs and participate in student exchanges and joint research with a national or international scope.

Thornton is only the second student to participate in the exchange program since its inception in 2002; Ami Barry spent the 2005 fall semester here at Case Western Reserve. Thornton is hoping that her semester abroad at Fisk will lead to more students becoming aware and interested in the program.

Flora Stone Mather Center for Women recognizes women of achievement at Case Western Reserve

2008-10-03T14:17:22Z

The Case Western Reserve University community recently celebrated the accomplishments of dozens of faculty during the Fifth Annual Women of Achievement & Mather Spotlight Prize Luncheon.

Presented by the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women and the Office of the Provost, this was the first year the two signature programs were combined. Over 100 faculty, staff, students, alumnae and community members attended the program, where President Barbara R. Snyder discussed the topic of "The Future of Higher Education: Attracting and Advancing all of the Best Talent."