College of Business Administration appoints second associate dean
by Schuyler Williams, A'05 Intern in the Offices of Public Affairs and Publications
The bustling College of Business Administration continues to grow with the appointment of Associate Professor of Management Brenda Joyner, Ph.D., to the positions of associate dean and MBA director.
The profile of the business school is continually changing (see related story on page 4). More students from across the country, a growing population of international students, and a more competitive marketplace have led the college to enhance its programs. There is a higher demand for internship opportunities, day classes, and international exposure from the students enrolled and seeking enrollment into the business school. Already, the school has begun to make accommodations to meet these needs, and Joyner's appointment is part of that plan.
The most dynamic modification has been the creation a new, full-time MBA program that will be implemented in June, once final approval is given at the university level. Currently, the school has a part-time MBA program. The existing program is tailored to meet the needs of students continuing their education while holding a full-time job. That program will continue, but the new curriculum has been designed to accommodate non-business majors and the growing number of full-time students seeking an MBA. The new program is cohort, students will go through together taking the same classes, with the exception of electives. Cohort programs encourage unity among students, and also teach students the importance of working with, supporting, and depending on others, which is especially significant in the business field. Also, the new program is shorter and can be completed in 15 months, as opposed to the part-time program that takes two years to complete.
Joyner's new position oversees full-time and part-time MBA programs, plus the study abroad, and the international exchange programs. The creation of this position allows the college to operate more efficiently. Associate Dean Jerry Dauterive, Ph.D., will continue to work with undergraduate students and Joyner will work predominately with graduate students.
Joyner is no stranger to teamwork and often emphasizes to her students how important teamwork is in the business world. In addition to the many projects, presentations, and publications she has successfully completed with others in her field, Joyner was also part of a four-person team responsible for designing the full-time MBA program. Her enthusiasm about the full-time program and her new position is obvious when she talks about her goals for the program. "In the new program, students will get an opportunity to see entrepreneurship in action, rather than merely reading about it in textbooks," she says. "By building a new program, that will exist alongside an already successful program, the business school is demonstrating the entrepreneurial skills that its students are being taught in their classes."
Joyner says the school also has a responsibility to maintain and improve the international exchange programs. Currently, Loyola has a good international business reputation, but Joyner says it can be improved. "We need to know what's going on in other countries to work with international students," she says. By international students she means those coming to Loyola from other countries, and students leaving Loyola to study abroad. Joyner has participated in several international projects that have increased her consciousness about world issues and allowed her to become more empathetic and knowledgeable about international students.
Though adjusting to the new program, her new position and the duties that come with it are a little "overwhelming," but Joyner has a positive outlook for the year. "I think this new program will be good for the school," she affirms. "Loyola's a great place, and it offers a wonderful learning environment that will be a rich experience for students who come into the MBA program."
Joyner came to the university 10 years ago as a visiting professor. She decided to stay and has been making an impact in the College of Business Administration ever since. She has been recognized for her participation in various research projects, and serves as the Stanford H. Rosenthal Distinguished Professor of Risk and Entrepreneurship. In 1994, she traveled to Australia as a visiting lecturer in the Department of Management at the University of Wollogong in Wollogong, Australia. Joyner's research has also afforded her the opportunity to travel around the world, and in 2001, she traveled to Honduras as a member of the college's team working to reform the Honduran banking system.
She received her MBA from Emory University in 1987 and her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in 1995.
