Just got back from another job interview in the Bay Area so I’m a little tired. I’ve been to California five times this year for interviews…yes I’m singlehandedly keeping United Airlines solvent.
So I’m doing my Lazy Sunday links today, and I’ve got a real post planned for this Sunday.
USA Today looks back on the MBA class of 1998: where they went and where they are now.
The New York Times Opinion section discusses the possibility of a McCain-Jindal Presidential ticket. Not gotta happen, says Jindal. Still, stranger things have…no, are happening.
Have a great weekend,
Joel Yarmon
joel@tulanemba.org
Last week I spoke with Dr. John Trapani about the Masters in Global Management program. This is a relatively new program at the Freeman School - I didn’t know you could graduate with your MBA/MGM early! The program has you winging off to places like Mexico City, Bogota, Paris, Shanghai and Sao Paulo. This is in addition to the regular international MBA course excursions to Monterrey, Paris and Beijing. Can somebody say Frequent Flier Miles?
We’re almost out of the woods with First Year exams. One more!
Here’s a facebook group for those of us staying in New Orleans for the summer. That means that we can show all you new students around, once you get here.
I received an email this morning from our business school dean, Angelo DeNisi. This guy doesn’t have the easiest job in the world: He started as dean the year Katrina hit, resulting in an overall budget reduction via Scott Cowen, Tulane’s President. As a result, some programs haven’t been as strong as in the past; the Freeman School’s marketing and info systems course offerings have been drastically reduced. However we’re moving forward, as the following clearly shows:
“…Also, I want to refer you to U.S. News and World Report from two weeks ago. The Freeman School got some great press coverage in an article about the Burkenroad Reports. Speaking of the Burkenroad reports, Prof. Peter Ricchiuti has been named to the William Burkenroad Jr. Clinical professorship in Equity Research. This was made possible through the generous gift of Mrs. Jane Bories and family.
On the financial front, we were informed that we had received a gift from the Ella West Foundation. The $1 million gift will come in three parts beginning next Fall and the endowment earnings will be used to enhance services in Career Services.
Also, Berdon Lawrence, who has been a long time supporter of the Freeman School has pledged almost $2 million. Some of this money will go to complete the funding for the James McFarland Chair, and the rest will go to create a new “super chair” in Finance…”
Good job, DeNisi! It’s these kinds of positive fund raising efforts that make me want to continue my record of perfect giving (at my previous two schools) when I’m a Freeman alum - job or no job in hand. It’s important to support your team in good times and in bad. And while I believe things will get worse still before they get better, there are constantly signs of optimism out there. You just gotta look for em.
Now if we could only get Scott Cowen to give the Freeman School our money back…
New Orleans - Tulane University All-American running back Matt Forte was selected today in 2008 National Football League (NFL) Draft when the Chicago Bears made him the 44th overall player selected and 13th pick of the second round.
Forte was the second player selected by the Bears and the sixth running back taken overall in first two rounds. He is the first Tulane running back to be selected in the NFL Draft since 2004 when the Minnesota Vikings took Mewelde Moore in the fourth round (119th overall) in 2004. Forte is the 35th running back in school history to be selected in the NFL Draft, and the seventh Tulane player to be taken by the Bears since 1937. The last Green Wave standout taken by Chicago was offensive lineman Bernard Robertson in the fifth round (138th overall) in 2001. Keep reading →
Only a few lazy Sunday’s left before I’m outta here!
Last Friday my Electricity Markets (Syllabus .doc) class toured Tulane’s co-gen (co-generation) power plant. It’s about a 5 mW plant, which is enough to run the entire school in the winter. The generator hasn’t been run since Katrina because NatGas prices are too high - around $10-11 per MMBTU.
This has been my favorite class this semester. It’s taught by a real world Entergy guy, and covers topics pertinent to today’s power markets, trading, buying, refining, generation, etc. It complimented the Renewable Energy course I took earlier this Spring very well. Too bad they’re dumping that course down to the undergrad level for next year (dumb move).
Here’s a video of the less glamorous, but most important, parts of Tulane that help to keep us warm, cool, and the lights on. Who knew it took 12,000 gallons a minute to A/C the entire campus?!?
So I’m sitting at home yesterday when a classmate calls and tells me Jimmy Buffett’s playing tonight, in the quarter, for 25 bucks AND no one knows about it! I was in faster than you can say Bear Stearns Pink Slip!
Pretty good concert, a fellow Parrot Head wrote:
The show was his best yet at the New Orleans Margaritaville Cafe. The block party rocked. Jimmy played more to the block party than to the inside crowd. There was a short runway from the inside stage to the outside crowd. Jimmy came out and played to the crowd. It did not matter if you paid $200 or $25, for this event everyone had an upclose and personal experience.
Here’s a quick video. Just one more bonus of getting an MBA in the Big Easy!
Q: Professors - Do you find that you enjoy most of the professors at Freeman? Do they make themselves available?
A: Enjoying professors is purely relative. I have only had one that I can honestly say I generally disliked. Every single professor answers my emails in a matter of hours. Every single professor is available at the drop of a hat. I have never had any trouble speaking with them. Our class sizes are small so it’s easy to get personalized attention if you want it.
I will point you to our recent Financial Times ranking of #10 for Finance. This is weighted on the quality of professors and their publishing as well as alum recommendation. But, there are shortcomings as they are people too. You just have to ask for what you want, and they’re good about giving it. Keep in mind that they all have idiosyncrasies and quirks. They’re people too. Some of them are great friends and work their tails off, but are challenging to learn from. Other are spectacular teachers, but take millenia to return papers. Some are just fantastic all around… Russ Robbins I am talking about you. (Note: I have already taken Russ’ class and cannot get any benefit from ass-kissing). So it’s tough work being a professor, but I have been pleased in general.
