Alumni in Action

Business Casual: September 2022

An informal but informative newsletter for WSB alumni and friends

By Wisconsin School of Business

September 19, 2022

students cross the street outside Grainger Hall
Students flood the intersection outside Grainger Hall as the Fall 2022 semester begins. Demand for WSB’s programs continues to grow, with this year’s incoming undergraduate class consisting of about 755 first-year students—the largest it has ever been. Photo by Paul L. Newby II

The Briefing

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Meet the new minds of business
Five new faculty members join WSB this fall, bringing interdisciplinary business expertise and new insights on industry and society’s big questions. These thought leaders will address contemporary topics like strategic decision-making, emerging technologies, non-traditional financial data, and more.

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Alumna Katie Lorenz receives 2022 Forward Award
Congratulations to WSB alumna Katie Lorenz (BBA ’12) for earning a 2022 Forward Award from the Wisconsin Alumni Association! As the founder of fair-trade apparel company Campo Alpaca, Lorenz provides Peruvian communities with employment opportunities, fair compensation, and a safe work environment.

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Multicultural Center celebrates grand opening
WSB’s new Multicultural Center celebrated its grand opening on September 9. A student-led initiative designed to promote cultural change, the center serves as an inclusive gathering space for underrepresented students, particularly students of color, and builds upon WSB’s efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Ticker

  • The best place to be: We all know Madison is #1, and now the rest of the country does too! Livability just named Madison the best place to live in the United States.
  • Lifetime achievement: WSB’s Jan Heide (MBA ’82, PhD ’87) was recently awarded the 2022 Mahajan Award for Lifetime Contributions to Marketing Strategy Research by the American Marketing Association (AMA) Marketing Strategy Special Interest Group.
  • Real talk on real estate: WSB’s Mark Eppli appeared on Channel 3000 to speak about the future of the housing market.
  • Leaving a legacy: Longtime supporters Jere and Anne Fluno recently committed $4.28 million to UW–Madison programs. This includes a $3 million estate commitment to create the Jere D. Fluno Distinguished Chair in Accounting at WSB.
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Back to School

What’s On Their Shelf?

Do you find yourself in the back to school spirit each fall? You may not be in the classroom, but our faculty still have some reading teed up for you. Check out these professors’ book picks:

  • The Book: The Prepared Leader: Emerge from Any Crisis More Resilient Than Before by Erika H. James and Lynn Perry Wooten
  • The Reason: “With everything going on in the world, this new book provides leaders with insights on how to build resiliency and be prepared for impending crises.” 

—Jirs Meuris, assistant professor of management and human resources

  • The Book: New Ideas from Dead Economists: The Introduction to Modern Economic Thought by Todd G. Buchholz
  • The Reason: “It provides a great overview of economic theory, and establishes important foundational frameworks for understanding some of the most significant business issues of today.” 

—Fabio Gaertner, associate professor of accounting and information systems and Cynthia and Jay Ihlenfeld Professor for Inspired Learning in Business

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Tip Sheet

Homecoming week is coming up October 17–22. Here are some suggestions on how to celebrate your alma mater this year!

Celebrating from afar?

  • Catch the game: Gather fellow alumni and fans to cheer on the Badgers as they face the Purdue Boilermakers in the Homecoming football game. Don’t forget to sing “Varsity” during a commercial break!
  • Connect with us on social: Use #UWHC and tag the Wisconsin School of Business in your social posts as you celebrate Homecoming 2022.
  • Fill the Hill: Pink flamingos on Bascom Hill may have started as a prank, but have since evolved into a whimsical way for alumni to give back.

Making the trip to Madison?

  • Homecoming Parade: A highlight of Homecoming is the annual parade when dozens of UW–Madison organizations march down State Street.
  • Multicultural Yard Show: Stop by Shannon Hall at Memorial Union for the 2022 Homecoming Multicultural Yard Show.

WSB Homecoming Bash: Register for WSB’s 2022 Homecoming Bash for a true Business Badger celebration! The annual event features live music, a tailgate lunch, cash bar, lawn games, face painting, and coloring stations

Alumni Opportunities

October 6: Check out the 2022 State of the School Address, presented by Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy, WSB’s Albert O. Nicholas Dean.

October 22: WSB’s annual Homecoming Bash is quickly approaching—get your tickets today!

Past Events: Watch previous EdgeUp webinars, Badger Executive Talks, or The Business of… events.

Stay Connected: Network with other Business Badgers by joining the Wisconsin Business Alumni LinkedIn group.

About Business Casual

Every other month, alumni and friends of the Wisconsin School of Business will receive insider updates with news about our alumni, faculty, students, and programs. If you want to share Business Casual with friends, they can sign up at go.wisc.edu/wsb-biz-cas.

Questions or comments? Email businesscasual@wsb.wisc.edu

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