There is a severe shortage of minority representation among U.S. business school faculty. Research indicates that this in turn leads to fewer minority students choosing to pursue business studies at all levels of education. And as a result, corporate America continues to be dominated by a bland racial majority.
There was a priceless expression of surprise on his face when Mays Business School Distinguished Professor of marketing Leonard Berry turned away from his students to find Elsa Murano, president of Texas A&M University, had entered his classroom. President Murano interrupted Berry’s lecture to present the speechless instructor with one of the university’s highest recognitions, the Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence award.
According to the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, students from Texas A&M’s Mays Business School scored the highest overall pass rate in the state on the CPA exam (compared to other Texas schools with five or more candidates taking the exam). More than 83 percent of Mays students passed the challenging test, which is the gatekeeper for the field of accounting.
Mays doctoral graduates are counting down the final days of their extended education this spring, preparing themselves to share their business acumen with the nation’s brightest minds. With Mays’ placement among the top U.S. business schools, it is only fitting that many of its doctoral graduates have been offered teaching positions at acclaimed institutions with high-ranking business programs.
He has three degrees in marketing and an extensive body of marketing research to his name, so it may seem surprising that Stephen McDaniel, assistant department head, masters advisor, and marketing professor at Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School would enjoy studying ancient civilizations in his free time. There is another side to “Dr. Mac,” as students know him: his leisure time is filled with articles about artifacts and excavation as he pursues his hobby of biblical archeology.
Tony Weber ’84 returned to campus recently with a mission: to let Mays students know about the highly profitable opportunities available in private equity. Weber, who has worked in the energy industry since graduation, and specifically in the private equity industry for the past six years, says it’s an area more students at his alma mater need to know about.
Ring Day is a rite of passage for every Aggie and a time of celebration for every Aggie family. For the Easterwoods, the Ring Day held on April 4 had special significance: As Jeff Easterwood ’07 accepted his ring and looked forward to finishing his degree at Mays Business School in a few weeks, his father, Terry ’80, was celebrating the start of his studies there.
Texas A&M University and The Association of Former Students has announced the recipients of the 2008 Distinguished Alumnus Award. One of the four men honored with this distinction is Neal W. Adams, who received his BBA in marketing in 1968.
Matt Rubel, president and CEO of Payless ShoeSource, spoke to students during a recent visit to the Texas A&M campus about his mission to “democratize fashion” through reasonably priced footwear. He was the guest of Mays Business School’s Center for Retailing Studies, which recognized Rubel with the 2008 M.B. Zale Visionary Merchant Award for his efforts to reinvent the Payless brand.
Want to know what’s on the minds of today’s Mays students? Check out the student blogs (link to main blog site) posted each week to read about classes, relationships, and “the other education,” from the perspectives of four outstanding business students.
Spring break was a busy time for the Mays bloggers. From a service trip to Mexico, to a visit at the nation’s capital, to a relaxing week at home, they’ve chronicled their adventures for you to enjoy!
