On Friday and Saturday, March 18 -19, students from the VCU chapter of Phi Beta Lambda competed at the State Leadership Conference in seven events and captured three 1st place finishes and three 2nd place finishes. Among them were tech support staffers Nathan Morse, a senior, ISY, and Jason Chan, junior, BAM, who placed 2nd in Networking Concepts and Computer Concepts, respectively. Other students placing were:

Yen Pham - Sr, FIN - Future Business Executive, 2nd place
John Elms - Jr, HRI - Human Resource Management, 1st place
Richard Tu - Jr, BAM - Management, 1st place
Oliver Arthur - So, FIN - Statistical Analysis, 1st place

All these students will be eligible to compete in the National Leadership Conference June 30-July 1 in Orlando, FL.

In addition, VCU tied for third place with UVA for Largest Chapter Membership. This is the first time the VCU chapter has been a finalist in this category. The award is due largely to the hard work of this year's president, Sean Wallace, a sophomore, in the School of Engineering/MCE.

PROFESSOR DHILLON LAUNCHES
NEW INFORMATION SECURITY JOURNAL

The first issue of The Journal of Information Systems Security (JISSec) has been published and is available also on line at www.jissec.org. Editors are Dr. Gurpreet Dhillon, professor of Information Systems at VCU, and James Backhouse, head of the Information Systems Security Programme at the London School of Economics, UK Editorial advisors include Dr. Allen Lee, VCU professor of Information Systems at VCU and Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies in the VCU School of Business.

JISSec is a scholarly publication of value to both academic and practitioner audiences, particularly students interested in advances in information system security research. Editorial offices of the Journal of Information Systems Security (JISSec) are currently headquartered at the VCU Information Systems Department, with the support of the Information Systems Integrity Group, London School of Economics, UK and Sun Microsystems, USA is duly acknowledged. JISSec is a publication of the Information Institute, a non-profit non-partisan information policy and research organization. Located in Washington, D.C.

Over 20 company representatives attended the March 15 Tech Tuesday meeting with Chuck Rohm, Director of Information Security, Markel Corporation, discussing the impact of Sarbanes Oxley on publicly held companies. At the meeting, Maureen Carley, Associate Director of the Information Systems Research Institute announced that the Information Security and Assurance Certificate program sponsored by the IS Department was filled and off to a good start.

The sponsor for the March Tech Tuesday meeting was VACO Technology, Richmond. Sid Mitchener, middle, with VACO and Renee Fisher, CPA, and partner with VACO Resources, left, share information about their company with Paul T. Gilbo, PMP. with Franklin Consulting Group, LLC. VACO Technology is a customer-focused, premier provider of IT employment solutions.	Tech Tuesday's March speaker was Chuck Rohm, Director of Information Systems at Markel Corp. Betty Hecht,left, with Business to Business Solutions, had a few more questions to ask following the presentation.

DR. CAROL RASNIC MODERATES WORLD AFFAIRS PANEL.

Dr. Carol Rasnic has set a busy schedule for herself. On April 15 she will moderate the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond on U.S. German relations. Afterward she will dash off to Canada for a presentation at the American Academy of Legal Studies, Vancouver, on April 23. For more on Dr. Rasnic’s activities go to http://www.bus.vcu.edu

ECONOMIC EDUCATION STRONGLY PROMOTED

On March 20 the 2005 Virginia Championship for LifeSmarts competition was held at VCU in affiliation with Virginia and VCU’s Center for Economic Education Council. The program teaches teens about personal finance, health and safety, the environment, government, technology and consumer rights and responsibilities.

On April 7 a one-day teacher’s seminar was sponsored by the VCU Center for Economic Education and taught by Center director, Suzanne Gallagher. The program introduced teachers to lesson plans that they could use to teach economic topics. Funding for the teacher sessions are provided by the National Council on Economic Education through a U.S. Department of Education grant. Thirty teachers from the Richmond area registered for the seminar.

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS LAUNCHES NEW
FAST TRACK M.S. IN INFORMATION SYSTEM

The Department of Information Systems is now accepting application for our new Fast Track Executive Master of Science in Information Systems (FTEMS). The new Information Technology Management program is designed for individuals with at least six years professional experience, this program will allow students to complete a Master of Science in Information Systems degree in 12 months. It is slated to begin in Fall 2005.

The program consists of ten courses, all in IS/T, but with a managerial approach rather than strictly technical. These courses will be offered on alternate weekends in an integrated modular fashion, similar to our Fast Track Executive MBA (FTEMBA) program. For registration or additional information contact Maureen Carley (804) 828-7074 or visit our web site www.isy.vcu.edu.

