Message from the Dean - Summer 2021

I am pleased to share with you that the College of Business Administration added 540 new graduates to our alumni family at the Spring 2021 Commencement. These recent graduates celebrated their achievements at an in-person ceremony last month, joining the ranks of successful alumni such as Grace Wakulchik, MBA ’96, President and CEO of Akron Children’s Hospital. Grace was honored during the college’s 2021 Spirit of Women in Business Conference for her achievements leading the region’s premier pediatric hospital.

In recent newsletters I have shared with you the high rankings achieved by the Online MBA Program. This semester the program added a new achievement earning the #35 spot on Fortune’s Best Online MBA Programs 2021 ranking. College faculty are also being recognized for their expertise. Dr. Kathryn Wilson, Chair and Professor of Economics, has been appointed to the Ohio Economic Experts Panel and Dr. Ilgaz Arikan, Associate Professor of Management, launched an international business experts video series in collaboration with the Academy of International Business. We are truly surrounded by excellence and inspired by those in our community who continued to excel during the past year.

I invite you to read more about these achievements, along with additional college updates and upcoming events, in this issue of the newsletter.

Deborah F. Spake, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Business Administration