Dear Alumni and Friends,
This issue of the Duquesne Business Leader focuses on our new tag line—“The Business of Difference Making.”
A few examples of how we are building our capacity for difference making…
We have created world-class facilities in Rockwell Hall that support the type of project-based, high impact, difference-making education we offer our students. In August 2019, the School of Business opened its new sky bridge and renovated sixth floor to students, debuting nearly 9,000 square feet plus the addition of a soaring two-story atrium. Three institutes are the focal points for both student learning and academic research: the Albert P. Viragh (B’27) Institute for Ethics in Business, the Investment Strategy Institute and the Institute for Sustainable Business Innovation.
Our faculty are leveraging their expertise and reputations to achieve even greater impact. For instance, effective in January 2020, the editorship of Business and Society Review (BASR), one of the leading journals in the business and society field, is housed in our Albert P. Viragh Institute for Ethics in Business.
Our students earn distinctive opportunities in difference making…
Our students are experiencing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to make a difference. The Pittsburgh chapter of Citizen’s Climate Lobby offered students from Duquesne’s MBA Sustainable Business Practices program, the opportunity to appear before the Pennsylvania congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., and present their research on the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. This once-in-lifetime opportunity to shape energy policy underscores the types of impactful experiences students have in our School.
Speaking of distinctive opportunities, Brianna Dzuricsko (B’19) is the first Duquesne student awarded a prestigious two-year fellowship with Venture for America. The highly competitive program selects recent college graduates from around the country to work in start-up environments and equips them with the skills and resources needed to create jobs in American cities.
Looking ahead to more difference making…
Our next big project aims to convert the entire seventh floor of Rockwell Hall into a new Center for Student Success (CSS). This will be an important driving force in helping us recruit, develop, transform and place our students so they can have maximum impact in business and for the world. In short, the CSS will be the ‘beating heart’ of our School, a welcoming place focused holistically on all of our students’ needs. Preliminary design work by LGA Partners, our architects, is well underway. Our hope is that construction will begin in Spring 2021 and be completed in time for the Fall semester.
Most importantly, our many dedicated alumni, friends and donors are helping us make a difference and it is vital that we recognize their many contributions. For example, Robert (Bob) I. Mallet, Former President and Chief Executive Officer of Mallet & Company, received an honorary Doctorate of Business Leadership degree from Duquesne University during its December 2019 commencement ceremony. Bob supports the School of Business in so many ways. He regularly engages with students and faculty in classes, presentations and competitions. In 2019, he funded the launch of the Duquesne New Venture Challenge, a new annual competition that inspires entrepreneurs from across the region and beyond to develop and execute their business models. And before that, Bob was instrumental in the renovation of our fourth floor, supporting the creation of the Louis D. Mallet Entrepreneurship Zone (named for his father, Louis Mallet, B’40) and Bob’s Launch Pad (our maker space).
We are very grateful to all our generous donors—your contributions are making a lasting impact and helping our School—and our students—be difference makers! Thank you!
Sincerely,
Dean B. McFarlin, Ph.D.
Dean and Professor of Management
