SCHOLARSHIP WINNER. Carrie E. Miller, recipient of the Thalhimer Family Scholarship and the Project Management Institute Scholarship, was a featured speaker at the VCU Foundation Dinner in November. Ms. Miller is majoring in Human Resource Management and lives in Williamsburg, VA. The annual dinner recognized donors who have created scholarship endowments or endowed faculty chairs.

AN SEC FELLOW. Congratulations to Dr. David Dubofsky, finance professor, who has been appointed an "academic economic fellow" at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in their Office of Economic Analysis (OEA). He will be responsible for designing and conducting studies and analyses of the economic impact of existing and proposed rules promulgated by the SEC and self-regulatory agencies. His duties include reviewing relevant literature, designing studies, collecting data, computer programming, extensive statistical analysis, orally briefing other SEC staff on the relevance of the results and critically interpreting academic research or economic arguments. The OEA's vision is to develop and maintain a staff of preeminent financial economists that contribute to an organizational culture recognized for excellence both nationally and internationally.

Primarily it has been Dr. Dubofsky's research on mutual fund timing that brought him to the agency's attention. They were also interested in his prior work in the areas of market microstructure and derivatives on which he has written extensively. He is the author of a 2002 book "Derivatives, Valuation and Risk Management" (Oxford University Press). He will be working with the SEC for about a year.

RASNIC BOOK SIGNING. Carol D. Rasnic, professor of employment law and business law, School of Business, interrupted her Fulbright year at the National University of Galway, Ireland, to introduce her new book at a Richmond Border's Book Store signing on January 10. The title is "Northern Ireland: Can Sean and John Live in Peace? An American Legal Perspective " (ISBN 1883911559) , published by Brandylane. In a detailed narrative, Professor Rasnic addresses the two primary causes of the conflict-religion and politics-and the source of response to the Troubles-the law. She began writing the book while serving as a Fulbright Distinguished Professor of Law at Queen's Belfast, where she experienced the moods, hopes, and fears of those who have endured the atrocities.

Dr. Rasnic recently was the first speaker for "her university" in the Law Faculty Research Series and has presented guest lectures at the law faculty, University of Limerick; law faculty at University College Dublin (two), Equality Studies Center in Dublin, National Disability Authority in Dublin, and American Institute at University of Warsaw (Poland). The latter will be published in February. Coming up she will continue lecturing at NUI (National University of Ireland) Galway, two guest lectures at the law school, University College Cork, one in Derry, three in Austria, and one in Germany. She is teaching this spring semester to a graduate law class in Comparative Disability Law. She also had the opportunity in October to go to Brussels to monitor the European Union's report on domestic legislation prohibiting discrimination on the ground of disability.

SEVEN CFA® CANDIDATES. Seven students have received Certified Financial Analyst scholarships through a special program between VCU finance professors who are CFA® charterholders and the Association for Investment Management on Research (AIMR). Dr. David E. Upton is sponsoring Jason Selden, David Bunger, Anthony Diesen and Joseph Loza. Dr. David Dubofsky is sponsoring An Jun Li, Yin Yi Kwok and Talgat Irisbekov. Students may not apply directly for this program, but must be selected and sponsored by a qualified professor. This program is a partnership with professors to introduce outstanding students to the investment profession and an opportunity to provide mentoring during the study process.

EVENTS HIGHLIGHTED. Three special events have been announced to the Deans of other AACSB International universities through the use of brightly colored greeting cards enhanced by renderings of the future VCU School of Business. During past months announcements were for Accreditation of the Information Systems B.S. program by ABET, the appointment of David H. Downs, Ph.D. as the Alfred L. Blake Chair, professor of Real Estate, and naming of the participants in the 2004 spring semester CEO Class. The School of Business worked with the Barber Martin Agency to design and print the cards.

MAY IN BARCELONA. Two management professors, Dr. Michael Pitts and Dr. Charles Byles will be leading a 14-day study tour to Spain and France May 30-June 13, 2004.under the course title of MGMT/INT 491/691. (l or 3 academic credits are possible). The course route continues from Spain through Europe to Marseille. This management team has led study abroad tours for several years. Interested persons may learn more about the tour on the website for the Office of International Education http://www.vcu.edu/oie/eao/spain_france.html.

TECH HANDOUT. One page promoting the School of Business is included in the newly published handbook "Technology in Greater Richmond" being distributed by the Greater Richmond Partnership. The 32-page handbook was developed as an information tool describing the resources out-of-state companies would find available in greater Richmond and Virginia. Thousands will be distributed at out-of- town trade shows and to companies comtemplating relocation. VCU Life Sciences, Engineering, Medical Center and BioTechnology Research Park were among the educational centers featured.

SUPERIOR AGAIN. The VCU School of Business's Financial Management Association has again been designated a superior chapter. It is one of 15 U.S. universities to receive this designation this year. It qualified as a superior chapter last year. Achieving this honor requires a high level of effort and commitment from students and faculty. In order to receive and maintain this prestigious designation, the chapter had to meet a number of specific criteria, demonstrate exemplary chapter management, and excel in providing members program activities.

AWARDED LINCOLN FELLOWSHIP. John H. Bowman, professor of economics, and Dr. Michael E. Bell, president, MEB Associates, Inc., and research professor at George Washington University, have been awarded a David C. Lincoln Fellowship by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy for research on "Valuing Land for Tax Purposes in Traditional Tribal Areas of South Africa Where There is No Land Market." Since November 1995 Dr. Bowman and his colleague have collaborated on a series of research projects on various aspects of property taxation in South Africa, pulled together in Property Taxation in South Africa: Challenges in the Post-Apartheid Era, a book published in 2002. The Lincoln Fellowship extends this line of research and will cover research on establishing values for communally owned land in tribal areas where there is no property market for land, and therefore no land value for tax purposes. They will continue their research in the spring by visiting tribal settlements. Their book already has been accepted as a resource on property tax policy by governmental officials.

STUDENT ENTREPRENEURS SELL CANDLES. For several fall semesters Dr. Michael Pitts has taught Introduction to Entrepreneurship. Recently the Business School received the following accolade from Maureen J. Baker, Director of Development and External Relations, VCU Massey Cancer Center: "Last week I was invited to accept a $900 donation to the Center from a group of students in Professor Pitts' class. As part of their class work, this group of 10 students actually developed their own candle business for the semester and donated their profits to Massey. I was invited to participate in their project presentation just before exams. It was incredible! I had the best time and my only wish is that such a class had been available to me as a college student. Professor Pitts is a treasure. Watching him interact with the students just made my day!

LOBBY FOR EDUCATION. In late January, faculty from throughout VCU joined members of the Virginia Education Association and Virginia Education Coalition in lobbying the 2004 Virginia General Assembly in support of increasing funding for public education. For many faculty members this was the first time they have joined in lobby efforts to express their feelings about previous lack of funding.

JOIN THE DEBATE. Catch Dr. George Hoffer's comments in the AAAWorld article "American Made?" by Peter Bohr. Dr. Hoffer joins the debate on whether there is such a thing as an American car. http://www.aaaworld.com/pages/articles.asp?id+177 And catch up on other publications that have quoted VCU School of Business faculty members by going to the Business School's website home page.