Spring 2009 - Menlo College

52 Pages·2009·2.6 MB·English

T H E   M E N L O
ADVANTAGE
M E N L O   C O L L E G E ’ S   M A G A Z I N E
President & CEO of Joint Venture:
Silicon Valley Network,
Dr. Russell Hancock
with Timely Advice for Students

SPRING 2009
Think critically,
outside the box.
Strategize and innovate
with self-confidence.
Mary Robins, Director of Career Services and blank walk the first lap in Relay
Communicate to
For Life, a 24-hour fundraiser walk that was hosted by Menlo College in April.
Proceeds from the program benefited the American Cancer Society.
make connections.
Use your Menlo
advantage to
change the world.
Non Profit Org
G. TIMOTHY HAIGHT US Postage
President, Menlo College
PAID
Denver, CO
Permit NO 3280
1 SPRING 2008
PUBLISHER
Advancement Office, Catherine E. Reeves
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
MANAGING & EDITORIAL SERVICES
Darcy Blake, Managing Editor
Tina Fairbairn, Copy Editor
Tom Haflinger ’07, Copy Editor

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
G. Timothy Haight, Chop Keenan III ’66, James J. Kelly,
Table of Contents
Catherine E. Reeves, Darcy Blake, Tina Fairbairn,

Tom Haflinger ’07, Said Karimzad ‘09, Michelle Pualuan,
3 FROM THE PUBLISHER | Catherine Reeves
Trent Sillanpaa, Dorothy Skala ’96, Eric Sponburgh ‘99,
Ways of Giving
Derek Stimel, Francis Turner, Tom Wood ‘93
5 FROM THE PRESIDENT | The Road Ahead
7 Significant Milestones | Chop Keenan DESIGN
8 Nobody Owes You a Living | Russell Hancock Darcy Blake
10 If I Could Have Just Have 15 Minutes with the President |
PHOTOGRAPHY & GRAPHICS
Enrique Ybarra ‘91, International Entrepreneur
Darcy Blake, Tom Haflinger ’07, Catherine E. Reeves,
12 Fixing the US Economy One Person at a Time
menlooakssports.com, SF 49ers
14 Keep Our Street Cred! | John F. McDonough
PRODUCTION
15 The 5th Annual Business Plan Competition | Tom Wood ‘93
Tina Fairbairn
16 In Memoriam: Carlos López
Tom Haflinger ’07
18 ACADEMIC AFFAIRS | Jim Kelly
19 Faculty News COLLEGE PRESIDENT
G. Timothy Haight
22 Liquidity | Dr. Derek Stimel
24 Overcoming Adversity | Francis Turner
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
26 STUDENT NEWS | Sean Meyer | Monique Cabrera Chairman of the Board, Charles “Chop” J. Keenan III ’66
Aaron Kingdom | Quynh Anh Nguyen Thomas Escher ’69
30 Working Students Kerilyn Yado, Shaleia Auld Julie Filizetti, Ed.D
Gleb Matsulevich and Trevor Mates ‘05 Using Harry W. Kellogg Jr. ‘67
Their Advantage Roxy Rapp ‘59
33 STUDENT AFFAIRS | New Orientation Retreat Kristine Thagard ’77
Honors Convocation Andrew C. Woodard ’89
34 Speed Networking Event
TRUSTEE EMERITA
36 ALUMNI RELATIONS | Michelle Pualuan
Rosemary Hewlett
37 Reunion 1927-1959
38 Class Notes | Dorothy Skala ADVISORY TRUSTEES
Judy Q. Chen ’96
40 ATHLETICS | Tom Rathman
Alexander P. Panagopulos ’87
42 Athletes Giving to the Community
The Menlo Advantage, published by the Menlo College Office for
44 A Team Full of Reasons for Victory
Institutional Advancement, brings news of the College and its
46 Commencement Speaker Steve Westly community to alumni, parents and friends.
Honorary Degree Recipient, Khaled Juffali 1000 El Camino Real, Atherton, California 94027-4301
Tel: 800.55.MENLO Fax: [phone]
47 Jeff Patmon and Skyler Chase: More than a Degree Advancement Office: [email protected], www.menlo.edu
48 Works by Lyons and Tolomei
Previous page and above: Brawner Hall, which opened in
2 SPRING 2009 1969, is the center of business education at Menlo College.
Our Mission
Menlo College’s mission is to develop future
leaders through a liberal arts-based business
education that integrates academic study and
fieldwork in a Silicon Valley environment
unmatched in its potential for innovation.