ELEVEN FACULTY MEMBERS RECEIVE SUMMER RESEARCH STIPENDS

Dr. Allen S. Lee, Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, announced that 11 School of Business faculty members have been awarded summer research stipends . Read more at http://www.bus.vcu.edu

Dr. Ben Wier, professor of Accounting, has been elected by the faculty to serve a two-year term as Chairman of the School of Business Faculty Council. His term will expire in 2007. Dr. Wier teaches accounting courses at undergraduate and graduate levels and writes for the Wall Street Journal’s Educators Review. http://www.bus.vcu.edu/news/wier.html

Dr. David Urban, professor of Marketing, has served as the Faculty Council chair for the past two years.

The Faculty Council is made up of one faculty member from each of the School’s six departments. The Council provides an effective means for collective participation by faculty in the consideration, formulation, and implementation of recommendations and decisions relating to the academic, faculty and student policies of the school and those of the University that affect the school and its faculty. To read more about the duties of the Faculty Council go to http://www.bus.vcu.edu/fac_resources/fac_council.htm

Kathleen Burke Barrett to be honored as Alumna of the Year 2005

The VCU School of Business and the Business Alumni Board invite alumni and friends to attend the School's Honors Program & Reception on Thursday, April 28, at 6:00 p.m. at SunTrust Bank, 919 E. Main Street, Richmond. At the event, the board will recognize Kathleen Burke Barrett (BS’71, MS’73) as the VCU School of Business Alumna of the Year. The School of Business will also recognize current students for scholarship and service and will present faculty awards to Dr. Allen S. Lee, Dr. Etti Baranoff, and Dr. Randall G. Sleeth.

Ms. Barrett was recently promoted to Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross, Greater Richmond Chapter. Her resume includes impressive accomplishments in such previous positions as CEO of the Arthritis Foundation, Virginia Chapter; Director of Development & Admissions for Marymount School; Director of Manpower Development, Virginia Agency for Northwestern Mutual Foundation; and teacher for St. Gertrude’s High School. She has also taught courses for the VCU School of Business and VCU master’s program in Public Administration. From 2001-2003, Ms. Barrett served as president of the VCU Alumni Board, and she carried out two full terms on the School of Business Alumni Board as well. She has served on the Board of Trustees of St. Gertrude High School since 1998. Ms. Barrett was nominated by her daughters, Katherine C. McConnell ’91 and Elizabeth F. R. White, a current Ph.D. student.

Following the ceremony, guests are invited to attend an elegant reception on the top floor of the bank building. Tickets are $25 per person. The School of Business Alumni Board will provide free admission for the first 50 business alumni who respond. Guests are welcome with the purchase of a ticket. To sign up, please email bus-alum@vcu.edu or contact the Office of Development & Alumni Affairs at 804-828-1485.

Debbie Little, Coordinator of Insurance Studies, organized the Finance and Risk Management & Insurance Career Fair held on March 30. Over 20 financial services and risk management companies were represented. Students “dressed to impress” turned out to talk with representatives about opportunities in financial services.

Latoya Bartlett, center, and Tawana Spratley, right, learn more about Modern Woodmen of America from Robert E. French, Jr., FICF, CLU, LUTCF, Agency Manager.

Matthew Sleeth chats with Kristin M. Fleming, Recruiting Coordinator, for the Richmond office of MassMutual Financial Group.	What’s a Fair without goodies? Vendors at the Insurance and Financial Fair handed out a variety of pens, pads and other helpful reminders. Detra Allen, right, of Rockingham Group exchanges a pen for a resume from Deb Van Horn, left.

Bill Sullivan, M.S. Information Systems 2000 and research associate with ISRI, has been appointed to the faculty of the IT University of Goteborg, Sweden. The IT University is a division of both Goteborg and Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. In May, Bill will defend his Ph.D. dissertation in the Department of Computer Science, The Faculty of Engineering, Aalborg University, Denmark.

INTERNATIONAL FORUM A SUCCESS AGAIN!

Over 600 persons attended the 11th Annual VCU International Business Forum on March 29. This year’s theme “Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century: Keys to Global Economic and Social Development” attracted many local entrepreneurs and business people as well as graduate and undergraduate students. This year the Forum was held in partnership with the VCU School of Engineering and the Richmond Export-Import Club.

The International Business Forum is made possible through a grant from Universal Corporation. Jim Starky, Senior Vice President, Universal Corporation, left, Douglas Knapp, School of Business Director of Development and Dean Michael Sesnowitz review highlights from the Forum.	Guest speaker Tom Cochran, left, President of Tredegar Film Products, Inc. talks with a guest entrepreneur at the reception following the Forum.

Panelist Eugene J. Huang, center, Commonwealth of Virginia Office of the Governor’s Secretaries, was swamped with questions following his Forum presentation.	Following the Forum, guests were able to network with the panelists. Dean of the School of Engineering, Robert Mattouch, center, chats with students and business persons. The School of Engineering was a co-sponsor of the event.

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