A Message from the Publisher
Our Transformation
Similar to the world of finance, the world of academic
Menlo College is regaining its reputation as one of
philanthropy seeks—and thrives—on value, growth and
the most preeminent, small, private undergradu-
preservation. When you read through this issue of the
ate business management colleges in the United
Menlo Advantage Magazine, you will conclude that, for
States. With focused leadership and strategic
many reasons, there is probably no better investment today
teamwork, Menlo College’s size, and its location
than Menlo College.
in one of the world’s most entrepreneurial and
Historically, it has been Menlo College’s tradition to take
innovative geographical locations, is enabling
growth leaps of giant proportion during the toughest of times.
the College to create a valuable market niche
Born in 1927 with the expectation that it might become a
for itself locally—as well as globally—as Silicon
support system for Stanford University, Menlo College quickly
Valley’s Business School.
regrouped when Stanford’s plans changed at the onset of
the Great Depression. As a fledgling institution of higher edu- Menlo College is developing graduates who
cation, Menlo College survived the nation’s most historically
will be entrepreneurial, innovative, critical
difficult economic trauma through the support of dedicated
thinkers, strategic communicators and team
benefactors who, believing in the importance of its vision and
players, who can flourish, thrive and lead in a
mission, became the lifeblood of the College.
constantly changing global environment. This
Suffering reduced enrollments in the fallout of WW2, the cam- is being accomplished by partnering with the busi-
pus once again had to strategically categorize its niche in the ness community to develop programs that are
competitive world of higher education. Menlo College seized
practical and relevant—providing students with
the moment when Stanford shifted its business course emphasis
the knowledge, skills and abilities that ensure
to graduate studies, and the College’s School of Business
graduates an effective leading edge in a global
Administration (SBA) was established in 1949 as four-year
business environment where the only constant
program. This “stake in the ground” led to Menlo’s recognition,
is change.
many years later in U.S. News & World Report, as number one in
the nation in the small business school category. Menlo College is reestablishing its international
Today, the College again makes a large leap into the future at reach. The College is taking advantage of its
a time when the global economy is highly challenged. Unlike location by developing business programs that
other institutions that have lost much of their endowment and educate the next generation of business leaders
must cut back on programs, projects and growth, Menlo College, in the Silicon Valley, and beyond. Its ultimate
for many reasons, is poised as an academic cornerstone for the goal is to prepare students for “careers that do
future—a key partner in the dynamic evolution of Silicon Valley not yet exist.” Finally, Menlo College is leverag-
business and industry. ing its newly-established relationships with its
In this issue we will share the thoughts of our president and vastly successful international alumni base to
other accomplished, visionary leaders who are partnering with ensure that its graduates have an in-depth un-
Menlo College as we step together into a whole new world of derstanding and appreciation of global business
business. With much anticipation, we invite you to join us in the practices.
thrilling, fast- forward, collaborative road before us.
With warmest regards, Above left: Catherine Reeves,
VP for Advancement (left)
with Ann Haight, wife of
President G. Timothy Haight
Catherine Reeves and Chairperson of the
Vice President for Advancement Menlo College Art Committe.
4 SPRING 2009
Ahead
The Road
by Dr. G. Timothy Haight, President, Menlo College
Menlo College’s first priority will be
M y charge upon assuming the to continue to recruit and retain an
presidency was to recapture outstanding faculty. The faculty is
Menlo College’s reputation at the heart of any great academic
as a preeminent business institution. In effect, faculty ignites
school. Indeed, Menlo College’s School the flames of a student’s passion. If
of Business Administration (SBA) was you are an alum thinking back to your
considered the jewel of business and experiences at Menlo College, I am
WASC
management education. Its formula for confident that you will remember one
success was innovative and ahead of or two faculty members who had a Accredidation Reaffirmed
its time. First, the College assembled major impact on your life. The recruit-
a faculty with substantial business ment of faculty for Menlo will Menlo College is pleased to
experience that could translate theory continue to be a much more rigorous announce that on February 26,
into practice. Second, it developed a and arduous process than at many 2009, the Western Association
cutting edge curriculum that exposed other institutions. of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
students to current business problems Accrediting Commission for Senior
We look for faculty with solid
and their timely solutions. This com- Colleges and Universities acted
business experience and a passion for
bination provided our graduates with to “reaffirm the accreditation of
teaching. These faculty are in high
the knowledge, skills, and abilities Menlo College.”
demand, especially in the business
that fully prepared them for a rapidly
disciplines. Menlo College also seeks “I could not be more proud of our
changing business environment.
faculty who are professionally quali- faculty and staff for their many
At the top of its game in the early fied. Some are non-Ph.D. faculty, but hours of work and perseverance in
1990s, Menlo College began to lose they possess outstanding business helping us to maintain this impor-
its focus. The College decided to de- experience. Silicon Valley is blessed tant accreditation standard,” said
emphasize its most prized program with a number of very successful the President.
(business education) and sought to entrepreneurs, venture capitalists,
Accreditation is a rigorous
develop and offer a smorgasbord of and business professionals who are
assessment of all of the processes
degrees. Although Menlo College still indispensable to an applied business
within an institution of higher
offered an outstanding business edu- program such as ours. In addition,
education, and the ways in which
cation, it was not the centerpiece of we are pleased to announce that
stakeholders participate in the
the institution. This institutional drift Menlo College has just finalized and
academic, financial, and planning
lasted for almost two decades. approved new curriculums in
aspects of that institution.
accounting, finance, and marketing
Now for the good news: Menlo
that will be offered in Fall 2009. Colleges that choose to participate
College has rededicated itself to be-
in accreditation must devote sig-
coming a preeminent business school. Now that we have secured our WASC
nificant time and effort to demon-
After more than a year developing accreditation (please see sidebar), a
strate ongoing evaluation of and
a new mission and drafting the new major step in recapturing our position
improvement in their educational
strategic plan, the faculty voted to as a preeminent business school is
resources and offerings to provide
refocus Menlo College as a business receiving AACSB (Association to
the best possible outcomes for
school, grounded on a strong liberal Advance Collegiate Schools of
students.
arts education base. In January, the Business) accreditation. As stated
Board of Trustees enthusiastically on the AACSB web site, “AACSB “Accreditation is one important
approved the new vision and accreditation is the hallmark of way in which parents and students
supporting strategic plan. This is a excellence in business education and can evaluate the quality of an
bold move and will require a united has been earned by less than five institution when they make their
and sustained effort on the part of all percent of the world’s business college choice,” said Jim Kelly,
of our stakeholders. schools.” AACSB has been providing Provost and Chief Academic Officer.
Continued on page 47
Opposite page: Dr. G. Timothy Haight
greets Donte Snyder ‘09 at an Outside the
MENLO COLLEGE 5
Box, Inside the Frame art reception
6 SPRING 2009
Significant Milestones
North Star to career-oriented tions including accounting, finance,
by Charles
students and their parents. and marketing. These concentrations
“Chop” Keenan ‘66, are targeted giving opportunities
Menlo has received a seven year
Chairman, including termed funds and fully
Western Association of Schools and
Menlo College endowed programs. “Termed funds”
Colleges (WASC) accreditation. WASC
is fancy language for financially
Board of Trustees is one of six regional associations that
jump-starting a program with a gift
accredit public and private colleges.
over a specific number of years with
The business of Menlo College, They set the gold standard for vali-
the expectation that a successful
Silicon Valley’s Business School dating college programs and gover-
concentration will later merit full
continues apace. It is my pleasure nance. By this process the College is
endowment. The AACSB accredita-
to report our significant milestones. able to manage change through reg-
tion process requires the vision and
ular assessment, planning, implemen-
In the teeth of the worldwide generosity of our benefactors. Call Dr.
tation, monitoring, and reassessment.
economic maelstrom, Menlo College Haight to discuss our range of capital
Accreditation is a long and demand-
is in excellent financial shape. The needs. They run the gamut from small
ing process by which Menlo remains
College’s two principal revenue driv- to significant.
dynamic and forward thinking. This
ers are enrollment and endowment.
is an innovative era in education. Our As Menlo transitions to primarily
Second semester enrollment
challenge is to educate in the myriad a business school, our story needs
declined slightly and we are running
ways our students learn. Clayton proselytizing to academically quali-
a balanced budget. Eighty percent
Christiansen’s Disrupting Class speaks fied high school seniors. Our annual
of the endowment has been in short
to a “learner centric” approach to budget is 92% tuition driven. The
nt term U.S. Treasury Bills for the last two
a education whereby technology helps lowest hanging revenue fruit is filling
pl years albeit at nominal interest rates.
e to facilitate the learning process. How out our 750 student cap. Please chat
oric The remaining twenty percent is in many times have you heard “I did up our unique business school with
a lic publicly listed securities and is off 25% well in English but not in math” or potential students, parents, friends,
ht, year over year. Bottom line, we are in vice versa? The answer lies in teaching and associates. Sponsoring a full or
g excellent financial health.
eli subjects in the variety of ways that partial scholarship, with its gratify-
m
Li The Faculty and Board of Trustees have students learn. Accessing the cur- ing lifetime feedback loop, would be
of approved a new Strategic Plan whose riculum in a successful learner centric icing on the cake.
a
e major tenet is that Menlo College is a pedagogy challenges our assumptions
a s We are approaching the completion
e, in LTihbies rcalal-rAitryt so–fb pauserpdo Ssceh tohorlo oufg Bhuosuint ethsse. aevbooluutt itoenaacrhyin pgr.o Tchesiss .i sW ae t raircek yw aenlld of the successful implementation of
e the Separation Agreement between
tr institution signals to faculty, students, positioned in the heart of Silicon
y the College and Menlo School. The
rr prospective students, parents, and Valley for this innovative era.
e Town of Atherton has approved
h
c the greater community about Menlo
o Dr. Haight has begun the process for the parcel map separating the two
n College’s unique position in higher
hi AACSB accreditation for the Business academic campuses and creating a
os education. A focused School of Busi-
Y School. This can be a five- to seven- third parcel, now known as the Menlo
a ness sets Menlo apart in this time of
— year process. The Board of Trustees Athletic Quad (MAQ), which will be
s specialization. Our commitment to
m is enthusiastic about the validation jointly owned and managed. Menlo
o Silicon Valley innovation places us in
ss of our business curriculum. Like the School received Town approvals for a
o
us bl tehdeu cfoatrieofnro. nOtu or ff oreusnpdoantsiiovnea, la cdovuarnsceesd WASC accreditation, ACSCB is about new gymnasium, performing arts cen-
p one teacher and one course at a ter, and cultural arts center. The gym
m in accounting, finance, and real estate
a time. The speed of the accreditation will be their first project and upon
e: c will be joined by a new freshman first- process is entirely dependent on our completion will allow the College sole
g
a year experience curriculum. The Menlo
p fundraising abilities. Hiring capable use of the existing Haynes-Prim gym.
e business mission shows that it matches
osit the moment with the international educators takes financial resources. Continued on page 47
p The faculty curriculum committee has
Op financial crises. Menlo has become a
approved several business concentra- MENLO COLLEGE 7
On April 2nd Menlo faculty, students, pianist, he is a founding member of The
and staff heard from Dr. Russell Han- Saint Michael Trio, appointed Artists in
cock, President & CEO of Joint Venture: Residence at Menlo in 2008.
Silicon Valley Network, as part of the
Dr. Hancock’s April 2nd remarks were
College’s Executive Speaker Series.
at once hard-hitting and encouraging,
As Joint Venture CEO Dr. Hancock is as he coached students on the realities
many things: institution builder, civic facing job-seekers in Silicon Valley’s
leader, social entrepreneur, and out- turbulent economy. He spoke with
spoken advocate for regionalism. The Menlo Advantage afterwards:
organization he heads brings together
Menlo Advantage:
government and business leaders to
How do you characterize what’s
identify regional problems and lead
happening in Silicon Valley right now?
projects to solve them. Frequently
heard on Bloomberg News, ABC Hancock: We continue to be the
A Conversation with
Nightly News, and The Morning Show, world’s most dynamic regional econ-
he is considered a foremost expositor omy, as we have for 60 years. We are
Dr. Russell
of the Silicon Valley economy and export-oriented, innovation driven,
his interviews are often published in and fueled by entrepreneurship. But
Hancock The New York Times and Wall Street in 2008, national and global trends
Journal. A graduate of Harvard, Dr. caught up with us—and you could
Hancock received his Ph.D. in politi- even say they overtook us—collapsing
cal science from Stanford, where he national institutions, volatility in the
Keynote Speaker
teaches in the Public Policy Program. financial markets, and a housing melt-
CAREER CONFERENCE DAY down. All of it has eroded the markets
Dr. Hancock is also a member of the
that we serve, and thrown us into a
April 2, 2009 Menlo College community. A concert

Students, faculty and staff listen to Russell Hancock, President & CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network at the Menlo
College Career Conference Day on April 9, 2009.
8 SPRING 2009